Who would shock you most if...

[Kieran]

Who would shock you the most if they won a slam in 2017?

And why?

 

[Kieran]

Berdych for me because I can't imagine any set of circumstances where he'd hold it together long enough to dispatch anybody in a slam final. Even if his opponent had the bubonic plague and a severe toothache, causing blurred vision and demented headaches, drooling saliva, bulging eyes, diarrhoea, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, and shoulder-cramps so acute that his arms needed to be amputated mid-serve, Berdych would drop a calf and go down in 4...

 

[El Dude]

Yup, Berdych. Pretty much what you said, except perhaps without the diarrhea.

A bit more. Tsonga and Berdy will forever be linked. Berdy has been a bit more consisent, but Tsonga capable of a higher level - so Berdy is less likely, in my opinion. Kei is a similar level player but on the right side of 30, so has a better chance. Grigor is a wild-card and is playing great, and the young guys all up-and-coming, ready to breakthrough to another level.

So Berdy it is.

 

[sid]

Atm I don't see any of em winning a Slam Nishikori best of the bunch to win one.Have to agree on what's been said on Berdych that boat has long sailed.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Berdych is talented though. His forehand, attacking ROS could have been much bigger weapons. I don't understand his problem. His FH looks great but he makes on an average 2 to 3 UEs in each game.

 

[El Dude]

Atm I don't see any of em winning a Slam Nishikori best of the bunch to win one.Have to agree on what's been said on Berdych that boat has long sailed.

Now or ever? Now, sure - it is hard to imagine. But ever? Kyrgios, Thiem, and Zverev all have very good chances. No matter what people think, the Big Four won't be around and playing at a high level forever. Even if they manage to dominate for two or three more years, come the beginning of 2020, Thiem will still be just 26, Kyrgios 24, and Zverev just 22 -- all prime years. Meanwhile, Roger will be 38, Rafa 33, Novak and Andy 32.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Monfils..afterwards the antics at the USO 2016

 

[Kieran]

Monfils..afterwards the antics at the USO 2016

Yeah, I left him off the list because basically he's just too soft a target.

I agree with the Dude about the younger players, they can't be discounted from winning a slam in the future, a few slams even, but in 2017? I'd be fairly shocked, but glad too...

 

[mrzz]

It is hard to argue against Berdych, specially after all the technical reasons Kieran exposed, but Ferrer would be a good addition to the list, and probably the second best guess.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Berdych for me because I can't imagine any set of circumstances where he'd hold it together long enough to dispatch anybody in a slam final. Even if his opponent had the bubonic plague and a severe toothache, causing blurred vision and demented headaches, drooling saliva, bulging eyes, diarrhoea, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, and shoulder-cramps so acute that his arms needed to be amputated mid-serve, Berdych would drop a calf and go down in 4...

Yes..if you are in a bar fight or in a battle, Berdych wouldn't be my soldier of choice :nono

 

[sid]

If had to pick i'd go with Raonic who's not on this list,Grigor does not hold it together enough & atm can't see him winning Slams.Nishikori beat Murray over 5 sets then had nothing left @ USO v Stan.This is the problem one beats say Nole or Andy odd's are thay have to face the other,it's having enough left in the tank.

 

[Fiero425]

If had to pick i'd go with Raonic who's not on this list,Grigor does not hold it together enough & atm can't see him winning Slams.Nishikori beat Murray over 5 sets then had nothing left @ USO v Stan.This is the problem one beats say Nole or Andy odd's are thay have to face the other,it's having enough left in the tank.

The BIG 2's game can keep them in matches when another backup game's isn't enough to win on their worst days! Love Raonic and his game, but he has to be "in the zone;" no real back up game when in trouble! He'll get by most of the scrubs, but he has to be on top of his game to win over the elites; any and all! They know all they need to do is kick the ball back anyway possible and Milos will spray shots all over the place! That doesn't happen with most elite players who weather storms all the time; some historic comebacks! Looking forward to any upset just to prove the tour is still legit! It's gotten to be embarrassing the last decade with so few wins outside 4 or 5 players! Not sure it was that bad back in the pre-Open era! We know it happens a lot with the ladies, even with all their talent, the WTA was usually ruled by 2 players; maybe 4 at the most! I'm hoping for someone out of nowhere like Kygrios, Zverev, or Theim! It wouldn't bother me to have Milos or Dimitrov, but no reason it shouldn't continue to be owned by Nole! I just hope for another FO later in the season! I'm not greedy for him! I'd rather he have balance; totally opposite of Nadal who's numbers have gotten fat on clay tournaments! :nono :cover

 

[mrzz]

Boys, read the OP....

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, Mad Milos isn't on the list because he'd be the lesser shock of all The Missing link generation of nobodies. he's been inching forward in a way that tsonga etc have never had the nerve or discipline to.

I'd be most shocked by Berdych, because I'd think then that something fundamental has gone horribly wrong in the game, and it'd make me look at the world differently, as if it was an alien place I'd never seen before...

 

[El Dude]

I don't see Rafa as an option.

 

[Kieran]

I don't see Rafa as an option.

Actually, I was gonna have Fedal as an option, either one, but I didn't want the thread to be instantly hijacked by another Fedal war...

 

[the AntiPusher]

I don't see Rafa as an option.

If Rafa wins it can Miss Carol be moderator during the French Open :clap

 

[isabelle]

Grigor is my choice but Fedal would have been a good option too

 

[Kieran]

Grigor is my choice but Fedal would have been a good option too

Grigor would be a huge shock too. Okay, he signalled himself a little in Brisbane, but usually that means he'll drop a calf in round 1 of Oz. And then float around doing nothing much of anything the rest of the year. Fickle and feckless, he'd be a huge surprise if 2017 brought about a major win...

 

[Rational National]

Thiem - The Davydenko reincarnate - great at the 250/500 events but almost nothing to show for it come slam time. At the moment I am putting him down as a hyped up flat track bully until I see some minerals