Shadowlight
Master
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Messages
- 3,882
Starting next week but first a bit of tennis news.
The French Open is introducing a stricter dress code. Not quite as strict as Wimbledon but they announced that Serena will not be allowed to wear her "cat suit."
Once in a while reason prevails in this day and age. People just want to watch a simple tennis match without being subjected to torture.
On the men's side the rumblings are growing louder. When are the "youngsters" going to start asserting themselves? The big three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic loom so large over the field most experts feel one of the three will take the title. Their greatness is universally undisputed. And their long reign has been spectacular to witness.
But in tennis I still keep asking the question of where is the bold young upstart who will rearrange things in a heartbeat? Heck the history of tennis has been built on that premise.
Give or take a couple of other players the following four are players most think could break through at anytime. I am not so sure.
Frances Tiafoe- An American black. From the killer over hype of Donald Young to the seemingly stalled career of Gael Monfils the tennis world has been openly aching for a black male player to emerge on top. Thankfully it hasn't happened because it would be insufferable. As for Tiafoe I haven't seen him much at all but I get the impression he could end up being solid but not top tier as far as I can tell at this point. Needless to say I am not rooting for him.
Alexander Zverev--the 6'6" German has been touted for over a year now and he has stubbed his toe this year at the majors. I am not a big fan of his game even though he does have talent.
The next two are more to my liking.
Dennis Shapovalov took the tennis world by storm last year but he has stalled a bit this year. Just a glitch as he moves forward (not unheard of for budding young players) or is he yet another over hyped young player?
He is a bundle of excitement and would be a real plus if he could emerge and become a top player.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, only 19, has just entered into the big time playing Nadal tough in a recent final. An athletic 6'4" player from Greece he easily fits the mold of Borg and or a young Agassi. The type that makes girls swoon. Like Shapovalov he has that exciting it factor going for his game.
This old vs. young scenario will be a clear background factor as we approach the prestigious US Open.
The French Open is introducing a stricter dress code. Not quite as strict as Wimbledon but they announced that Serena will not be allowed to wear her "cat suit."
Once in a while reason prevails in this day and age. People just want to watch a simple tennis match without being subjected to torture.
On the men's side the rumblings are growing louder. When are the "youngsters" going to start asserting themselves? The big three of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic loom so large over the field most experts feel one of the three will take the title. Their greatness is universally undisputed. And their long reign has been spectacular to witness.
But in tennis I still keep asking the question of where is the bold young upstart who will rearrange things in a heartbeat? Heck the history of tennis has been built on that premise.
Give or take a couple of other players the following four are players most think could break through at anytime. I am not so sure.
Frances Tiafoe- An American black. From the killer over hype of Donald Young to the seemingly stalled career of Gael Monfils the tennis world has been openly aching for a black male player to emerge on top. Thankfully it hasn't happened because it would be insufferable. As for Tiafoe I haven't seen him much at all but I get the impression he could end up being solid but not top tier as far as I can tell at this point. Needless to say I am not rooting for him.
Alexander Zverev--the 6'6" German has been touted for over a year now and he has stubbed his toe this year at the majors. I am not a big fan of his game even though he does have talent.
The next two are more to my liking.
Dennis Shapovalov took the tennis world by storm last year but he has stalled a bit this year. Just a glitch as he moves forward (not unheard of for budding young players) or is he yet another over hyped young player?
He is a bundle of excitement and would be a real plus if he could emerge and become a top player.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, only 19, has just entered into the big time playing Nadal tough in a recent final. An athletic 6'4" player from Greece he easily fits the mold of Borg and or a young Agassi. The type that makes girls swoon. Like Shapovalov he has that exciting it factor going for his game.
This old vs. young scenario will be a clear background factor as we approach the prestigious US Open.