An observation about Nextgens

[Sparlingo]

Nextgens and Thiem by age with their ATP rankings:

Thiem (26.2) - 4th
Medvedev (23.8) - 5th
Zverev (22.6) - 7th
Tsitsipas (21.3) - 6th
Shapovalov (20.6) - 15th
Auger-Aliassime (19.3) - 21st
Sinner (18.3) - 78th

Notice that the ATP rankings for this crew (except for Tsits and Zverev which are close - 7th and 6th) rank according to their age. This suggests that all of these guys could have equal potential as they develop and reach their peak as they grow older. It also suggests that once the big 3 retire we could be looking at the big 7 instead of the big 3.

Put another way, let's say that Medvedev is reaching his peak and his training will now reach diminishing returns, but assume he is ready to win slams now even before the big 3 retire. The rest of them besides Thiem have this long to catch up to him:

Zverev 1 year 2 months
Tsitsipas 2 years 5 months
Shapovalov 3 years 2 months
Auger-Aliassime 4 years 5 months
Sinner (18.3) - 5 years 5 months

5 years and 5 months is a lot of time and so is 4 years and 5 months and so on. I think we are in for an exciting decade of tennis.

Sorry Berrettini & de Minaur for not including you, I just don't see it, but maybe.

 

[Red Rick]

Nextgens and Thiem by age with their ATP rankings:

Thiem (26.2) - 4th
Medvedev (23.8) - 5th
Zverev (22.6) - 7th
Tsitsipas (21.3) - 6th
Shapovalov (20.6) - 15th
Auger-Aliassime (19.3) - 21st
Sinner (18.3) - 78th

Notice that the ATP rankings for this crew (except for Tsits and Zverev which are close - 7th and 6th) rank according to their age. This suggests that all of these guys could have equal potential as they develop and reach their peak as they grow older. It also suggests that once the big 3 retire we could be looking at the big 7 instead of the big 3.

Put another way, let's say that Medvedev is reaching his peak and his training will now reach diminishing returns, but assume he is ready to win slams now even before the big 3 retire. The rest of them besides Thiem have this long to catch up to him:

Zverev 1 year 2 months
Tsitsipas 2 years 5 months
Shapovalov 3 years 2 months
Auger-Aliassime 4 years 5 months
Sinner (18.3) - 5 years 5 months

5 years and 5 months is a lot of time and so is 4 years and 5 months and so on. I think we are in for an exciting decade of tennis.

Sorry Berrettini & de Minaur for not including you, I just don't see it, but maybe.

It's interesting, but I wouldn't put too much int it.

Thiem first broke through 3 years ago and after that his ranking stagnated.
Zverev's been 3 in the world and actually got worse this year.

 

[EllieK]

It's interesting, but I wouldn't put too much int it.

Thiem first broke through 3 years ago and after that his ranking stagnated.
Zverev's been 3 in the world and actually got worse this year.

Zverev needs a volley and a more consistent serve. Isn't he working with Becker? That should help with both.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Zverev needs a volley and a more consistent serve. Isn't he working with Becker? That should help with both.

No, Zverev is not working with Boris in an official or unofficial capacity. He said during the summer that Becker's life "is too complicated" for him to use as a coach.

 

[stringertom]

Nextgens and Thiem by age with their ATP rankings:

Thiem (26.2) - 4th
Medvedev (23.8) - 5th
Zverev (22.6) - 7th
Tsitsipas (21.3) - 6th
Shapovalov (20.6) - 15th
Auger-Aliassime (19.3) - 21st
Sinner (18.3) - 78th

Notice that the ATP rankings for this crew (except for Tsits and Zverev which are close - 7th and 6th) rank according to their age. This suggests that all of these guys could have equal potential as they develop and reach their peak as they grow older. It also suggests that once the big 3 retire we could be looking at the big 7 instead of the big 3.

