A. Zverev has way more potential than Alcaraz

[thomasferrett]

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Zverev can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Alcaraz has to serve low percentage acute angles.

Zverev can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Alcaraz has to sprint.

Zverev has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high velocity strokes with whereas Alcaraz has to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

The only issue Zverev has is mental (which can be fixed) whereas Alcaraz cannot 'train' to grow taller and therefore become a more talented athlete (remember taller athletes are physically more talented by definition).

 

[weakera]

Tall guys are NOT historically dominant in tennis at all. Zverev being 6 foot 6 is not a good omen even if it does afford him certain advantages, it limits him as well.

 

[Zoid]

Yes and no. Theoretical ceiling is higher because of the levers but we are yet to see a Big man dominate the game and Zverev is very much one-dimensional other big guys. No touch, variety, or volleying ability.

Technically average forehand as well.

Alcaraz has every shot, speed, and seems to relish the mental challenge.

I've always thought Zverev could dominate the game if he had a good forehand and belief. Big could's

 

[Russeljones]

Only true for potential jail time.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Zverev can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Alcaraz has to sprint.

You are seriously going to tell us that movement is on the side of the 2-meter guys?

Zverev has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high velocity strokes with whereas Alcaraz has to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

That's pretty funny, despite being total nonsense.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Isner has way more potential than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Isner can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to serve low percentage acute angles.

Isner can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to sprint.

Isner has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high-velocity strokes with whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Isner has way more potential than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Isner can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to serve low percentage acute angles.

Isner can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to sprint.

Isner has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high-velocity strokes with whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

You've just destroyed this thread.

The old copy-paste trick.

 

[jondice]

There hasn't been anyone over 6'4" who has dominated. The sweet spot seems to be 6"1-6'3". You're totally correct on paper. One would think the extra height (assuming it doesn't hurt mobility) would be a huge advantage. It's just never worked out that way.

 

[Gt86]

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Zverev can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Alcaraz has to serve low percentage acute angles.

Zverev can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Alcaraz has to sprint.

Zverev has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high velocity strokes with whereas Alcaraz has to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

The only issue Zverev has is mental (which can be fixed) whereas Alcaraz cannot 'train' to grow taller and therefore become a more talented athlete (remember taller athletes are physically more talented by definition).

Just no. Zverev has loads of weaknesses. Mist overrated player of all time possibly.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

There hasn't been anyone over 6'4" who has dominated. The sweet spot seems to be 6"1-6'3". You're totally correct on paper. One would think the extra height (assuming it doesn't hurt mobility) would be a huge advantage. It's just never worked out that way.

Count the number of guys taller than 193 cm who won slams.

It's literally a handful.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...2-cm-how-they-fared-in-slam-final-e-s.691425/

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[Deleted member 629564]

In terms of H2H against Top10 in the BO5 format Alcaraz is already better.

Zverev 0-11
01 2016 AO R128: #2 Murray 0-3 [1-6 2-6 3-6]
02 2016 WIM R32: #9 Berdych 1-3 [3-6 4-6 6-4 1-6]
03 2017 AO R32: #9 Nadal 2-3 [6-4 3-6 7-6 3-6 2-6]
04 2017 WIM R16: #7 Raonic 2-3 [6-4 5-7 6-4 5-7 1-6]
05 2017 RG QF: #8 Thiem 0-3 [4-6 2-6 1-6]
06 2019 RG QF: #1 Djokovic 0-3 [5-7 2-6 2-6]
07 2020 AO SF: #5 Thiem 1-3 [6-3 4-6 6-7 6-7]
08 2020 USO F: #3 Thiem 2-3 [6-2 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-7]
09 2021 AO QF: #1 Djokovic 1-3 [7-6 2-6 4-6 6-7]
10 2021 RG SF: #5 Tsitsipas 2-3 [3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 3-6]
11 2021 USO SF: #1 Djokovic 2-3 [6-4 2-6 4-6 6-4 2-6]

Alcaraz 1-2
01 2021 WIM R64: #2 Medvedev 0-3 [4-6 1-6 2-6]
02 2021 USO R32: #3 Tsitsipas 3-2 [6-3 4-6 7-6 0-6 7-6]
03 2022 AO R32: #7 Berrettini 2-3 [2-6 6-7 6-4 6-2 6-7]

 

[ghostofMecir]

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Zverev can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Alcaraz has to serve low percentage acute angles.

Zverev can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Alcaraz has to sprint.

Zverev has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high velocity strokes with whereas Alcaraz has to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

The only issue Zverev has is mental (which can be fixed) whereas Alcaraz cannot 'train' to grow taller and therefore become a more talented athlete (remember taller athletes are physically more talented by definition).

While I agree with your general premise, Zverev doesn’t have this potential because we’ve already seen his racket talent and we have seen that that talent is not exceptional in any way. Even though he can serve bombs left and right, his placement and toss disguise isn’t that good, and he doesn’t win first serve points at the rate a 6’5 or 6’6 guy hitting 130-140 mph should be.

