Ryan Harrison did NOT live up to the HYPE
- Thread starter RodSmooth
- Start date
RodSmooth
Professional
Can't compare, Monfils could if he wanted to, he just decides not to. it's clear.
plus you can't compare the 2.
Monfils is one of the best to play the game, Harrison is just another Marty fish at the max
Dedans Penthouse
Legend
Who's "everyone" who hyped Harrison?
Who?
Don't speak for me-Harrison had one win against Raonic at Indian Wells, that was pretty much it. The only other noteworthy thing he did was to act like a whiny 2-year-old against Cilic at the U.S. Open to the point where the American crowd was rooting against him.
"Everyone" ...... b.s.
RodSmooth
Professional
Dedans Penthouse
Legend
No sweat Rod, I was just being a jerk. ;-)
And YOU'RE right: the guy's turned out to be overhyped given his overall results aside from that IW win over Raonic.
Sid_Vicious
G.O.A.T.
I had some hopes for Harrison because he looked like he had heart. He played Federer at Indian Wells in 2011 and he attacked every single second serve Federer. Unfortunately, he just isn't that skilled. His groundstrokes look horrible for pro level.
I do have hope for Sloane Stephens, though.
Recoveringhobo
Rookie
His forehand is too spinny, his backhand is too weak, and his footwork is too slow.
What he does have going for him is his serve. His serve is a thing of beauty and one of the best serves for a player that is 6' 0" and under.
What he does have going for him is his serve. His serve is a thing of beauty and one of the best serves for a player that is 6' 0" and under.
his brother christian had a better junior career and is the better player. ryan is just bigger and stronger.
as for being over-hyped, the US is a big media market, and the media will always need someone to talk about (that's how they get paid, after all). that's just the way it works. nothing ryan can do about that - he's probably fortunate he wasn't born in namibia rather than the US, but that also exposes him to much more pressure and expectations, whether that's fair or not.
as for being over-hyped, the US is a big media market, and the media will always need someone to talk about (that's how they get paid, after all). that's just the way it works. nothing ryan can do about that - he's probably fortunate he wasn't born in namibia rather than the US, but that also exposes him to much more pressure and expectations, whether that's fair or not.
T
TennisandMusic
Guest
None of us lived up to the hype either.
How did Christian have the better jr career?? He barely played any jr tourneys due to his injuries. Ryan made it to the semis of the Aussie jrs, and I think K'zoo.
The year Novikov won K'zoo Christian could've played, but decided not to, I guess, maybe he was injured again. He seems really injury prone. He's had to give up a few tour level WCs due to injury, along with pulling out of Challengers and Futures as well.
Dedans Penthouse
Legend
Um....ok? ...
tipsa...don'tlikehim!
Talk Tennis Guru
Jack Sock will have a better career you guys reckon?
RF20Lennon
Legend
So Monfils doesn't wan to win??? LOL.
Maybe Harrison is like another Djokovic. Maybe he'll be a late bloomer.
Maybe Harrison is like another Djokovic. Maybe he'll be a late bloomer.
Amelie Mauresmo
Banned
I think the OP is being harsh given the fact Ryan Harrison is only twenty one years old. To attack a twenty one year old is really harsh the guy is VERY YOUNG.
I don't think anyone said Harrison was going to become a champion or a top ten player. I did however, thought Harrison would have cracked the top 50 by now I am surprised he hasn't. I think it has to do with the fact Harrison does NOT HAVE ANY POWER in his game.
The serve is very inconsistent he can't seem to control the serve. Harrison seems to think serving big wins matches and it doesn't. Serving SMART wins matches he tries to hit the kick serve but he doesn't have the upper body strength to hit it properly.
However, I do feel Harrison got a lot of press in the United States because he's young, and he's a good looking young American guy.
Harrison has the potential to be a male model if his tennis career ever doesn't work out I can see him doing well in modeling if he chooses to go in that direction.
