coach bard
Semi-Pro
Ok I knew I was right to sound the alarm about Basavareddy. Some truly awful losses recently.
Collegians in summer ITF/ATP events
- Thread starter jcgatennismom
- Start date
Hahahah. Let’s see, (Clay) 2nd round at RG, QF at Madrid. (Hard) 2nd round Indian Wells, Miami, Aussie Open, Hong Kong. 3rd round ‘24 US Open, Final ‘24 Kazakhstan 250. Any of these Stanford wannabes would kill for those results on any surface, let alone grass.
Spizzirri squeezes by Zheng in a 3 hr classic 64,46,76(4). Terrific shot making all around. Spizz's game plan was to go deep to Zheng's backhand and follow it in. Got burnt a few times by Zheng down the line but that's a relative weakness that Spizz exploited well.
As the commentator put it, Zheng's 455 ranking doesn't do justice to his level as he went toe to toe with Spizz who is 131. Zheng's forehand on the run is something else.
Commentator also said Zheng plans on playing NCAA individuals in the fall perhaps looking to two-peat.
As the commentator put it, Zheng's 455 ranking doesn't do justice to his level as he went toe to toe with Spizz who is 131. Zheng's forehand on the run is something else.
Commentator also said Zheng plans on playing NCAA individuals in the fall perhaps looking to two-peat.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge LT fan, but that win is a tail of players going in two different direction. Good win though. His next match is likely tougher against Fokina.
There's some additional compelling former college player match ups, Diallo v Shelton and Nakashima v Norrie. Fun tournament so far.
Point appreciated. Yes Rublev's star is falling although not as fast as Tsitsipas's!
Did karue say that about basavareddy or govind nanda?
Iirc it was about NB after he lost to him at either Tiburon or Fairfield. Got bageled in the second set. He was interviewed and also said so on his YT channel.
Thanks, lucky guess, maybe I'll take up tennis gambling. LOL. I still see Tien's star rising.
Quarterfinal Friday (always the best day for spectators), has a bunch of really good matches. Fritz v Fokina may be the most compelling, Fritz got him twice on grass and Fokina won their match on hard in Del Ray this year. Shelton v Tiafoe will be a battle of who can focus the best and longest. Both will try to out entertain each other, good tennis be damned. I think Tiafoe let's the celebrity circus distract him too much and if he can avoid it could pull off the hometown W.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
Jay Friend of Arizona won the men’s singles gold medal in the FISU World University games. Beat former SC Gamecock Toby Samuel 6-1 4-6 7-5 in the gold medal final.
Jamie Connell, FSU and Alessio Vazquez, LSU got the bronze medals.
Matches were on clay in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
Jamie Connell, FSU and Alessio Vazquez, LSU got the bronze medals.
Matches were on clay in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
coach bard
Semi-Pro
Tien is slowly collecting scalps this summer!
Also, know it’s not a super relevant question but was curious what yall thought about this one: Jannik Sinner vs the Wimbledon doubles champs, Cash and Glasspool. Sinner gets the doubles court and C&G get the singles court. Who wins? Sam Querry and John Isner seemed to think sinner would win and it wouldn’t even be close, but I disagree.
Also, know it’s not a super relevant question but was curious what yall thought about this one: Jannik Sinner vs the Wimbledon doubles champs, Cash and Glasspool. Sinner gets the doubles court and C&G get the singles court. Who wins? Sam Querry and John Isner seemed to think sinner would win and it wouldn’t even be close, but I disagree.
What do Sam Querrey and John Isner know about doubles? They played doubles like juniors tend to play doubles (i.e. like it is just four singles players on the court). They don't respect doubles because they never understood it.
coach bard
Semi-Pro
I mean that's my opinion too, just no chance sinner is ever breaking the doubles team because of the volley setups and he can pound 100mph groundies all he wants at some point he's gonna give up a break.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
Way to go Zheng,,, about to win his 1st challenger event. I was wrong about him,, i thought he would have tough time breaking top 100 but it looks like he will do that and maybe more if he keeps improving like this..
www.atptour.com
2025 CHICAGO MEN'S CHALLENGER Hsu, Yu Hsiou - Zheng, Michael | Challenger Tour | Challenger TV | ATP Tour | Tennis
ATP Challenger Tour streaming match Hsu, Yu Hsiou - Zheng, Michael
www.atptour.com
He’s definitely added MPH’s to his serve and FH! Great week for him. Will he return for the fall semester?Way to go Zheng,,, about to win his 1st challenger event. I was wrong about him,, i thought he would have tough time breaking top 100 but it looks like he will do that and maybe more if he keeps improving like this..
