I can also add the the great hair list " Rublev, The Silver Fox aka Borg' Sinner,before he cut off his curls, though he is growing it back, Ruud,@El Dude...one of Margaret's intangibles is "great hair."
Nice addition, Moxie. Re: this comment on Kyrgios, I wonder if people (including yourself) would feel differently if he had put his full talent to use, and been one of the big guns over the last half decade...he might be less likable. He's been more of a carnival act, like Monfils. Really fun to watch, but less so as a serious threat in a Slam or as a force on tour.
This brings up a good point: maybe we'll collectively be less focused on the very best guys, because (presumably) there will be more of a gradual curve from the very top into the second tier. Of course that's assuming that Alcaraz only becomes garden variety great, or even Sampras great...not Big Three great. Who knows, at this point.
Thanks! Basically you're asking if I would like Kyrgios (and Monfils) less if they'd done better. To the extent that I can project that, I would say I think I would still really champion both. And do remember here, you are conflating 2 things: one is fandom, and another is serious threat on tour. They don't have to be the same thing. Think of our old buddy, Cali. He was hopelessly devoted to Nalbandian, even though the man was one of the great underachievers of the Open Era. Now THAT is fandom. #respect. As to Kyrgios, I don't know if he'd proved a big Rafa-killer if I'd feel the same, but I DO like his rebel streak, his stance on the pandemic, and calling some folks out on it. (That's me, and surely not you.) I appreciate him being open about his mental health and substance abuse issues. I also think he's cheeky and funny. And talented. That's the way he hits me.
Again I will say: Just because we take on a new favorite doesn't have to be because we think they will be the Next Big Thing. Those are 2 different questions. Who do I think will be the next great men's player, and who do I think will be my next favorite player ARE, rather, 2 different questions, or can be.
I totally agree that the hard factions are softening. Myself, I softened towards Roger as he got older. When he felt less of a threat, and he, himself got a bit more humble with age, I could appreciate his game, and realize that I liked him a lot. Yes, I do believe that the Fedalovic Wars will continue for some time, but the factions will blur when we find ourselves in the same camp with the next guy. That will be the funny part. Even now, we find ourselves agreeing on young players, where we were in the past opposite camps on the Big 3. It will be interesting to see where we start to fall behind them, as time goes on, and Nadal and Djokovic finally quit.
I was waiting the Nordic elephant in the room (fan) to raise its head. I still don't know if you're serious or taking the piss. I guess we'll find out eventually. #GOT
Moxie, i do actually like Holger’s moxie. He’s fiesty and raw but even in his last few match losses he’s throwing everything out there on the court.
I am definitely giving him extra credit for hanging in there in the Acapulco final. It's was final, and you have to see it out, which he did. He was clearly suffering. And while his game doesn't sing to my soul, he's talented and fierce. Fearless and fearsome. I'm willing to hope he turns out to be the real deal. Just not sure yet if I can put both of my arms around him.
He’s a Danish teddy bear, wrap your arms around him, i promise he won’t bite! (too hard).
As we say here in the south of Brazil "Não tá morto quem peleia". (You're ain't dead if you're fighting).
Well, Thiem has had a pretty good run - I hope he can come back. In my various systems, he comes out below guys like Michael Stich, Juan Martin Del Potro and Daniil Medvedev, but just ahead of guys like Petr Korda and Richard Krajicek. Meaning, he's not among the very best of the "one-Slam wonder" (like Stich and Delpo...Daniil too, but he has a good chance of winning more), but he's on the upper end of the middle of the pack (and way ahead of guys like Gaudio, Johansson, etc). Thiem was a very good player from 2016-20 or so, with 2019-20 being especially good.
Hi Ellentonboy!
I just looked up Lajovic's record, and his most notable performance - and probably what I'm remembering - is reaching the Monte Carlo final in 2019. that's the one that Fognini won (somewhat improbably). Lajovic beat Goffin, Thiem, and Medvedev on route, but must have been blinded by Fabio's good looks.
