Who's Next?

[Moxie]

Rather than revive the old Next Gen/Next Next Gen threads, I thought I'd start a new one for the under 25's. Medvedev got closest yet to cracking the glass ceiling. Inspiration for the younger players? At least he made a final of a Major. There are currently 19 players under 25 years old in the top 50. 4 in the top 10. (BTW, this excludes Thiem, who is 26.) Of the under-25's, who do you think is next? I'm going to make this a multiple choice poll, so you can pick everyone you like. Then we can discuss how everyone sees their up-/downsides.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Medvedev's game is interesting in that in many ways is a throwback to traditional counterpunchers, which doesn't make him particularly exciting, shot-making wise, but definitely very good. He's like a mix between Gilles Simon and Andy Murray (better than the former, not as good as the latter). He's a bigger Simon with a better serve, but he lacks Murray's touch, overall variety and all around talent. His game also reminds me of Denis Istomin except much better. One thing Medvedev can do that Simon did well is the sudden injection of pace out of nowhere, instead of always reminding on the opponent's pace. He has the fire power for it, and it's something Simon did well after lulling his opponents to sleep (Medvedev isn't nearly as boring, mind you).

What separates him from everyone else in the Next Gen though, is the mentality. Completely in a league of his own and it's why I expect him to do well. It's not that his game is super impressive or a flavor of the month kind of thing.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Good analysis. The next 5 years will definitely be a battle between Nadal and Medvedev for the slams and the no.1 ranking...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Medvedev will be a good choice for future #1 (somebody else had a thread on that) due to his consistence. However, I still think some other young player would win a major before Med. Most probably it will be Perseus.

 

[backhandslapper]

Medvedev will be a good choice for future #1 (somebody else had a thread on that) due to his consistence. However, I still think some other young player would win a major before Med. Most probably it will be Perseus.

You mean the shoe joke cracker?

I like Khachanov, DeMinaur and Kyrgios (this may surprise some, but I actually like Nick, his bad boy shtick aside).

I mean, there's plenty of good players on the horizon. I swear, if the Big 3 retires tomorrow, the tour will be just fine.

 

[don_fabio]

I also think Medvedev could be the one. Though he is not the most exciting to watch as broken pointed out, but plays very effective and showed most consistency of all next gen guys. His mentality in the final was really surprising and he bought me.

I also wonder how often can we expect the big 3 to start losing to younger guys on slams. They all showed they are human in USO. There were some injuries, but none of the big3 played really great tennis.

Will be interesting to see how well prepared they all come down under in AO 20.

 

[Moxie]

You mean the shoe joke cracker?

I like Khachanov, DeMinaur and Kyrgios (this may surprise some, but I actually like Nick, his bad boy shtick aside).

I mean, there's plenty of good players on the horizon. I swear, if the Big 3 retires tomorrow, the tour will be just fine.

I actually think Tsitsipas is still a very good option. He has a good baseline game, but also a good North/South one. He's brave and can be aggressive, and he's ambitious. I think Khachanov is good, but I don't think he's multi-dimensional enough. Haven't seen a lot of DeMinaur, but not yet convinced. I do rather like Nick's game, too, but I think he's got too many issues, and is about to get passed by guys more serious about winning big.

 

[Moxie]

I also think Medvedev could be the one. Though he is not the most exciting to watch as broken pointed out, but plays very effective and showed most consistency of all next gen guys. His mentality in the final was really surprising and he bought me.

I also wonder how often can we expect the big 3 to start losing to younger guys on slams. They all showed they are human in USO. There were some injuries, but none of the big3 played really great tennis.

Will be interesting to see how well prepared they all come down under in AO 20.

I expected Medvedev to do well in this conversation, recency bias being a thing. That said, he has a lot of upside, not the least of which is his intelligence on court, and his guts. And stamina. And he's grown like a weed in the last few months. First Next Gen (+) to make a final of a Major.

