Almagro had everything to succeed : He had one of the best serves on clay, had powerful groundstrokes (his backhand was devastating)
It was what was between the ears who prevented him to maximise his talent. He choked and choked many matches he should have won. The match against Nadal at Paris-Bercy (he was leading 6-5 40-0 in the second set), the 2012 Davis Cup matches, the infamous match against Ferrer in the 2014 AO QF (THREE times he had served for the match), the match against Robredo in the 2013 FO 4R. And many others matches on Bo3.
That's the difference between him and Wawrinka (he has exactly the same gamestyle than him : overpowering baseline game ), it is the mental fortitude. Stan was a journeyman too before 2013 but he eventually believed in himself and defeated Fedalovic to win his 3 GS.
Do you think he was a talent if he had worked on the mental aspect he could have achieved more ? He could have been a good rival for Nadal on clay (he pushed Nadal in the 2010 FO more than everyone with two tie-breaks and had beaten him in 2014 Barcelone) and he could have won a clay Master 1000. If the likes of Hurkacz, Kachanov, Janowicz have won a Master 1000, Almagro could very well also deserve one.
He was trash on grass on the other side but he wasn't bad on hardcourt.
We were talking of Nalbandian and his lack of serve and athleticism. Almagro had a very good serve and that's why I think he was maybe a wasted talent. His movement was not elite but not bad.
Little anecdote: Did you know that Almagro had served for the match against Kuerten in the 2004 FO 1R ? (but of course he choked and lost the last three games). Without Kuerten, I think Federer would have won the 2004 FO (although maybe Nalbandian would have been difficult). It's crazy how history can be played out in few things), no way he was losing to Gaudio and choking Coria
It was what was between the ears who prevented him to maximise his talent. He choked and choked many matches he should have won. The match against Nadal at Paris-Bercy (he was leading 6-5 40-0 in the second set), the 2012 Davis Cup matches, the infamous match against Ferrer in the 2014 AO QF (THREE times he had served for the match), the match against Robredo in the 2013 FO 4R. And many others matches on Bo3.
That's the difference between him and Wawrinka (he has exactly the same gamestyle than him : overpowering baseline game ), it is the mental fortitude. Stan was a journeyman too before 2013 but he eventually believed in himself and defeated Fedalovic to win his 3 GS.
Do you think he was a talent if he had worked on the mental aspect he could have achieved more ? He could have been a good rival for Nadal on clay (he pushed Nadal in the 2010 FO more than everyone with two tie-breaks and had beaten him in 2014 Barcelone) and he could have won a clay Master 1000. If the likes of Hurkacz, Kachanov, Janowicz have won a Master 1000, Almagro could very well also deserve one.
He was trash on grass on the other side but he wasn't bad on hardcourt.
We were talking of Nalbandian and his lack of serve and athleticism. Almagro had a very good serve and that's why I think he was maybe a wasted talent. His movement was not elite but not bad.
Little anecdote: Did you know that Almagro had served for the match against Kuerten in the 2004 FO 1R ? (but of course he choked and lost the last three games). Without Kuerten, I think Federer would have won the 2004 FO (although maybe Nalbandian would have been difficult). It's crazy how history can be played out in few things), no way he was losing to Gaudio and choking Coria