2025 CHICAGO MEN'S CHALLENGER Hsu, Yu Hsiou - Zheng, Michael | Challenger Tour | Challenger TV | ATP Tour | Tennis
ATP Challenger Tour streaming match Hsu, Yu Hsiou - Zheng, Michael
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
from what i heard, he's returning to columbia for the fall. but i think that would be a mistake but i am sure his team and his parents know what they are doing.
Yea and i am not sure where that Extra power is coming from on the serve and groundies,,,,, he definitely didn't put on any more muscles that i can see... LOL
Taking a run a defending the national singles title this fall is still productive. For MZ he gets to play in the USO qualifying again, and can still mix in some challengers this fall. That and he and Nick Kotzen may also have a legitimate shot at the doubles title.from what i heard, he's returning to columbia for the fall. but i think that would be a mistake but i am sure his team and his parents know what they are doing.
Yea and i am not sure where that Extra power is coming from on the serve and groundies,,,,, he definitely didn't put on any more muscles that i can see... LOL
I think the ITA moving the individuals to the fall and keeping the team in the spring just open opportunities for players in similar positions to leave in the spring if they win a singles title in the fall. Most singles winners are going to come from non-Ivy's and be players likely to have turning pro ASAP on their mind first and foremost over finishing their degree.
coach bard
Semi-Pro
Not sure the right place to post this but Darwin Blanch wins Kalamazoo. Much better field than last year and he may be the strongest Kalamazoo winner in a few years (Had 14+ utr when he won, came through 13.5 Jack Kennedy and 13.xx Saterfield to win, while Forbes won it with a 12.xx utr. It will be interesting to see if he continues improving. He looks physically much more developed with a great serve, areas that juniors generally can improve on later easier.
You're post is fine, but I'm not the thread police. LOL. Darwin Blanch has been playing futures and challengers for the last few years, he's most likely not playing college tennis. If the other two kids named Blanch are his brothers, they skipped college as well and it seems evident that Darwin's upside is higher than theirs.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
Dukes former #1 Garrett Johns got a USO wild card
Most have probably seen this but just posting here:
USO MD wildcards: Basavareddy (Stanford), Holt (USC), Boyer (Stanford), Nava, Dostanic (USC, Wake), Blanch (Kzoo champ)
USO qualies wildcards: Martin (GA Tech), Zink (UGA, OK State), Maloney (Michigan), Johns (Duke), Damm, Kennedy (incoming UVA freshman), Willwerth (incoming ASU freshman), Satterfield (incoming Vanderbilt freshman and Kzoo finalist), Zheng (Columbia)
Zheng should have been given a MD wildcard considering he's the reigning NCAA champ as well as having had a great summer so far during which he's won the Chicago Challenger, finaled at the Cary Challenger and made a couple of quarters.
USO MD wildcards: Basavareddy (Stanford), Holt (USC), Boyer (Stanford), Nava, Dostanic (USC, Wake), Blanch (Kzoo champ)
USO qualies wildcards: Martin (GA Tech), Zink (UGA, OK State), Maloney (Michigan), Johns (Duke), Damm, Kennedy (incoming UVA freshman), Willwerth (incoming ASU freshman), Satterfield (incoming Vanderbilt freshman and Kzoo finalist), Zheng (Columbia)
Zheng should have been given a MD wildcard considering he's the reigning NCAA champ as well as having had a great summer so far during which he's won the Chicago Challenger, finaled at the Cary Challenger and made a couple of quarters.
collegetennisisthebest
Semi-Pro
nice to see so many former players getting qualifying wild cards. One correction to your post. Benjamin Willwerth uncommitted from ASU after doing well at the Australian Open. Willwerth has signed a pro contract with IMG. He will not be attending college.
Interesting that his brother, who was a freshman on the ASU men's team last season, appears to no longer be on the roster for this upcoming season. Wonder if there was any consternation between the Willwerth's and the ASU staff.
