Thanasi

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by TCF

Again....2 totally different discussions.

1. Discussion # 1. How does this match reflect on Johnson and college tennis as he is the champ? Answer.....not sure because it was only one match that they played head to head. Lots can happen in one isolated match.

2. Discussion # 2. Is this kid showing extraordinary tennis talent for his age? Answer, based on his body of work.....multiple wins in main futures, Hopman Cup, etc....yes.

No question that this 16 yr old kid is really good, better than most of the 16 yr old boys in US. He is currently ranked #758 in the world. His best win was beating Jose (Rubin) Statham (NZL) ranked #326, W 6-1, 7-6(3), in late October. Johnson is currently ranked #175. The 10 hr jet lag could be a big excuse for Johnson to have to play a hr long 3rd set.

BTW, did Michael Chang win Roland Garros when he was 16?

[Chemist]

[quote=Alohajrtennis;7107954]JS was not part of PD, he lived at home in Kansas and trained with a private his whole junior career. He has of course received some assistance both before an after turning pro, as has Deit, but he is not a good example of USTA HP wasting money, in fact he is the poster child for why USTA HP PD is an unecessary waste, he's arguably the best American prospect(aside from DB of course ) and PD had almost nothing to do with it.[/QUOTE

JS = Jack Sock? He will be top #100 this year. Not sure if he is capable of winning a grand slam, but he would be as good as Isner. Sock went to a regular school and played high school tennis!

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

During his TV commentary PMac says that USTA HP is looking for the big athletic kids who may not be the highest ranked. But he does the opposite- takes the highly ranked 12's and 14's regardless of size and athleticism. Of the hundreds of juniors I have seen locally there is 1 that stands out. 6'5" at age 16, very athletic, crushes the ball. Ranked high in section- was impressive in zonals. USTA HP has never called or emailed this kid. I just can't figure USTA out.

Andre Agassi is 5'11" tall
Pete Sampras measures 6'1"
Roger Federer is as tall as Pete and so is Rafa
Novak is only an inch taller than Rafa
Michael Chang did not look taller than 5'6"

How about Ollie Rochus? 5'5" is on the record!

Don't recall when and where I read an article that said that the best height for tennis is about 6'.

[TCF]

==========================

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by TCF

Yes, a check through the top 20, shows the ideal height for a top player is 6'1"ish. And its likely players add a tad to their reported heights.

Pat Mac has no idea what to look for....no one really does. Just support the game at all levels and the talent will be discovered along the way.

Agree! I wanted to know if USTA PD actually did something special to make Sampras, Agassi, Courier and Chang who they are.

[Rob_C]

Originally Posted by Chemist

No question that this 16 yr old kid is really good, better than most of the 16 yr old boys in US. He is currently ranked #758 in the world. His best win was beating Jose (Rubin) Statham (NZL) ranked #326, W 6-1, 7-6(3), in late October. Johnson is currently ranked #175. The 10 hr jet lag could be a big excuse for Johnson to have to play a hr long 3rd set.

BTW, did Michael Chang win Roland Garros when he was 16?

Johnson's been in Australia since Christmas. He played the qualies in Brisbane.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by Rob_C

Johnson's been in Australia since Christmas. He played the qualies in Brisbane.

Maybe he partied too much the night before

[andfor]

Originally Posted by Chemist

Maybe he partied too much the night before

Maybe he had the *****.

[Mitch Bridge]

Originally Posted by Head Pegger

I watched the match yesterday and Johnson was lucky he won that match. Johnson had matchpoints in second set up 5-2 and Thanasi ended up winning that set 7-6. Third set went like 30 games. Kid showed that he can be clutch in some very nerve racking situations. Good serve, uses his body well. Very solid backhand. He got injured in the third set and maybe that threw him off. But still Johnson really sucks im comparison to other player's from other countries. He missed an overhead and got so mad he took the other ball out of his pocket and parked it. Also missed a floater about 4 inches from net, like 3 feet about net. Johnson was complaining about calls the entire match it was ridiculous. Kept throwing his racket too. IMO I don't see him being successful in higher level tennis.

3rd round of the US Open three months out of college is pretty solid proof of being able to succeed on the Grand Prix Tour. Two months away from matches made him rusty. One rough match doesn't define a career. Johnson is obviously top 50 ATP material.

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by Mitch Bridge

3rd round of the US Open three months out of college is pretty solid proof of being able to succeed on the Grand Prix Tour. Two months away from matches made him rusty. One rough match doesn't define a career. Johnson is obviously top 50 ATP material.

