Recent College Players That Turned Pro

M

mikej

Hall of Fame
for those not very familiar with him:

his only recent loss is entirely on youtube, vs current world #2 junior (but been #1 at times also) quinzi

pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSI9KOVgX-Q

pt 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qG6ajoqllY

he lost 4 and 3

________________

here is a video from final of international spring

i think he's better at hardcourts because he does a good job hugging baseline and winning court position battle when clay isn't under his feet - reminds me of two time zoo champ (and duke player) phil king in a way (though certainly better), in that he doesn't have the world's biggest shots, but he more than makes up for it in footwork, court positioning, and a grinder's mentality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAkbd_KzW_A
 
V

Vicious Vik

Semi-Pro
mikej said:
for those not very familiar with him:

his only recent loss is entirely on youtube, vs current world #2 junior (but been #1 at times also) quinzi

pt 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSI9KOVgX-Q

pt 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qG6ajoqllY

he lost 4 and 3

________________

here is a video from final of international spring

i think he's better at hardcourts because he does a good job hugging baseline and winning court position battle when clay isn't under his feet - reminds me of two time zoo champ (and duke player) phil king in a way (though certainly better), in that he doesn't have the world's biggest shots, but he more than makes up for it in footwork, court positioning, and a grinder's mentality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAkbd_KzW_A
Click to expand...

great, exactly what tennis needs, another grinder.
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
Vicious Vik said:
great, exactly what tennis needs, another grinder.
Click to expand...

sorry that tennis players are superior athletes nowadays and not just tall doofs like goran and krajicek that can whack a shot or two

to each their own - i like the way tennis has transformed

(much respect to rafter, however, he was a beast with a different style, don't know if we'll ever see someone s&v in the modern era so successfully that isn't just a nine foot tall bomber that doesn't have to volley often because the serve does the job)
 
V

Vicious Vik

Semi-Pro
mikej said:
sorry that tennis players are superior athletes nowadays and not just tall doofs like goran and krajicek that can whack a shot or two

to each their own - i like the way tennis has transformed

(much respect to rafter, however, he was a beast with a different style, don't know if we'll ever see someone s&v in the modern era so successfully that isn't just a nine foot tall bomber that doesn't have to volley often because the serve does the job)
Click to expand...

I don't like serve and volley. But I also don't like players like Simon. I like aggressive base-liners who are good ball strikers. A Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Haas, Gulliermo Coria. The early 2000's before the dominance of Federer is my favorite period of tennis. I know a lot of people didn't like that era.
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
Vicious Vik said:
I don't like serve and volley. But I also don't like players like Simon. I like aggressive base-liners who are good ball strikers. A Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Haas, Gulliermo Coria. The early 2000's before the dominance of Federer is my favorite period of tennis. I know a lot of people didn't like that era.
Click to expand...

gotcha - we're fairly alike in that case - love all three of the guys you mentioned, especially coria, though rios is my all-time favorite

lucky enough to see coria play multiple times around the Legg-Mason on outer courts, and saw gonzalez and haas at roland garros in the big stadium (gonzalez absolutely massacred hanescu in just over an hour in one of the best ball striking matches i have EVER seen, and i saw haas collapse from two sets up and late break pt in third set against federer)
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Vicious Vik said:
I don't like serve and volley. But I also don't like players like Simon. I like aggressive base-liners who are good ball strikers. A Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Haas, Gulliermo Coria. The early 2000's before the dominance of Federer is my favorite period of tennis. I know a lot of people didn't like that era.
Click to expand...

Same here. I have a computer game called tennis elbow manager that i play sometimes and I always play the 2000-2004 period. I love all 3 of those guys as well as Paradorn Srichaphan (my all time favorite) and Younes El Aynaoui.

IMO the best match ever in terms of pure quality(not importance or drama) was Coria vs Nadal in 2005 Rome final. Insane point after insane point.

My current favorite player is Alexander Dolgopolov.
 
