Year of the teenager?

[Luxilon Borg]

Is the year of the teenager?? Will the second half of this decade see a teen winning a slam, 80s style?

With the coming out part of Nikki K, Zverev, and today, with 17 year old Coric beating veteran
Roger V, eyebrows are being raised. uzzled

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

 

[Moxie]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

Funny thing, the mantra of today's tennis is how "physical" the game is, and it IS. The conventional wisdom is that it takes a good five years to get physically robust enough to sustain any success. These recent results are rather surprising. Zverev's run was remarkable.

The other story line was the rise of the 30 something's.

 

[Moxie]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

Funny thing, the mantra of today's tennis is how "physical" the game is, and it IS. The conventional wisdom is that it takes a good five years to get physically robust enough to sustain any success. These recent results are rather surprising. Zverev's run was remarkable.

The other story line was the rise of the 30 something's.

There is still always the possibility of the preternaturally mature prodigy. Strong for their age, and unusually focused. Nadal was the last one, but Agassi was one, too. One or more of these kids might have that.

Your other point, as to the 30-somethings…also good question, though we've explored it a lot. Fitness is in there, and maturity. Tennis smarts. The chances are much better that a very good player could grow into being an excellent one, than a teenager could turn up nearly fully formed. But I don't believe the era of the teenage prodigy is over. Let's see if this crop can produce one.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

Funny thing, the mantra of today's tennis is how "physical" the game is, and it IS. The conventional wisdom is that it takes a good five years to get physically robust enough to sustain any success. These recent results are rather surprising. Zverev's run was remarkable.

The other story line was the rise of the 30 something's.

There is still always the possibility of the preternaturally mature prodigy. Strong for their age, and unusually focused. Nadal was the last one, but Agassi was one, too. One or more of these kids might have that.

Your other point, as to the 30-somethings…also good question, though we've explored it a lot. Fitness is in there, and maturity. Tennis smarts. The chances are much better that a very good player could grow into being an excellent one, than a teenager could turn up nearly fully formed. But I don't believe the era of the teenage prodigy is over. Let's see if this crop can produce one.

Good points.

I mean, when can you last remember two 17 year olds within a week beating ATP vets?

Btw, I think Agassi was physically immature when he broke out. He just had racket speed and the ability to take the ball so early that it really was a big problem for the players who has not seen this kind of pace before from both sides.

He became a physical animal later.

Sampras was also a paper tiger when he broke out. It took 3 years for him to get into amazing shape, and he did.

 

[Moxie]

lot lot lot <<more raised eyebrows.

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

Funny thing, the mantra of today's tennis is how "physical" the game is, and it IS. The conventional wisdom is that it takes a good five years to get physically robust enough to sustain any success. These recent results are rather surprising. Zverev's run was remarkable.

The other story line was the rise of the 30 something's.

There is still always the possibility of the preternaturally mature prodigy. Strong for their age, and unusually focused. Nadal was the last one, but Agassi was one, too. One or more of these kids might have that.

Your other point, as to the 30-somethings…also good question, though we've explored it a lot. Fitness is in there, and maturity. Tennis smarts. The chances are much better that a very good player could grow into being an excellent one, than a teenager could turn up nearly fully formed. But I don't believe the era of the teenage prodigy is over. Let's see if this crop can produce one.

Good points.

I mean, when can you last remember two 17 year olds within a week beating ATP vets?

Btw, I think Agassi was physically immature when he broke out. He just had racket speed and the ability to take the ball so early that it really was a big problem for the players who has not seen this kind of pace before from both sides.

He became a physical animal later.

Sampras was also a paper tiger when he broke out. It took 3 years for him to get into amazing shape, and he did.

Funnily, both Sampras and Federer were wines that took just a bit longer to age. Though not that long, by the lay-abouts these days who just seem to make a shout at 24. :laydownlaughing

 

[Kieran]

Pete was 19 when he won a major, so not too tardy.

I wonder if we were too hasty in saying that the game is too physical for teenagers. Maybe the generation after Rafa really are that bad, and he'll be replaced by someone soon as the last teenager to win a major. We'll see. Murray was a calf when he beat Roger, and so was Berdych, if I recall. These newbies have to show they can win when there's some attention on them, too...

 

[herios]

Pete was 19 when he won a major, so not too tardy.

I wonder if we were too hasty in saying that the game is too physical for teenagers. Maybe the generation after Rafa really are that bad, and he'll be replaced by someone soon as the last teenager to win a major. We'll see. Murray was a calf when he beat Roger, and so was Berdych, if I recall. These newbies have to show they can win when there's some attention on them, too...

I will be more conservative on this subject. Until I see confirmation from this group, I will stay on the sidelines. There were way too many false starts (Tomic, Harrison comes to mind).

 

[Kieran]

Pete was 19 when he won a major, so not too tardy.

I wonder if we were too hasty in saying that the game is too physical for teenagers. Maybe the generation after Rafa really are that bad, and he'll be replaced by someone soon as the last teenager to win a major. We'll see. Murray was a calf when he beat Roger, and so was Berdych, if I recall. These newbies have to show they can win when there's some attention on them, too...

I will be more conservative on this subject. Until I see confirmation from this group, I will stay on the sidelines. There were way too many false starts (Tomic, Harrison comes to mind).