Harrison is the best looking American male player EVER he definitely has a lot of sex appeal but the problem is he hasn't translated it into tennis results.
Harrison has a sense of entitlement which some young kids get when they get their first burst of fame. Harrison needs to realize the USA media will treat him just like they did Melanie Oudin they will move on the next big thing.
Harrison needs an attitude adjustment, and he also really needs help in terms of strategy, and also with his mental approach to the game.
I think Harrison also needs better coaching, I don't know if tennis pros change their strokes but he definitely needs to change some of his groundstrokes.
Harrison's problems are technical his backhand is really poor and players attack it all the time. The forehand is strange, Harrison slaps the forehand he doesn't penetrate and hit through the ball.
Also, Harrison is not a big man he's probably six feet exactly and he's very slim he doesn't seem to have the upper body strength yet to hit a good kick serve nor does he have the strength to endure long matches.
I don't think anyone said Harrison was going to become a champion or a top ten player. I did however, thought Harrison would have cracked the top 50 by now I am surprised he hasn't. I think it has to do with the fact Harrison does NOT HAVE ANY POWER in his game.
The serve is very inconsistent he can't seem to control the serve. Harrison seems to think serving big wins matches and it doesn't. Serving SMART wins matches he tries to hit the kick serve but he doesn't have the upper body strength to hit it properly.
However, I do feel Harrison got a lot of press in the United States because he's young, and he's a good looking young American guy.
Harrison has the potential to be a male model if his tennis career ever doesn't work out I can see him doing well in modeling if he chooses to go in that direction.
Harrison is the best looking American male player EVER he definitely has a lot of sex appeal but the problem is he hasn't translated it into tennis results.
Harrison has a sense of entitlement which some young kids get when they get their first burst of fame. Harrison needs to realize the USA media will treat him just like they did Melanie Oudin they will move on the next big thing.
Harrison needs an attitude adjustment, and he also really needs help in terms of strategy, and also with his mental approach to the game.
I think Harrison also needs better coaching, I don't know if tennis pros change their strokes but he definitely needs to change some of his groundstrokes.
Harrison's problems are technical his backhand is really poor and players attack it all the time. The forehand is strange, Harrison slaps the forehand he doesn't penetrate and hit through the ball.
Also, Harrison is not a big man he's probably six feet exactly and he's very slim he doesn't seem to have the upper body strength yet to hit a good kick serve nor does he have the strength to endure long matches.
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rufus_smith
Professional
He's won over $1 million in prize money. I wish I could play that bad!
President
Legend
He is a solid top 100 pro, but the expectations for him were much higher from the American tennis establishment. It's all relative, of course. Justin Gimelstob was claiming that Harrison would "definitely" win slams a couple years ago. In light of those expectations (not just from Gimelstob, but many commentators and other figures in US Tennis) Harrison has been a massive disappointment. The hype around Harrison was similar to the hype around Djokovic or someone of that caliber, but at the same age Djokovic was #3 in the world with a major title. Nadal had 3 majors at 21...
Differing opinions. Maybe if he gets a new hair stylist he will win more.
tacou
G.O.A.T.
Let's be honest though, anyone who was "certain Player X will be winning slams in 3 years" is a moron, there is no way to predict that and Harrison specifically has never demonstrated any ability that would suggest winning slams, especially by age 22 or whenever. Threads like these need to be angled at the annoying hype machine, not claiming Harrison is "entitled" as if any of us know the kid personally.
I thought Harrison could be a solid top 10-20 and I still think he can be. He's got another 2 years at least of physical development and hopefully some strategy adjustments. It's important to consider the other guys he'll play against 5 years from now. He will be 26 then. Other than Raonic, Nishikori, JJ, and Tomic, no one his age has done anything more impressive than Ryan has.
While I hate the hype, I equally hate rants about how a 21 year old athlete is a disappointment, when the sport is experiencing one of its most anti-young player movements in history.
