The Donald

[Rob_C]

Originally Posted by GRANITECHIEF

DY getting a little momentum!

Did you notice that my boy was a match away from playing DY and probably would've if he didn't get sick.

You going to IW's this year?

Nishikori will be tough.

Actually, I didnt. Just checked the results. He's def been racking up some good results lately. I saw he recently straight setted that Spanish guy he lost to last year.

I got tix for IW, but I waited too long and Sat day session was sold out. Have Fri & Sun day session tix tho. Do u guys have an extra Sat ticket I can buy off you? Not looking forward to dealing with the scalpers.

[GRANITECHIEF]

Might have an extra Sat ticket, good chance. Just have to see if all the family members actually make it there that day.

Huge for DY to win 2 rounds in main draw of 500 at this point. About to start with Nishi. That will be tough.

Still no streams eh?

[Rhino]

Originally Posted by GRANITECHIEF

Might have an extra Sat ticket, good chance. Just have to see if all the family members actually make it there that day.

Huge for DY to win 2 rounds in main draw of 500 at this point. About to start with Nishi. That will be tough.

Still no streams eh?

No way?

I go away and don't check the boards for a few days and I come back to find DY winning matches.

How can this be?

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Rhino

No way?

I go away and don't check the boards for a few days and I come back to find DY winning matches.

How can this be?

He won today down at Delray against Bogomolov. It was actually a very entertaining match. His entourage was sitting right behind me...so I heard the play by play.


This guy really does have some wheels (it appears almost impossible to hit a ball by him) and every once in awhile breaks out a serve that is pretty damn heavy.

[Rhino]

....then lost in the 2nd round of qualifying to Munoz-De La Nava in straight sets. Ouch.
Not a strong look when you can't even qualify for a 250.

[NLBwell]

The week of February 27, 2012 - a year ago - Donald Young was at #38 in the world. Now he's hovering at #200.
Hard to understand.

[Tcbtennis]

Originally Posted by Rhino

....then lost in the 2nd round of qualifying to Munoz-De La Nava in straight sets. Ouch.
Not a strong look when you can't even qualify for a 250.

I watched this 2nd round qualies match and what I saw was negativity. It was only the second point of the match when he was called for a double fault and his body language and attitude was affected. In my opinion, letting that call bother him made him play a low quality game. He lost his serve at love or 15 without his opponent having to do anything. I don't know if he has always been negative on the court or it is a result of having a really long bad spell. You can have all the talent in the world but if your head isn't right you will not live up to your potential.

He, along with Melanie Oudin, should serve as cautionary tales to any future American stars who are prematurely hyped. (I'm talking to you, Sloane Stephens!)

[Onehandedbackhand]

Well when you can't get the hell away from mommy, you get what you deserve

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Onehandedbackhand

Well when you can't get the hell away from mommy, you get what you deserve

In the match I saw Saturday, he was looking over to her almost continuously.

And, I agree with TCB in that he is pretty sour on the court. Although it is entertaining to watch in a Maury Povich or Dr Phil kind of way, it doesnt seem conducive to moving back up the rankings.

In fact, one thing Ive noticed watching pros at the few events Ive been to........quite a few of them really dont seem to be enjoying themselves out there at all. I think "making it" in tennis is simply too difficult.

Imagine being 100th best at something in the known universe......and you can hardly earn a living. That has to be an incredible amount of stress.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Rhino

....then lost in the 2nd round of qualifying to Munoz-De La Nava in straight sets. Ouch.
Not a strong look when you can't even qualify for a 250.

Ill tell you who else does not belong out there in the Qualies for a 250......Gulbis.

I watched his 1st round match and was amazed at how much better and harder his strokes were than anyone else out there. I mean, this guy BELTS the ball every single stroke. It was ridiculous. At first I thought he was just mad and temporarily didnt care where the ball went, but then I saw he did it every time and that most of them landed in.

His serve was a masterpiece as well. Id say most of the other guys out there would like his 2nd serve as their 1st.

He doesnt look like hed have many friends out there though....although obviously extremely talented, he definitely did not seem very likable (at least as a fan watching).