Thanks for pointing out the correction. Wasn’t aware.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
I thought he was gonna be the UGA flip based on what people were saying in here. But I guess not.
collegetennisisthebest
Semi-Pro
I think that Willwerth is making a mistake to go pro. He was not that impressive at Kalamazoo. We will see how he does this upcoming week with his US open qualifying wild card.
Optimal Tennis is being awfully quiet now about the huge UGA flip.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
DK Suresh beats former top 30 player Alejandro Tabilo to qualify for Winston-Salem
coach bard
Semi-Pro
Glad to see nishesh is playing well again, 4 and 3 over a top 100 player and 2 and 0 destruction of a top 300. If the opponent can’t either serve or hit him off the court he’s got a great shot against anyone on hard courts. But it also feels like he has fitness issues and can’t maintain a good level for more than a few days in a row
Impressive. Suresh has kicked it up a gear. Had a good run making QFs at the Lexington Challenger before bowing out to Spizzirri in a tight match.
Willwerth with a good performance vs Virtanen. He brought the college type mojo to the match but wonder if he let it affect him because he went down rather tamely after claiming the first set in a breaker.
Zheng dispatched Uchiyama in routine fashion.
Wins for Cassone and Maloney as well.
Zheng dispatched Uchiyama in routine fashion.
Wins for Cassone and Maloney as well.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
Former Dukie Garret Johns beat Colton Smith 6-3 6-3 in QR1. Smith has kinda had a rough go of it since the end of the college year. Didn’t have the breakout summer many expected after college.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
very impressive showing from Dostinic, almost beat the top seed Sonego. Backhand was still the liability though. lol
collegetennisisthebest
Semi-Pro
I had seen some guy on Colette Lewis's blog....complaining about Garrett Johns, Andres Martin and Tyler Zink ...getting qualifying wild cards.
All 3 young men really represented college tennis well. Martin won his first match. Tyler Zink lost in a 3rd set tiebreaker to a good young player.
Very good results for 3 kids....that benefited from college tennis.
All have a Georgia connection. IMHO they were all deserving having had success in Challengers and Futures this past year. Zink is also a terrific doubles player.
coach bard
Semi-Pro
Im really excited for Tien Djokovic. I think he can win.
At first I kinda scoffed at your post. More I think about it, the first round or two may be when Djoker is still playing his way into the tournament and could be most vulnerable. We've seen legends in the sunset of their career go down to the lower ranked player over and over. It's a win/win for LT regardless of the outcome, no pressure, just hit out. Who knows, good choice for a longshot upset! All that said, I'm still pulling for Djokovic to win the tournament.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
I don't know who else you give it to. It's a qualie WC. I like the idea of giving it to college players who are making an earnest effort to make it on the pro tour as those three guys appear to be doing. Better than giving it to someone who is just taking a random shot at it and don't plan on grinding the pros.
Clemson_tennis
Legend
Also, just to note if anyone else is going. I'm going to the US Open this coming week. Tuesday night and then Wednesday/Thursday all day. This is only my 2nd time going. I went once in 2017 and saw the men's semifinals so this will be my first time going to the early rounds.
Wonderful. Hope you have a great time. Wish I could get up there but not this year.
Would appreciate your take on any ex-collegians you might get to watch.
After watching those two matches, I think both LT and NB are around 12 - 18 months away or so from being able knock off top 10 type players with any regularity. They're certainly young and still developing. Not saying they won't pick off some of the top guys between now and then, it will just be more random. A lot has to go right (development) between now and then, mostly staying injury free. It's always a process, I like their tract right now, along with a few others, Michelson, Quinn, Nava, Z. Svadja, Spizziri, Cassone, all current between 30 & 200 , 23 and under.
Isn’t Tien like 4-2 against Top Ten players already? They were talking about it non stop on the broadcast. (Maybe 4-3 now that he lost to Djoker) He’s already beaten Zverev, Medvedev, Rublev and Shelton when they were top ten.
Respectfully, and with no intent to be overly dismissive, the Shelton and Zverev wins are good, the other 2 are slumping. It's not uncommon for a new player with talent like LT to burst on the scene and beat some top players that don't know his game. Don't forget, ESPN tennis announcers can over hype a ham sandwich. Overall LT's performance against Novak was sporadically good at best.
All I am trying to say is that for him to regularly beat the top 10 type guys, he just needs a little more time. I'm very high on LT, he's gotten stronger and his play is continuing to improve.
good day of doubles for NCAA teams with the UNC duo winning Thursday