As to the Big 3 and USO...I actually think that Rafa did play great tennis. He was understandably tight in the final, and then pulled it out, because he is a great champion. Kudos to Medvedev, though, for hanging in and taking his chances. But surely you're right that the Big 3 won't hold the line forever, or even much longer. Between injuries, which put 2 of 3 out in this USO, and just getting skunked by the youngsters...I expect to see more changes next year.

 

[don_fabio]

I expected Medvedev to do well in this conversation, recency bias being a thing. That said, he has a lot of upside, not the least of which is his intelligence on court, and his guts. And stamina. And he's grown like a weed in the last few months. First Next Gen (+) to make a final of a Major.

As to the Big 3 and USO...I actually think that Rafa did play great tennis. He was understandably tight in the final, and then pulled it out, because he is a great champion. Kudos to Medvedev, though, for hanging in and taking his chances. But surely you're right that the Big 3 won't hold the line forever, or even much longer. Between injuries, which put 2 of 3 out in this USO, and just getting skunked by the youngsters...I expect to see more changes next year.

I didn't want to underestimate Rafa's game in the USO, I just judged from what some people said and I actually didn't watch him until the final. I do also like Tsitsipas, but he fell in form after a great first half of the season, which is normal given his age.

There is a huge amount of points on offer until the end of season and these young fellas should take their chances in improving their rankings even more so they will have better chances in going deep in slams in a near future, semis or more.

 

[Moxie]

I didn't want to underestimate Rafa's game in the USO, I just judged from what some people said and I actually didn't watch him until the final. I do also like Tsitsipas, but he fell in form after a great first half of the season, which is normal given his age.

There is a huge amount of points on offer until the end of season and these young fellas should take their chances in improving their rankings even more so they will have better chances in going deep in slams in a near future, semis or more.

If you only saw Nadal in the final, you would definitely have questions about his form. But it really was nerves, imo, and the pressure of a huge opportunity to lose.

One of the reasons I made this thread is precisely because some like Tsitsipas and FAA, etc., have given a glimmer of real star potential, and then not quite managed it, for now. Of course, Zverev is the poster-child for failed potential amongst the Next Gen. Then probably Nick. Maybe Medvedev is going to give a lot of young guys the kick in the pants that they need. Or, maybe he is the strongest one of them all. I just don't think his game is the best of them all. Oh, yeah, and Berrettini, for the kick in the pants, too.

I think you make a good point about what's on offer for the young guns during this last run at the end of the year. Novak and Roger a bit hurt, for the moment, and Rafa may be a bit cautious about his choices. Last year, Khachanov won Paris and Zverev won the WTF. The smart guys amongst the youngsters should be angling for some serious points, and even sneaking in some good wins.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Rafa played amazing and should have finished the match in 3. He was extremely solid and playing at an unbelievable level. Even though he probably had a bad moment to be broken back, credit has to go to Medvedev who absolutely was painting the lines on every shot for the rest of the set and the match. Nadal was still able to hang in there and eventually get the win but Medvedev was playing the amazing level that brought him a stunning summer season where he pretty much beat everybody. Nadal was still amazing and to say that he was not playing at a high-level is also an insult to Medvedev and everyone he beat this summer.

 

[Moxie]

Rafa played amazing and should have finished the match in 3. He was extremely solid and playing at an unbelievable level. Even though he probably had a bad moment to be broken back, credit has to go to Medvedev who absolutely was painting the lines on every shot for the rest of the set and the match. Nadal was still able to hang in there and eventually get the win but Medvedev was playing the amazing level that brought him a stunning summer season where he pretty much beat everybody. Nadal was still amazing and to say that he was not playing at a high-level is also an insult to Medvedev and everyone he beat this summer.

Not talking about Nadal on this thread.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I didn't want to underestimate Rafa's game in the USO, I just judged from what some people said and I actually didn't watch him until the final. I do also like Tsitsipas, but he fell in form after a great first half of the season, which is normal given his age.

There is a huge amount of points on offer until the end of season and these young fellas should take their chances in improving their rankings even more so they will have better chances in going deep in slams in a near future, semis or more.