If Zverev had, say, Davydenko or Nalbandian racket talent, then yes of course. Or, if Zverev won 1st serve points the way Roddick or Pete did then maybe. But he doesn’t.

 

[Jokervich]

Yes I agree, I've always thought of all the young guys (young being below the age of Thiem), Zverev is the one most likely to win a slam. That hasn't changed even now.

The problem is that everyone on this forum hates Zverev. So you won't get an honest answer from anyone here. There were Zverev fans around last year, but they all seem to have disappeared.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Maybe in 2017. Not now. If he doesn’t win a slam by USO then I don’t think he ever will.

 

[The Fedfather]

I know that this thread is made in jest, but I was literally thinking after today's semi how mental strength is talent too and there's a limit on how much one can improve it. Zverev is 24 already, with big achievements and wins to his name and a team of professionals behind him, and yet he can't keep up mentally with the increase of pressure, which makes me doubt that this problem can be fixed beyond what we already see - he is able to handle high pressure intermittently when the stakes are not too high.

Since almost everything Zverev has in physical talent gets canceled out the moment he mentally checks out, Alcaraz's ability to keep his cool under pressure easily trumps the centimeters of height that Zverev has on the youngster.

 

[MadariKatu]

Yes I agree, I've always thought of all the young guys (young being below the age of Thiem), Zverev is the one most likely to win a slam. That hasn't changed even now.

The problem is that everyone on this forum hates Zverev. So you won't get an honest answer from anyone here. There were Zverev fans around last year, but they all seem to have disappeared.

So, if we don't agree we are not being honest?

 

[thomasferrett]

Yes I agree, I've always thought of all the young guys (young being below the age of Thiem), Zverev is the one most likely to win a slam. That hasn't changed even now.

The problem is that everyone on this forum hates Zverev. So you won't get an honest answer from anyone here. There were Zverev fans around last year, but they all seem to have disappeared.

Oh I don't like the guy at all. But when a guy has his only weakness as being mental, you know he's dangerous because mental issues can be solved in an instant. Physical issues are forever.

Zverev's ONLY weakness compared to anyone in the top 20 is mental. Technically he's better than the entire tour at every physical aspect of the game.

 

[MadariKatu]

Yeah, and Pliskova has way more talent than Barty... troll thread.

 

[I Am Finnish]

ABZ in 3 2 1

 

[Mediterranean Might]

Troll thread, nice

Ideal height is still probably in the 6’2” range as demonstrated by the Big 3. Tall, but not so much that your movement is hindered

 

[travlerajm]

Oh I don't like the guy at all. But when a guy has his only weakness as being mental, you know he's dangerous because mental issues can be solved in an instant. Physical issues are forever.

Zverev's ONLY weakness compared to anyone in the top 20 is mental. Technically he's better than the entire tour at every physical aspect of the game.

Mental weakness is forever.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Um, I do think the Ziraffe has the talent, but as his behavior is often abhorrent and shows little sign of improving that at this point, I don't really care. ABZ. If he somehow grows up, it'll be different. I'm not holding my breath, though.

 

[accidental]

Imagine being able to just ‘lean into the court and spike a serve’ but instead you just serve a ball straight into the ground

That’s some special talent

 

[PistolPete23]

Zverev's serving consistency sucks, has the tendency to double fault at high pressure moments, and has not improved in this department over all the years he's been on tour. It doesn't matter if his height allows him to have a big first serve; he throws away too many points at crucial moments with his double faults. Fix that and his weak mental strength, and maybe he can win a GS in his career. I don't see that happening though ...

 

[PistolPete23]

Alcaraz is 6'1", Fed is 6'1", Nadal is 6'1", Novak is 6'2"

Alcaraz is really not short for a tennis player

 

[Sudacafan]

You've just destroyed this thread!

Yes, and it doesn’t take much to achieve that.

 

[duaneeo]

The only issue Zverev has is mental (which can be fixed)...

That's a big fix.

 

[PistolPete23]

Oh I don't like the guy at all. But when a guy has his only weakness as being mental, you know he's dangerous because mental issues can be solved in an instant. Physical issues are forever.

Zverev's ONLY weakness compared to anyone in the top 20 is mental. Technically he's better than the entire tour at every physical aspect of the game.

Don't agree that "mental issues can be solved in an instant." He's had many years to solve his mental issues and is still struggling. Tennis at the top is at least 90% mental strength. All the multiple GS winners are able to elevate their game to another level when they're under pressure. With Zverev I've only seen the opposite. As for the physical - the only shot he has that's arguably exceptional is his 2HBH. His service toss is also too high for a tall player with the tendency to choke. The greatest advantage of being tall is the serve. Zverev doesn't use his serve successfully to get him out of trouble; instead he double faults

 

[Sudacafan]

Given the quality of the first post, I really can’t understand how this thread can originate a serious tennis discussion.

 

[toby55555]

Isner has way more potential than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Isner can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to serve low percentage acute angles.

Isner can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to sprint.