Overdrive
Legend
He should have his hair like Federer's and date a Hollywood starlet. He'll be popular like Ryan Sweeting after he got engaged with Kaley Cuoco.
Matthew Bance
Rookie
don't underestimate him he good. got a set off murray, del potro, tsonga, ferrer at ao, took nadal and federer to a tiebreak, took ferrer to 5 sets at 19,
and Roddick has commented on how good his attitude is
and Roddick has commented on how good his attitude is
Gonzalito17
Banned
His time will come. For sure.
flyinghippos101
Legend
Gimelstob's hype is the kiss of death for any up and coming player. Nadal is a freak of nature and among the GOATs of the game, it's insane to expect any decent junior to match such lofty expectations
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
Not true if those players were e.g. Agassi or Becker, and it was said about them both, right from the very beginning. But valid in general.
rufus_smith
Professional
Ryan Harrison will be winning slams in 3 years guaranteed!
I also predict that unheralded young American Jack Sock will take at least one set off of Daveed Ferrer today!
I also predict that unheralded young American Jack Sock will take at least one set off of Daveed Ferrer today!
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estigma2001
Hall of Fame
his bro plays better but is small!
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
Another setback as Harry loses 1st round at Knoxville Ch in straights to Sandgren who highest ranking was 209.
DolgoSantoro
Professional
Harrison had hype? My impression was that few people thought he'd accomplish much of anything.
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
He got up close to atp #40 and was winning lots of matches and taking sets off some of the top 10. At that time, it was tough to foresee the freefall drop occurring now.
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
Looks like DY can't wait to get outta there either, down 0-5.
Herios
Rookie
He is not a solid top 100 pro anymore. He has spent several months outside of the top 100 this year, and currently sits ranked 99 which is just barely in the top 100 and he could be still passed by guys who play the challenger finals this week.
A
Attila_the_gorilla
Guest
Watched his match vs Monfils live.
He has an extremely frustrating game. He's all serve and not much else, even though he is built like an athlete and moves well enough. He hits these loopy rubbish forehands, can't hit a flat winner to save his life. There's a lot to improve just so he could hit a penetrating ball. At the moment his stock forehand is just asking to be smacked.
He also seems to be radar-watching a bit during his service games, he's more worried about his speeds than about the match. I was very disappointed with him.
He has an extremely frustrating game. He's all serve and not much else, even though he is built like an athlete and moves well enough. He hits these loopy rubbish forehands, can't hit a flat winner to save his life. There's a lot to improve just so he could hit a penetrating ball. At the moment his stock forehand is just asking to be smacked.
He also seems to be radar-watching a bit during his service games, he's more worried about his speeds than about the match. I was very disappointed with him.
accidental
Hall of Fame
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accidental
Hall of Fame
I watched him play live in Sydney last week and had similar impressions. He was being out-rallied from the baseline by Mahut, who's probably like top 5 worst players from the baseline in the top 100 atm
He also seems to play in no-mans land. Like he's trying to play like Andre Agassi and stand right up on the baseline, but still takes big long swings on the forehand side and hits with tons of spin even on a fast hardcourt
He was also a real a-hole in general during the match. At one point he left the court for a bathroom break and said something about the 'f-ing ballboys' not giving him any service. Thought that was some pretty un-classy stuff coming from a 21 year old millionaire complaining about 14 year old volunteers
double barrels
Rookie
harrison is overrated, he should play more doubles and get some wins
he's drawn some tough opponents in big tournaments but i expect him to be a better version of michael russell long term, lots of better youngs americans i.e. rhyne williams
he's drawn some tough opponents in big tournaments but i expect him to be a better version of michael russell long term, lots of better youngs americans i.e. rhyne williams
AtomicForehand
Hall of Fame
You have got to be kidding me. This guy looks like a Young Republican x a million; a bratty fratboy; Rush Limbaugh's eventual successor.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
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