If you only saw Nadal in the final, you would definitely have questions about his form. But it really was nerves, imo, and the pressure of a huge opportunity to lose.

One of the reasons I made this thread is precisely because some like Tsitsipas and FAA, etc., have given a glimmer of real star potential, and then not quite managed it, for now. Of course, Zverev is the poster-child for failed potential amongst the Next Gen. Then probably Nick. Maybe Medvedev is going to give a lot of young guys the kick in the pants that they need. Or, maybe he is the strongest one of them all. I just don't think his game is the best of them all. Oh, yeah, and Berrettini, for the kick in the pants, too.

I think you make a good point about what's on offer for the young guns during this last run at the end of the year. Novak and Roger a bit hurt, for the moment, and Rafa may be a bit cautious about his choices. Last year, Khachanov won Paris and Zverev won the WTF. The smart guys amongst the youngsters should be angling for some serious points, and even sneaking in some good wins.

@Moxie Yes you guys were talking about Nadal.

 

[Moxie]

@Moxie Yes you guys were talking about Nadal.

In the context of the Next Gen. But you're the one who brings him in unbidden. Could you give that a rest?

 

[Nadalfan2013]

In the context of the Next Gen. But you're the one who brings him in unbidden. Could you give that a rest?

Stop being a crybaby. You guys questioned his form and I disagreed. Move on.

 

[Moxie]

Stop being a crybaby

You're trolling all threads with Rafa crap. No one is crying...just thinking was a ass you are.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

You're trolling all threads with Rafa crap. No one is crying...just thinking was a ass you are.

I learned to troll from watching Federer fans do it for the last 10-15 years, so talk to them. Federer fans who were moderators were banning Nadal fans from forum after forum just for questioning Federer's GOATness and defending Nadal. Meanwhile they insult Nadal over and over as a ped cheat, only clay champion, faking injuries, etc. over and over. So please stop complaining about my few little "go Nadal" comments.

 

[Moxie]

I learned to troll from watching Federer fans do it for the last 10-15 years, so talk to them. Federer fans who were moderators were banning Nadal fans from forum after forum just for questioning Federer's GOATness and defending Nadal. Meanwhile they insult Nadal over and over as a ped cheat, only clay champion, faking injuries, etc. over and over. So please stop complaining about my few little "go Nadal" comments.

At least you admit you're a troll. I'm not sure what forums you've been on, but this one doesn't favor one fan-base over another. You can see that. For sure, there are Fed fans who say horrible things about Nadal here. I spend a lot of effort combatting that crap. But that doesn't excuse your trolling every thread with pablum about Nadal. IMO, it doesn't serve the cause. If you were a real Nadal fan, you'd stop being that troll that feeds the ire of the Fedfans. Try talking about the tennis and stop being a troll. That's my opinion.

 

[Ricardo]

I expected Medvedev to do well in this conversation, recency bias being a thing. That said, he has a lot of upside, not the least of which is his intelligence on court, and his guts. And stamina. And he's grown like a weed in the last few months. First Next Gen (+) to make a final of a Major.

As to the Big 3 and USO...I actually think that Rafa did play great tennis. He was understandably tight in the final, and then pulled it out, because he is a great champion. Kudos to Medvedev, though, for hanging in and taking his chances. But surely you're right that the Big 3 won't hold the line forever, or even much longer. Between injuries, which put 2 of 3 out in this USO, and just getting skunked by the youngsters...I expect to see more changes next year.

Djoker wasn’t beat by injury, Stanimal can beat any version of Djoker. Federer on the other hand, should beat Dimi every time if not injured, prior to this he lost one sided pretty much every time.

 

[Ricardo]

I learned to troll from watching Federer fans do it for the last 10-15 years, so talk to them. Federer fans who were moderators were banning Nadal fans from forum after forum just for questioning Federer's GOATness and defending Nadal. Meanwhile they insult Nadal over and over as a ped cheat, only clay champion, faking injuries, etc. over and over. So please stop complaining about my few little "go Nadal" comments.

Oh u r so cute, well many were not impressed with Nadals gamesmanship not just Fed fans.