Too early to tell. Getting to the top 50 and staying there are two different things. I hope he does i cheer for all the Americans!!!!

[Number1Coach]

You guys he went to college used it to develop and looks like he is going to be the 3rd guy that has use that route in the last 15 ys to do something significant with it , Isner and Anderson being the other 2 ,

Johnson should be fine and if he can get contol of the attitude he may do well but maturity does not always develop in college so will see .

[Number1Coach]

Originally Posted by Mitch Bridge

3rd round of the US Open three months out of college is pretty solid proof of being able to succeed on the Grand Prix Tour. Two months away from matches made him rusty. One rough match doesn't define a career. Johnson is obviously top 50 ATP material.

Didn't Melody Oudin get to the 3 rd round ?

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

Didn't Melody Oudin get to the 3 rd round ?

So did a few others that have no chance of staying in the top 50.

[Number1Coach]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

So did a few others that have no chance of staying in the top 50.

Ga i believe the top have attitude that they belong there , most of the Americans are taught through mind conditioning of coaches 'unfortunately' that those at the top are some type of special human , that they have a special talent , that it wouldn't matter where they came from they would still make it to the top .

what I have found through my study's of all great achievers whether it is sports or business they look at and impossible task and plow at it and make it possible, their reality is to achieve it and when they do they believe its theirs and no one cant take it from them .

I am re reading Nadals book and he is speaking of what I just wrote also finished another book of another great athlete and when growing up he had doubters but believed blindly he belonged and he achieved his goal .

If our players do 2 rounds its like WOW to me its a joke they should do better and believe they can and top 50 would become the normal in the USA tennis .

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

Ga i believe the top have attitude that they belong there , most of the Americans are taught through mind conditioning of coaches 'unfortunately' that those at the top are some type of special human , that they have a special talent , that it wouldn't matter where they came from they would still make it to the top .

what I have found through my study's of all great achievers whether it is sports or business they look at and impossible task and plow at it and make it possible, their reality is to achieve it and when they do they believe its theirs and no one cant take it from them .

I am re reading Nadals book and he is speaking of what I just wrote also finished another book of another great athlete and when growing up he had doubters but believed blindly he belonged and he achieved his goal .

If our players do 2 rounds its like WOW to me its a joke they should do better and believe they can and top 50 would become the normal in the USA tennis .

NADAL BOOK IS A MUST READ!!!!!!! I love how he talks about adversity and how he already knows how to deal with it when he walks on the court.. MINDSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

NADAL BOOK IS A MUST READ!!!!!!! I love how he talks about adversity and how he already knows how to deal with it when he walks on the court.. MINDSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's it called? Link?

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by barringer97

What's it called? Link?

RAFA.........

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

Ga i believe the top have attitude that they belong there , most of the Americans are taught through mind conditioning of coaches 'unfortunately' that those at the top are some type of special human , that they have a special talent , that it wouldn't matter where they came from they would still make it to the top .

what I have found through my study's of all great achievers whether it is sports or business they look at and impossible task and plow at it and make it possible, their reality is to achieve it and when they do they believe its theirs and no one cant take it from them .

I am re reading Nadals book and he is speaking of what I just wrote also finished another book of another great athlete and when growing up he had doubters but believed blindly he belonged and he achieved his goal .

If our players do 2 rounds its like WOW to me its a joke they should do better and believe they can and top 50 would become the normal in the USA tennis .

I started taking the game seriously relatively late (about 17 yrs old - when I game up springboard diving) though my dad taught me good strokes from a young age. I started passing up players who had been far better than me.
What I believed was this:
If you can play someone relatively close, you can win a set.
If you can win one set, there is no reason you can't win the match.
If you can win the match, you SHOULD win the match.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

You guys he went to college used it to develop and looks like he is going to be the 3rd guy that has use that route in the last 15 ys to do something significant with it , Isner and Anderson being the other 2 ,

Johnson should be fine and if he can get contol of the attitude he may do well but maturity does not always develop in college so will see .

Would James Blake's two years in Harvard be considered as college before pro tour?

[Freak4tennis]

Originally Posted by Chemist

Would James Blake's two years in Harvard be considered as college before pro tour?

Hmmm, I think..YES...As would John McEnroe @ Stanford, as was the Bryan Brothers @ Stanford, Jimmy Connors @ UCLA, Kevin Anderson @ Illinois, Somdev Devarmann @ VA...

The list goes on and on. There are a lot of articles on the subject but this is the best one. With the average age of a top 100 player in the mid to late 20s. There appears to be a great argument for college tennis for a year or two.

http://espn.go.com/tennis/usopen12/s...nvestment-pros