Isner has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high-velocity strokes with whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

Opelka is a bit better, no?

 

[timnz]

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Zverev can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Alcaraz has to serve low percentage acute angles.

Zverev can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Alcaraz has to sprint.

Zverev has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high velocity strokes with whereas Alcaraz has to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

The only issue Zverev has is mental (which can be fixed) whereas Alcaraz cannot 'train' to grow taller and therefore become a more talented athlete (remember taller athletes are physically more talented by definition).

6’ 1 to 6’ 2 seems to be optimum height for a tennis player. Just 4 guys alone, in that height range have won 75 major singles titles since 1990. Now Alcatraz is listed at 6’ 1” but actually I think he is more like 5’ 11”.

 

[Sampras-Bruguera 1993]

He still might. Zverev has a better serve and ground strokes are more deadly at this point. Alcarez with his female serve can only do so much just as Chang

 

[Jokervich]

Isner has way more potential than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Because he's much taller. It's as simple as that.

Height is a talent. Being tall = being physically talented.

Isner can pretty much just lean over the net from the baseline and spike serves straight downwards whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to serve low percentage acute angles.

Isner can pretty much cover the baseline in one stride whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to sprint.

Isner has a mile-long lever arm to pummel high-velocity strokes with whereas Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have to work much harder to generate pace with his little T-Rex arms.

You've actually touched on a really good point. Imagine if there was a player who was 15 foot tall. He could serve with such precision and high bounce, it would be impossible for someone of normal height to return the ball. It would just sail over their head every time.

Now I wonder what height you would need to be to achieve that. Didn't we already we see that Opelka's and Isner's kick serve is nearly impossible for someone like Schwartzman to return? That's 6'10/6'11 serving to a guy who is 5'5-5'6.

 

[Jokervich]

So, if we don't agree we are not being honest?

No. Perhaps it's a recency bias thing. Anyone who won the last masters tournament is hyped up to be the next 20+ slam champion and when they lose just 1 match, they are a mug who won't win anything anymore.

 

[MadariKatu]

No. Perhaps it's a recency bias thing. Anyone who won the last masters tournament is hyped up to be the next 20+ slam champion and when they lose just 1 match, they are a mug who won't win anything anymore.

Even if it's recency bias, it can be our honest opinion. You're talking about this like it's math and we're saying 2+2 ain't 4. You're not stating a fact, but an opinion.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

This is beyond ridiculous! The big 3 are all shorter than Zverev and they have won a combined total of 61 Grand Slams! Carlos will win Grand Slams and Zverev will be lucky if he ever wins even one!

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Ray Mercer]

Oh I don't like the guy at all. But when a guy has his only weakness as being mental, you know he's dangerous because mental issues can be solved in an instant. Physical issues are forever.

Zverev's ONLY weakness compared to anyone in the top 20 is mental. Technically he's better than the entire tour at every physical aspect of the game.

This is idiotic. His forehand is worse than Murray’s for ****s sake. The only thing he has is a great two hander and a bomb for a first serve.

 

[big ted]

height aside, zverevs strokes look like they break down easier than alcaraz'..
there are some matches where when zverev is on hes on, but... i think alcaraz
has more sound technique than zverev.. it looks like even tsitsipas does

 

[TennisLurker]

Alcaraz is probably an inch or 2 taller than Agassi, with a more athletic built

perhaps he would do even better with the height of djokovic or murray, but he can definitely have big success with his height. he is pretty much the same height as Wawrinka

 

[Deleted member 788697]

Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev all have way more potential than Alcaraz.
And Korda has more potential than all 4 of them.

 

[big bang]

Its like ying and yang, there are pros and cons to everything. Same goes for height..
You Can say the same for smaller fast guys. For many years most top players was in the 180-190cm range, the GOAT candidates are pretty much in the middel of that range all of them.

 

[Bambooman]

Alcaraz is 6'1", Fed is 6'1", Nadal is 6'1", Novak is 6'2"

Alcaraz is really not short for a tennis player

Yet Alacaraz looks 2-3 inches shorter than Nadal when standing next to him.

 

[killerboss]

Opelka is a bit better, no?

Opelka ain't better than Isner. Just lucky to be playing in a much weaker era. Can't see Opelka taking prime Nadal to 5 sets at French Open or even beating Roddick in a slam.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Alcaraz height debates will never not be funny to me.

A lot of pressed people on here worrying about if Alcaraz is the right height to dominate or if he's going to be the ATP's next manlet.

Absolute scenes.

 

[toby55555]

Opelka ain't better than Isner. Just lucky to be playing in a much weaker era. Can't see Opelka taking prime Nadal to 5 sets at French Open or even beating Roddick in a slam.

But he’s an inch taller………

 

[MadariKatu]

Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev all have way more potential than Alcaraz.
And Korda has more potential than all 4 of them.

Is there any player on tour with less potential than Alcaraz?

 

[Start da Game]

funny to see how many people have taken this thread seriously.....

 

[TheNachoMan]

Dr Eggman?