Tracking the Emerging Stars of Tennis

[Billie]

All right herios, let's keep track of Fritz !  Thanks for the information on him. 

 

[britbox]

OK, let's track some of these guys going forward. I've listed the young players to watch through 2016. If you have any more 20 and unders to take note of, then add them to the list. Here's a status update. @herios has already added Taylor Fritz to his extensive stable - Thanks to @Mastoor for getting this thread going.

Alexander Zverev
Germany. b. 20 April 1997 (age 18)

Zverev is currently the youngest player in the top 100 of the world rankings. (83 - highest 74). Right handed with double handed backhand, he is a whopping 6ft 6 inches.
In 2016, he represented Germany at the 2016 Hopman Cup.
He lost in the first round of the AO to Andy Murray

Hyeon Chung
South Korea b.19 May 1996 (age 19)

Chung was awarded the year-end ATP Most Improved Player award for 2015, after climbing over 120 places to 51st in the rankings.
In 2016, he faced off against #Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open (1st round) and 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Novak said: "He moves very well, as well. He can play equally well from defence to offence. And he's one of the players that people are talking about as a potential top player in the future. He's got that potential, no question about it. He needs experience, he needs more time."

Yoshihito Nishioka
Japan b.27 September 1995 (age 20)

Nishioka has yet to break the Top 100 but is knocking at the door. He is small for a tennis player, just 5'7". He's a leftie with a two handed backhand.

By winning the Asia-Pacific wildcard play-offs in Shenzhen, Nishioka earned a wildcard into the 2016 Australian Open.He lost in the first round to Pablo Cuevas.

Nick Kyrgios
Australia b. 27 April 1995 (age 20)

Nick Kyrgios needs no introduction. The highest ranked player of this bunch, he is already facing the top pros and giving them a match. Famously knocked out Rafeal Nadal during Wimbledon 2015 and has also beaten Roger Federer, Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka.
Definitely the most advanced in the is group.
Federer has described his power as "sick" (in a complimentary sense)

Borna Coric
Croatia. b. 14 November 1996 (age 19)

Borna Coric is currently the youngest player in the top 50 of the world rankings. He won the Junior US Open in 2013.
At the 2016 Australian Open, he lost in the first round to Albert Ramos-Viñolas in straight sets but has made it beyond the first round in each of the other majors.

Andrey Rublev
Russia b.20 October 1997 (age 18)

Andrey Rublev is a former Junior French Open Winner. He made his grandslam debut at 2015 US Open as qualifier.
In 2016, he did not qualify for the AO and lost to Stan Wawrinka 6-3 6-3 in Chennai.

Frances Tiafoe
USA b. 20 January 1988 (age 18)

At 15 years old, Tiafoe became the youngest boys' singles champion in Orange Bowl history. Turned pro in 2015, winning his first match on the fifth attempt. Qualified as a wildcard for the USO 2015 and lost to Viktor Troicki in straights
In 2016, he lost in the AO qualifiers and never made the main draw.

Taylor Harry Fritz
USA b.October 28, 1997 (age 18)

Has won the USO Open Boys Singles and been a runner up at the Boys Singles in Paris. 6' 4" tall he turned pro in 2015 and won his first match at Eastbourne.
Ranked 154 right now.
In 2016, he qualified for the AO but lost in the 1st round to fellow American Jack Sock in five sets.

Lucas Pouille was also mentioned by @mrzz but we'll have the cut-off at 20 years.

Are we missing anybody?

 

[britbox]

Liking Zverev more and more... I think he's going to develop into a top player.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[Moxie]

Pretty good week for the youngsters, so far. Theim into the SFs in BA and Fritz into the SFs in Memphis. Zverev lost in the QFs to Monfils in Rotterdam, but I would make special mention of his poise in the match against Simon, which is very similar to Fritz's v. Becker today: both got broken in the 3rd, and both held their nerve. I think this crop coming up has some real potential, and they seem hungry for it.

 

[herios]

Pretty good week for the youngsters, so far. Theim into the SFs in BA and Fritz into the SFs in Memphis. Zverev lost in the QFs to Monfils in Rotterdam, but I would make special mention of his poise in the match against Simon, which is very similar to Fritz's v. Becker today: both got broken in the 3rd, and both held their nerve. I think this crop coming up has some real potential, and they seem hungry for it.

I agree with you, with the caveat that Thiem is 4 year older than Zverev and Fritz, so I wuld say he is another promotion.

 

[Moxie]

I agree with you, with the caveat that Thiem is 4 year older than Zverev and Fritz, so I wpuld say he is another promotion.

I'm not sure what you meant that Thiem is another "promotion." A different age-group? I wouldn't agree with that. He's a little older, but he's certainly not in the Nishikori/Raonic/Dimitrov group.

 

[isabelle]

Hope that Fritz won't finish like Harrisson...

 

[britbox]

 

[herios]

I'm not sure what you meant that Thiem is another "promotion." A different age-group? I wouldn't agree with that. He's a little older, but he's certainly not in the Nishikori/Raonic/Dimitrov group.

Thiem is 22, for me he is a different group than Zverev and Fritz, based on a 4 year age gap, but also how much more experice he has on the tour. He has won 3 titles, he turned pro 4 years ago and he has finished in the top 20 last year.

 

[Billie]

I would imagine Thiem and Fritz reaching their respective finals will reflect nicely on their ATP rankings tomorrow.

 

[herios]

Hope that Fritz won't finish like Harrisson...[/QUOTThere is no chance in hell f

Hope that Fritz won't finish like Harrisson...

No chance in hell.
There is a reason I came out a few weeks ago (Jan. 16, precisely) saying that I am backing up Taylor Fritz, as one of the best future players, because I did a thorough homework on him, after an article caught my eye. Here is the extract:

"Fritz, who is playing this week in Las Vegas after winning those back-to-back events in Sacramento and Fairfield challengers – tournaments that are a step down from ATP tournaments – has joined an illustrious group of eight players who won multiple Challengers before turning 18, among them Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro and Tomas Berdych. The key was stepping up in pressure moments, saving 47 of 51 break points over both weeks"

His mental toughness is one of his strengths, and that will carry him a long way.

 

[herios]

I would imagine Thiem and Fritz reaching their respective finals will reflect nicely on their ATP rankings tomorrow.

For Thiem, no. The reason is, in the top 20, there are sometimes large point gaps, and a 250 will not make much of a difference. Even if he wins today, Dominic gains no spots at all.
Taylor Fritz on another hand gains a lot, because he entered the event ranked 145, there in that range you find players very close to each other.

 

[The Lad]

Noah Rubin might not go on an instant success run like Fritz did last week but will make a move up the rankings over the next couple of months. At least my prediction.

 

[britbox]

@The Lad - who do you see making the biggest waves this year from the young bunch?

 

[britbox]

 

[EdbergsGhost]

T.F. needs to work on his speaking skills. Playing Delray Beach, we'll see how well he holds up in back to back tournaments after getting to the final in the Memphis.

 

[calitennis127]

I haven't seen Chung either. The ones I've seen who look like they have the most potential are Kyrgios and Coric. I do like Tomic's game when he buckles down and plays. Will keep an eye out for Chung.

What ever happened to Pospisil? He at least has some athleticism.....

But it really is amazing how much the game has declined in the past 6-8 years. It just isn't what it used to be.

 

[britbox]

What ever happened to Pospisil? He at least has some athleticism.....

But it really is amazing how much the game has declined in the past 6-8 years. It just isn't what it used to be.

He's not a young gun these days - 26 in a few months.