Put another way, let's say that Medvedev is reaching his peak and his training will now reach diminishing returns, but assume he is ready to win slams now even before the big 3 retire. The rest of them besides Thiem have this long to catch up to him:

Zverev 1 year 2 months
Tsitsipas 2 years 5 months
Shapovalov 3 years 2 months
Auger-Aliassime 4 years 5 months
Sinner (18.3) - 5 years 5 months

5 years and 5 months is a lot of time and so is 4 years and 5 months and so on. I think we are in for an exciting decade of tennis.

Sorry Berrettini & de Minaur for not including you, I just don't see it, but maybe.

Sinner is not chasing fellow NextGen wannabes. He has 20 years and a week to catch the oldest of his prey.

 

[Sparlingo]

Here's a comparison sheet of games between Nextgen's, for interest

 

[Harry_Wild]

Players develop based more on breakthroughs to the next level then on age!

 

[Sparlingo]

Players develop based more on breakthroughs to the next level then on age!

Well I agree that they progress from level to level as they develop but inherent to that is age. All of those listed have made some sort of breakthrough for their age.

 

[Continental Grip]

Here's a comparison sheet of games between Nextgen's, for interest

Sinner and Tsitsipas played at the Italian Open. Tsitsipas won in straights. And you have the Tsitsipas/Zverev H2H in reverse.

 

[Sparlingo]

Thanks for the corrections

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

No, Zverev is not working with Boris in an official or unofficial capacity. He said during the summer that Becker's life "is too complicated" for him to use as a coach.

Hmmm, that raises all sorts of curiosity in me. At any rate, it really would seem he needs a new coach. I don’t know if he is actively seeking that or not. Wonder what he feels about it.

 

[EllieK]

No, Zverev is not working with Boris in an official or unofficial capacity. He said during the summer that Becker's life "is too complicated" for him to use as a coach.

Thanks for the correction. I actually am a fan of Sascha and am saddened by his drop in form. Roger’s expletive laden “pep talk” at Laver Cup certainly seemed to help and part of that is that Federer believed in his ability to win. That’s what he needs. Someone to tell him the truth and yet believe that he has the ability to do it. His father just seems to be every bit as devastated as he is. That can’t be helpful for either of them.

 

[tonylg]

Roger’s expletive laden “pep talk” at Laver Cup certainly seemed to help and part of that is that Federer believed in his ability to win. That’s what he needs. Someone to tell him the truth and yet believe that he has the ability to do it.

Funnily enough, my friend and I discussed this while watching him implode last night. I was going to shout out what Fed said to him, but I'm not Fed and the last thing he needed was to feel ridiculed.

I don't know if it came through on tv, but the Greek fans were yelling out "double fault" between his first and second serves. I like a big of good natured sledging, but a lot of the Greek fans were truly disgusting. Fergus was in the chair and did nothing. He is clearly a few levels lower than the other umpires when it comes to many things.

 

[EllieK]

Funnily enough, my friend and I discussed this while watching him implode last night. I was going to shout out what Fed said to him, but I'm not Fed and the last thing he needed was to feel ridiculed.

I don't know if it came through on tv, but the Greek fans were yelling out "double fault" between his first and second serves. I like a big of good natured sledging, but a lot of the Greek fans were truly disgusting. Fergus was in the chair and did nothing. He is clearly a few levels lower than the other umpires when it comes to many things.

the Greek fans were a bit obnoxious but they are a passionate people. I thought Kyrgios doing push ups with each Zverev double fault was extremely insulting.

 

[Sparlingo]

Here's another table I compiled, 6 of the 7 players I listed in the OP have no one younger ranked higher than them

 

[BeatlesFan]

I thought Kyrgios doing push ups with each Zverev double fault was extremely insulting.

I'm a Nick fan but agree, it was totally classless. However, he does that at LC too, he has done it both years he's participated.

 

[davced1]

Mikael Ymer flying under the radar I see at #76

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Any prediction referring to the near future of tennis being "exciting" is a bold one.

 

[Tennis_dude101]

I thought Kyrgios doing push ups with each Zverev double fault was extremely insulting.

I thought it was hilarious!
What was it, 5 pushups per double fault? Zverev gave him quite a workout!