Del Potro: What are your thoughts now....

[edmondsm]

....that he lost in the 3rd round to Chardy. Before that match I thought he was more like the #4 player in the world practically speaking. I thought he had a good chance to win a slam. Now I don't know. Was I wrong to think that he belongs in the same class as the "big 3" (hate that expression) or was this just a hiccup?

 

[NadalAgassi]

You did overrate him. He has been spanked by Ferrer their last couple meetings hasnt he? So even while I can understand how some think he is a bigger threat to the top guys than Ferrer, and in a sense he might still be, in reality he isnt even as good as Ferrer right now. Nadal is the one who is sort of the real #4 until he comes back and proves he is either better or heaven forbid worse than that after his layoff. Ferrer is the real #5. Del Potro is in a group below that, probably no better and no worse than people like Berdych at this point, and that is the most generous assessment one could give him for the time being.

 

[bluetrain4]

Because of the weapons, I still think he could pull an upset of the Big 4. But, I don't see him winning a Slam, as he would have to beat multiple Big 4 players. I don't think it's impossible that he wins another Slam, but I don't think it will happen. But, things could always change.

 

[NadalAgassi]

Because of the weapons, I still think he could pull an upset of the Big 4. But, I don't see him winning a Slam, as he would have to beat multiple Big 4 players. I don't think it's impossible that he wins another Slam, but I don't think it will happen. But, things could always change.

There is also the factor he is the youngest of the current slam winners, but he is only 1 year younger than Djokovic and Murray. Even if some might argue Djokovic's grinding style will see him fade at an earlier age ala Nadal, I think Murray with his playing style is likely to outlast the oft injured Del Potro. By the time Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray are done winning slams, there will probably be new players emerged better than Del Potro.

One wonders if his career was truly wrecked by his 2010 injuries, or his true level was always meant to be a second tier kind of player. It is hard to say as he beat Nadal and Federer to win a slam at a young age, and showed real promise. However on the flipside even at his peak in late 08-09 he didnt win a single Masters, his U.S Open title was his only title above 500 level, and he went 1-6 or someting like that vs his top age peers Muray and Djokovic, the only win being over Murray on clay.

 

[djokovic2008]

He's just too big to dominate long term bottom line his record vs the top guys is atrocious.

 

[Federer20042006]

I just wonder how badly he wants it. I'm not in his head, of course, but he always seems to have this hangdog expression. He rarely shows any fire, and it seems to show in the results.

 

[smoledman]

He's completely overrated, especially after those 2 wins against Fed late in 2012. Oh boy was this forum hyping him to HELL after that.

 

[THE FIGHTER]

he is worthless. if the humble homeboy had been healthy during the 09 USO (like many other occasions), he would have stopped Del Potro dead in his tracks, regardless of del potro's dominating 3-1 record over rafa that year. rafa would have won on the fast courts of the USO that day.


GO NADS

 

[OddJack]

For years I've said he will never win another major

 

[edmondsm]

You did overrate him. He has been spanked by Ferrer their last couple meetings hasnt he? So even while I can understand how some think he is a bigger threat to the top guys than Ferrer, and in a sense he might still be, in reality he isnt even as good as Ferrer right now. Nadal is the one who is sort of the real #4 until he comes back and proves he is either better or heaven forbid worse than that after his layoff. Ferrer is the real #5. Del Potro is in a group below that, probably no better and no worse than people like Berdych at this point, and that is the most generous assessment one could give him for the time being.

My bad, I guess I meant I thought Delpo was the #5, just wasn't including Nadal because he wasn't playing at the Aussie. Yes he has lost to Ferrer in their last two meetings, but he's also beaten Federer a couple times recently. Del Potro has a much better chance against the top 3 guys than Ferrer imo. I think his record against them shows that.

 

[edmondsm]

He's just too big to dominate long term bottom line his record vs the top guys is atrocious.

Not as atrocious as Ferrer's. Unless Ferrer get Murray on clay. That's the only chance he has against any of the top 4 guys.

 

[THE FIGHTER]

its a shame he's at a lull right now, as well. since his game is a bigger threat to the top 3+rafa than ferrer's game is. ferrer may have beaten del potro as of late, but he's trying to play a defensive game against better defenders with the top3+rafa