[Rob_C]

Originally Posted by Rhino

....then lost in the 2nd round of qualifying to Munoz-De La Nava in straight sets. Ouch.
Not a strong look when you can't even qualify for a 250.

Its tough out there. Berankis just lost to Bobby Reynolds, Gulbis is down a set right now, and either Smyczek or Kudla isnt going to qualify as well.

[Onehandedbackhand]

Originally Posted by Buford T Justice

In the match I saw Saturday, he was looking over to her almost continuously.

And, I agree with TCB in that he is pretty sour on the court. Although it is entertaining to watch in a Maury Povich or Dr Phil kind of way, it doesnt seem conducive to moving back up the rankings.

In fact, one thing Ive noticed watching pros at the few events Ive been to........quite a few of them really dont seem to be enjoying themselves out there at all. I think "making it" in tennis is simply too difficult.

Imagine being 100th best at something in the known universe......and you can hardly earn a living. That has to be an incredible amount of stress.

Simply put, they ALL think they can be the greatest when they are younger, then reality sets in the kind of work ethic that takes.

They want the red carpet, but not the sweat. When things aren't easy like when they were kids, it becomes drudgery.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Rob_C

Its tough out there. Berankis just lost to Bobby Reynolds, Gulbis is down a set right now, and either Smyczek or Kudla isnt going to qualify as well.

Yes....the overriding impression I left the tournament with was "I am glad I am not doing that for a living". It looks like a brutal brutal field to be in with a very low chance of being succcesful. And, the differences between a guy ranked 300 and one ranked 100 really is pretty small generally speaking.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Onehandedbackhand

Simply put, they ALL think they can be the greatest when they are younger, then reality sets in the kind of work ethic that takes.

They want the red carpet, but not the sweat. When things aren't easy like when they were kids, it becomes drudgery.

Some of these guys are in magnificent shape though......I could tell that the majority of them took fitness and conditioning as a very very high priority.

Now of course when everyone else works as hard as you do....it boils down to some natural talent and/or luck........

[Onehandedbackhand]

Originally Posted by Buford T Justice

Some of these guys are in magnificent shape though......I could tell that the majority of them took fitness and conditioning as a very very high priority.

Now of course when everyone else works as hard as you do....it boils down to some natural talent and/or luck........

You think everyone else works as hard as Djoker, Fed, Andy, Ferru, or Rafa? That's another level.

[Tcbtennis]

Originally Posted by Onehandedbackhand

You think everyone else works as hard as Djoker, Fed, Andy, Ferru, or Rafa? That's another level.

I believe that there are plenty of players who work as hard as the ones you named above. But if you don't have the level of inherent talent that these guys have you don't reach the heights that they have. So an average joe who works as hard as Djoker, Fed, Andy, Ferru, or Rafa will be a good player but no where near the level as these players. I certainly don't think that Donald Young has the inherent talent that these guys have.

[Onehandedbackhand]

Ferru has top 25 talent, TOPS! DY got to 38 when a real coach made him work.

Extra work got Daveed to 4, not extra talent. Guys like Gulbis have FAR more talent than Ferrer. He just wants it more.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Tcbtennis

I believe that there are plenty of players who work as hard as the ones you named above. But if you don't have the level of inherent talent that these guys have you don't reach the heights that they have. So an average joe who works as hard as Djoker, Fed, Andy, Ferru, or Rafa will be a good player but no where near the level as these players. I certainly don't think that Donald Young has the inherent talent that these guys have.

Donald has incredible speed though from side to side. That is why so many people thought he would be better. He should be a wall out there. Instead he attacks at the wrong time and is mentally fragile. Let's see if he can continue to fix that issue because his athletic ability is excellent.

[Buford T Justice]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Donald has incredible speed though from side to side. ...... because his athletic ability is excellent.

Yes yes yes. I noticed this straight away when watching him play in person. This guy is quick. I also watched him close on the net a few times and he gets there in a literal blink.

Hes also got some power, but seemed like he was tentative to use it all the time. (In fact, I noticed this from alot of players).

[Rhino]

Originally Posted by Buford T Justice

... entertaining to watch in a Maury Povich or Dr Phil kind of way.

Fantastic description of Donald Young's place in tennis.