Why are the younger players struggling to make an impact?

justinmadison · 08-08-2012, 10:32 AM

What has changed in mens tennis that makes it more difficult for the younger players to make an impact? It seems like players are not having as much success early in there carriers. Players are struggling to make a difference before they are 23 or 24.

BauerAlmeida · 08-08-2012, 10:36 AM

The young generation is not good enough. I can't see Tomic, Dimitrov or Raonic wining a slam untill Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Del Potro, etc. are seriously declining.

slowfox · 08-08-2012, 11:02 AM

I imagine if I did a search I'd find a few threads discussing why the days of a 17 yr old Wimbledon champ are gone, forever. I sometimes wonder if it's because the game is more physical today. And teenagers need time to build up their muscles more. I dunno.

tank_job · 08-08-2012, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BauerAlmeida

The young generation is not good enough. I can't see Tomic, Dimitrov or Raonic wining a slam untill Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Del Potro, etc. are seriously declining.

Murray and maybe even this version of Djokovic can lose to anyone in slams on a given day.

Nadal and Federer retain their invincibility, barring Rosol's GOATing.

Evan77 · 08-08-2012, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tank_job

Murray and maybe even this version of Djokovic can lose to anyone in slams on a given day.

Nadal and Federer retain their invincibility, barring Rosol's GOATing.

hm, not sure if you are being sarcastic or silly. when was the last time when Djoko or Murray lost to 'anyone' at slams?

back on topic. They are simply not good enough. They are also not fit enough.

tank_job · 08-08-2012, 12:36 PM

Murray lost to Wawrinka and Cillic.

Also to Ferrer

Evan77 · 08-08-2012, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tank_job

Murray lost to Wawrinka and Cillic.

Also to Ferrer

I wouldn't call those players 'anyone' but OK. as for Djokovic I can't even remember the last time he had a bad loss at slams.

90's Clay · 08-08-2012, 03:42 PM

I guess it goes against, the so called "depth" of the field theory today with countries producing more and more tennis talent.

If countries are producing more talent, why can't the younger guys win squat??

tank_job · 08-08-2012, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan77

I wouldn't call those players 'anyone' but OK. as for Djokovic I can't even remember the last time he had a bad loss at slams.

He lost to Federer at Wimbledon.

That was shocking and a bad loss.

Also lost to Bird-Sh!t in 2010.

Bobby Jr · 08-08-2012, 04:00 PM

Because the game is much more physical because of the slowing of conditions - and has the effect of being even slower again through better fitness/nutrition and the advent of spinnier strings - the game has also become much tougher mentally. It's harder to blow people off the court with shock and awe as guys like Becker etc did at 17 when rallys are that much more brutal and happen over and over.

Tennis requires a physical intensity coupled with an uncluttered mental clarity to play at a very high level. Young guys can't foot it because they simply can't find the right balance of both at the same time.

6-1 6-3 6-0 · 08-08-2012, 04:06 PM

They're not good enough. All the better for Nadal, since he can continue racking up the Roland Garros titles with ease, since there'll be no competition from younger players.

NadalDramaQueen · 08-08-2012, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

They're not good enough. All the better for Nadal, since he can continue racking up the Roland Garros titles with ease, since there'll be no competition from younger players.

Right, he only has to worry about journeymen blowing him off the court.

veroniquem · 08-08-2012, 05:24 PM

That's an excellent question. I'm waiting for a player born in the early 90s to start making a splash but sadly, it doesn't seem close to happening at all. If anything, there are more 30+ players in the top 100 currently than players under 24. I hope that is not a bad omen for the future of the sport.

Mustard · 08-08-2012, 05:27 PM

Nadal in 2005 was the last male teenager to make a big wave at the top of men's tennis. In the women's, it's probably Ivanovic.

ubermeyer · 08-08-2012, 05:30 PM

I think in men's tennis you cannot be at the upper echelon anymore if you're under 20 because of the nature of the gameplay. Players' "primes" are coming later and later. Guys like Soderling are hitting their prime after age 25. (There are many other examples of this but I don't remember them off the top of my head.)

Tennis_Hands · 08-08-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard

Nadal in 2005 was the last male teenager to make a big wave at the top of men's tennis. In the women's, it's probably Ivanovic.

The last younger player to make big waves was Del Potro.

veroniquem · 08-08-2012, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermeyer

I think in men's tennis you cannot be at the upper echelon anymore if you're under 20 because of the nature of the gameplay. Players' "primes" are coming later and later. Guys like Soderling are hitting their prime after age 25. (There are many other examples of this but I don't remember them off the top of my head.)

Davydenko got his best results late too. Ferrer has done very well the last 2 seasons and he's the same generation.

JTJet · 08-09-2012, 12:09 AM

What about Kei Nishikori? I can see him going far, mostly if he improves his serve.

Evan77 · 08-09-2012, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTJet

What about Kei Nishikori? I can see him going far, mostly if he improves his serve.

I really admire Kei. super nice guy, but he won't make it. he'll never win a major, probably not even a master. he is a 'small' guy. I hope I'm wrong ... love his spirit

Evan77 · 08-09-2012, 12:21 AM

also, I watched a half dead Djoko trashing Tomic today. Tomic seemed to be happy to just play an elite player. It was pathetic.

08-08-2012, 10:32 AM	#1
justinmadison Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 370	Why are the younger players struggling to make an impact? What has changed in mens tennis that makes it more difficult for the younger players to make an impact? It seems like players are not having as much success early in there carriers. Players are struggling to make a difference before they are 23 or 24.

08-08-2012, 10:36 AM	#2
BauerAlmeida Semi-Pro Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Argentina Posts: 566	The young generation is not good enough. I can't see Tomic, Dimitrov or Raonic wining a slam untill Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Del Potro, etc. are seriously declining. __________________ There's no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark.

08-08-2012, 04:00 PM	#10
Bobby Jr Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 4,698	Because the game is much more physical because of the slowing of conditions - and has the effect of being even slower again through better fitness/nutrition and the advent of spinnier strings - the game has also become much tougher mentally. It's harder to blow people off the court with shock and awe as guys like Becker etc did at 17 when rallys are that much more brutal and happen over and over. Tennis requires a physical intensity coupled with an uncluttered mental clarity to play at a very high level. Young guys can't foot it because they simply can't find the right balance of both at the same time. __________________ Original Pro Staff 85, leaded to 370g, hybrid poly/syn gut set-up, 48-52-ish lbs. Last edited by Bobby Jr : 08-08-2012 at 04:03 PM.

08-08-2012, 05:24 PM	#13
veroniquem Talk Tennis Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 22,099	That's an excellent question. I'm waiting for a player born in the early 90s to start making a splash but sadly, it doesn't seem close to happening at all. If anything, there are more 30+ players in the top 100 currently than players under 24. I hope that is not a bad omen for the future of the sport. Last edited by veroniquem : 08-08-2012 at 05:38 PM.

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