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C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
mikej said:
gotcha - we're fairly alike in that case - love all three of the guys you mentioned, especially coria, though rios is my all-time favorite

lucky enough to see coria play multiple times around the Legg-Mason on outer courts, and saw gonzalez and haas at roland garros in the big stadium (gonzalez absolutely massacred hanescu in just over an hour in one of the best ball striking matches i have EVER seen, and i saw haas collapse from two sets up and late break pt in third set against federer)
Click to expand...

to you remember in the 2007 Aussie Open when Gonzalez's winners to errors ratio was like 44-3. Insane
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
Clemson_tennis said:
Same here. I have a computer game called tennis elbow manager that i play sometimes and I always play the 2000-2004 period. I love all 3 of those guys as well as Paradorn Srichaphan and Younes El Aynaoui.

IMO the best match ever in terms of pure quality(not importance or drama) was Coria vs Nadal in 2005 Rome final. Insane point after insane point.
Click to expand...

we're getting way off topic here, but i don't care, this is exciting

as much as this era is awesome with 3 tennis greats and 2 excellent foils - yeah, i miss a decade ago sometimes

absolutely, coria v nadal rome final is one of two matches i would do anything to have been in the stands for - other is 1998 rios vs agassi miami final - takes the no 1 ranking after soundly beating agassi 5,3,4 while smirking between points at the fact that he was toying with one of the best baseliners the sport has ever seen (just watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONznVs_KN8Y from 0:20 to 1:50 - three straight unbelievable points - dropshot lob toying w agassi then ridiculous return then patented leg kick backhand down line)

i only ever say rios in person playing dubs - him and gonzalez vs the rochus bros at legg mason - they were crushing balls at the little guys' heads every chance they got and laughing the whole time - they won but could have won much easier if they weren't taking every return down the line like jackasses - shame rios didn't care more about being a great champion because no one with possible exception of federer in modern era has had more of a natural gift for the sport
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
Rios was a bit before my time but what I have seen of him on youtube and readings he seems to have been a very interesting player. I certainly would have been a fan of his. That Aussie final vs Korda though was embarrassing.
 
V

Vicious Vik

Semi-Pro
mikej said:
yeah, good list, haven't put too much thought into a top 10 talents list myself, but if i did they would all be there for sure
Click to expand...

but let's back on topic here!


Klahn is a good talent but he has too many flaws in his game. He has good offensive footwork but poor on the defensive.
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
haha before getting back on topic, just realized i posted wrong video (which is fine b/c still rios's ridiculous skills on display against a good foil in agassi, but that was 2002 semis in miami - 1998 final in miami is seen here in full if anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2c0D1HRN-Y)

yeah, klahn has a nice serve and forehand, so do a million other guys on tour, and i do think it matters in some sense that he has a good back up plan and probably isn't "all-in" with his mindset - sometimes, even if the smart thing is to have a good back up plan, you need to be practicing and competing for your livelihood to really reach your potential i think
 
Gut4Tennis

Gut4Tennis

Hall of Fame
(q)Christian Harrison (NOT RYAN) (USA) d. (6)Steve Johnson (USA) 7-6(4) 6-1
wow

They always said this younger brother would be better then Ryan, and now I'm finally seeing they might be right.

we might be seeing the next bryan brothers if they decide to go the doubles route

enjoy the highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YRAsGC0Y5M
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
yeah, the younger harrison will no doubt be a good player, though he lost to dancevic in rd of 16 of this tourney

kudla gets a big win over arguello and the older harrison takes down dyoung, both by 6 and 4 scores, they will meet tomorrow - harrison likely has too much in terms of offense for kudla to fend off, but we'll see
 
M

mikej

Hall of Fame
wow, just got caught up with the weekend's tennis and saw kudla took down ryan harrison then won the challenger, up to career high 116 - very nice work

now to get my head back in the college game and get some sudden death predictions on record...
 
lgbalfa

lgbalfa

Professional
how is Jason Jung from U of Michigan? I was reading his blog. At the age of 23 he is playing Futures. Does the USTA not help him out with travel, wild cards, etc..?
 