Exactly. We'll see. I agree with you, that until these youngsters win under greater pressure and when the target is on their back, then all we're seeing now is natural signs of development, but nothing too exceptional. When Berdych beat Federer as a 17 or 18 year old, there was an expectation that he might become a great player.

Didn't happen...

 

[indepthstats]

I don't know if they will, but I'd love to see it.

As much as I think the Rafa Fed and Djok are incredibly mentally tough, and deserve everything they have, it seems like forever since a newcomer has really challenged anyone for the top couple spots.

 

[El Dude]

I don't think Zverev, Coric, or Garin are going to beat any top 10 players anytime soon. Even all-time greats usually don't start playing at a high level until about age 19. But in a couple years? Perhaps. They are certainly promising.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Is this from a lesser known Chinese calender? I've heard about the year of the rat, monkey etc but teenager?:snigger

 

[Moxie]

I watched Coric a bit in the rerun this morning. He's not afraid of the net.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Pete was 19 when he won a major, so not too tardy.

I wonder if we were too hasty in saying that the game is too physical for teenagers. Maybe the generation after Rafa really are that bad, and he'll be replaced by someone soon as the last teenager to win a major. We'll see. Murray was a calf when he beat Roger, and so was Berdych, if I recall. These newbies have to show they can win when there's some attention on them, too...

I will be more conservative on this subject. Until I see confirmation from this group, I will stay on the sidelines. There were way too many false starts (Tomic, Harrison comes to mind).

Good point. There is a big difference in pulling off a few big wins and actually breaking in to the top ten, winning a masters or a slam, and sustaining it, like Becker, Chang, Agassi, Nadal, etc.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Is this from a lesser known Chinese calender? I've heard about the year of the rat, monkey etc but teenager?:snigger

Heh heh, updated Chinese Calender. They ran out of animals.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I don't know if they will, but I'd love to see it.

As much as I think the Rafa Fed and Djok are incredibly mentally tough, and deserve everything they have, it seems like forever since a newcomer has really challenged anyone for the top couple spots.

Of course it has been forever..the Big Four have held on to their spots with iron fists.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Pete was 19 when he won a major, so not too tardy.

I wonder if we were too hasty in saying that the game is too physical for teenagers. Maybe the generation after Rafa really are that bad, and he'll be replaced by someone soon as the last teenager to win a major. We'll see. Murray was a calf when he beat Roger, and so was Berdych, if I recall. These newbies have to show they can win when there's some attention on them, too...

I will be more conservative on this subject. Until I see confirmation from this group, I will stay on the sidelines. There were way too many false starts (Tomic, Harrison comes to mind).

Exactly. We'll see. I agree with you, that until these youngsters win under greater pressure and when the target is on their back, then all we're seeing now is natural signs of development, but nothing too exceptional. When Berdych beat Federer as a 17 or 18 year old, there was an expectation that he might become a great player.

Didn't happen...

Berdych was physically developed far beyond his age when he was 18.

He has not broken in to the top few spots due to glaring weaknesses...his mental toughness waivers, and his movement has always been an issue. Several slam finals and host of semis is still not bad, and he was certainly not a flash in the pan.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

You get extra credit for having spotted Coric ages ago. Also, Garin is in the mix. I'd love to see a teenager break out. This whole crew could put to shame those early 20-somethings that can't seem make a statement, for the most part. Let's see if they do.

Funny thing, the mantra of today's tennis is how "physical" the game is, and it IS. The conventional wisdom is that it takes a good five years to get physically robust enough to sustain any success. These recent results are rather surprising. Zverev's run was remarkable.

The other story line was the rise of the 30 something's.

There is still always the possibility of the preternaturally mature prodigy. Strong for their age, and unusually focused. Nadal was the last one, but Agassi was one, too. One or more of these kids might have that.

Your other point, as to the 30-somethings…also good question, though we've explored it a lot. Fitness is in there, and maturity. Tennis smarts. The chances are much better that a very good player could grow into being an excellent one, than a teenager could turn up nearly fully formed. But I don't believe the era of the teenage prodigy is over. Let's see if this crop can produce one.

Good points.

I mean, when can you last remember two 17 year olds within a week beating ATP vets?

Btw, I think Agassi was physically immature when he broke out. He just had racket speed and the ability to take the ball so early that it really was a big problem for the players who has not seen this kind of pace before from both sides.

He became a physical animal later.

Sampras was also a paper tiger when he broke out. It took 3 years for him to get into amazing shape, and he did.

Funnily, both Sampras and Federer were wines that took just a bit longer to age. Though not that long, by the lay-abouts these days who just seem to make a shout at 24. :laydownlaughing

Well, let's look at that. Sampras's 1990 US Open win was a shocker. He was not ready for it.

He had a three year slam drought, then in 93 started on the road to breaking Emerson's record.

By contrast, Roger won the Big W in 2003, then went on to win a slam ever year after 8 or 9 years running. Big difference in the way they developed.

 

[Kieran]

No, not a flash in the pan. But if anybody judged him a future great, or slam champ, because he defeated Federer as a greenhorn, they were wrong. Likewise, the current kids look great and I hope they swing like wild things for a long time yet, but rookie wins don't carry the same weight as victories when there's something expected of them.

I said the same about Kyrgios: the usual caveats are in place, but things look promising...