B

bluetrain4

G.O.A.T.
Clemson_tennis said:
KU Singh shows up in the Bangkok future. He won in the 1st round 6-3 6-2 over world #681.
Click to expand...

I just don't get his leaving Georgia days before the NCAAs. Coach and teammate relationships don't always work out, fine. Maybe he was genuinely burnt out by college tennis. Maybe he genuinely didn't like playing for Georgia, and even maybe he did have legit reasons to be disappointed with this experience. But, for the love of God, just tough it out. Just play nice for two weeks and finish your tennis career. He'd never have to see those people or set foot in Athens again if he didn't want to, but would completely avoid burning all those bridges and generating all that ill will.
 
T

The Wreck

Semi-Pro
I don't even think KU has top 200 game. Toil away in Futures for a while. He deserves to be stuck in the tennis version of purgatory...
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
swedenparty said:
No one mentioned Nedovyesov?

That's weird, pretty sure he was nr 1 ncaa, and not doing to bad now.
Click to expand...

He was #1 in the down period between Devvarman and Johnson. But he has been playing good ball recently, up to 162 in the world.


KU Singh soundly beat world #297 6-3 6-2. So we will see how high he can go.


Also impressive qualifications for Devvarman and Johnson to the French. Devvarman has a winnable round 1 match vs another qualifier and could face Federer in round 2.

Rhyne Williams lost to Pryziensky(sp?) but got LL spot and will the same guy again in round 1!
 
swedenparty

swedenparty

Rookie
Clemson_tennis said:
He was #1 in the down period between Devvarman and Johnson. But he has been playing good ball recently, up to 162 in the world.


KU Singh soundly beat world #297 6-3 6-2. So we will see how high he can go.


Also impressive qualifications for Devvarman and Johnson to the French. Devvarman has a winnable round 1 match vs another qualifier and could face Federer in round 2.

Rhyne Williams lost to Pryziensky(sp?) but got LL spot and will the same guy again in round 1!
Click to expand...

Mmmm...downer? the guy is much more talented than both Devvarman and Johnson together...
 
C

ClarkC

Hall of Fame
swedenparty said:
Mmmm...downer? the guy is much more talented than both Devvarman and Johnson together...
Click to expand...

I guess he is an underachiever, then. Check out Devvarman's career high ranking before his shoulder surgery and compare. Devvarman plays in the French Open tomorrow, as does Steve Johnson. They both came through qualifying, while Nedovyesov lost in round 1.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
swedenparty said:
No I just know how much effort was put into achieving top 200, with some more effort he could be top 50 in no time. If he puts it.
Click to expand...

He has been flying under the radar. Good that you mentioned him. He's the last good Cowboy player before the big Oklahoma State nosedive.

Biiiiig jump from 162 to top 50 though. He's going to have to show something really special.
 
C

Clemson_tennis

Legend
swedenparty said:
Anyway, look at his results, the guys is consistently beating top 200 in the world. There is no way you can call a nr1 like that a "downer".
Click to expand...

I didn't say he was a downer. I meant he was #1 during a transition period between Devvarman and Johnson's dominance. Kinda like Libietis reaching #1 this year in a transition year without a truly dominant force.
 
T

tennis7777777

Rookie
Here's a thought, if he's so talented put in the effort and be top 100, time is running out....btw Clark u r such a homer, Devvarman may be the greatest college player ever but he's not very talented
 
V

Vicious Vik

Semi-Pro
Karunuday lost 7-6 in the 3rd in the Thailand future final.

In the quarters of the Chennai future event. He plays vs Jeevan tomorrow. What a match! I wish there was video for that one.
 
TopDawg

TopDawg

G.O.A.T.
Devin McCarthy came through Qualies and is in the main draw at the Mexico Future. He won his 3 qualifying matches by scores of 2/1, 2/2, and 3/2.
 
TopDawg

TopDawg

G.O.A.T.
Steve Johnson won a Challenger over in England beating Ruben Bemelmans 7-5 7-5. Some good momentum for him heading into Wimby. It was mentioned that he may get a main draw wild card by winning this Challenger. If not he'll be in qualies.
 
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