Meles
Bionic Poster
Maybe not since it appears the only major loss is Wimbledon where the youngerer have been the least competitive.
Would have loved to see the IW/Miami swing, but that ship has sailed.
Thought clay was lost for the year, but RG, Madrid and Rome will be played in the Fall which to my mind is a great thing as the tour used to have a lot of clay events then. Also in the early stages of the ReOpen of Tennis we are seeing a lot of loaded clay fields though sadly today we were robbed of an excellent match between Djokovic and Rublev. A lot of quality clay play yet in store this summer in Europe.
Short US Open with one big warm up event will bring clashes between the new and the old. Plus all the top young players have done Milan with full electronic line calling and should have a small comfort advantage with all electronic linescalling.
Another helpful factor for the younger players is they can't really over play trying to gather points on the regular ATP tour so maybe just maybe we'll see some deeper runs at the majors.
Lets hit the form of the major forces of the Diamond Age (I'll avoid Covid since if Dimitrov has given it to a bunch of other players they should be recovered by US Open Series):
1. Nadal - not playing/practicing much so far (twice a week I heard) which means all those nagging injuries won't be hampering him, but US Open hard court series even with skipping one of the 1000s has left Nadal physically in trouble post US Open and that is not good for the clay season on the heals of the US Open. Because of this don't be surprised if Nadal skips US Open, but it will be hard for him to resist the tempation of playing.
2. Djokovic - his form got much better in Croatia and he just looks hungry to me. Probably won't love the compact scheduling with US Open and clay events, but he's proven in too many majors lately that he has extra reserves he can tap (see Auz Open final). My impression from Adria coverage is that Djokovic has been practicing and training a lot and is eager to make up for lost time on the slam count.
3. Federer - out for 2020
4. Thiem - usually Thiem is working on burn out often during the season. This schedule should be good for him and even if he goes all the way at US Open he should be able to carry that high form to clay and dominate with some much needed short matches and this carries to RG. With Thiem likely 100% fit and fresh for this short slam swing he could really make a statement. Still his game is not as complete as the Big 3 and he can be picked off outside of clay.
5. Tsitsipas - remember he's very, very young so should be a force to reckon with. Probably an SF or a Masters 1000 win.
6. Zverev - despite the 2nd serve somehow getting even worse on the Adria tour the rest of the game looks quite good with his net play finally approaching competence. Opponents love to draw Zverev to net and drop shot him: he's shored up that weakness considerably. Zverev has had a great 2nd serve, so lightning could strike and he could get red hot. The huge serve will save him a lot of energy and he is a great closer deep in events so more potential than Tsitsipas, but only if the 2nd serve heals up.
7. Lost Generation - Dimitrov looks meh and has new serve motion (but if that clicks well look out). Nishikori - don't see him finding great form quickly enough. Raonic - injuries keep killing him, but did have some return to form so admitedly dangerous, but he'll find another injury with such a schedule. Cilic - kinda of sorta looks good, but still losing. Delpo - won't find form fast enough if able to play. Goffin might enjoy the heavy play the Fall offers and Johanssen has beefed up his game though there are limits (generally Goffin down under was much more aggressive and hard hitting with his ground game.) And really this is why Lost Generation is not part of the Diamond Age.
8. De Minaur - was on course for top ten this year and proved himself a dangerous player on fast courts (not doing much on clay). Super young player who will be physically improved. Serve game went throught he roof unexpectedly. Was blowing Nadal off the court for a time at ATP Cup.
9. Shapovalov - tremendous form late 2019 into 2020 and then just fell apart. Very, very young so should keep making physical leaps. Top ten caliber this year.
10. Rublev - excellent returner particular against those who don't have huge first serves. First serve looks even better and it took a jump this time last year. Very weak 2nd serve did improve and we saw the results early this year with 15 straight wins down under. Not sure if its even better and grrr the canceled final with Djoko would have been fun as they've never played before and Rublev probably would have been a tough matchup.
11. Medvedev - momentum player whose game loses sharpness without play. Huge physical surge in his game last year. Even if the rest of his game is not back into form quickly, the time off may have allowed his serve game to heal up (terrible down under this year). Uber dangerous if his serve game is really clicking. It was at about 80% of his best during his big run last year, so this possibility gives him some more upside to finish 2020
12. Khachanov - firmly on the Diamond Age B Team (Medvedev may be heading back to that status at the rate he's going)
13. Felix Auger (FAA) - probing to be all too injury prone, but super young. His outlook is diminished due to the injury issues.
14. Jannik Sinner - just beat the tar out of a in form De Minaur last year in Milan. Could make a big leap and surprise all the TTW regulars given that even though we've had no play, that doesn't stop a young player from physically developing. A mental giant in matches. Great serve for his age. Fantasticaly flat and powerful hitter. Was a top skiing talent and this translates to a phenonomenal rhythm to his game, like he's swooshing back and forth doing slalom/giant slalom skiing.
15. Alcaraz - young Spanish clay phenom who with the extra six months might really surprise with his physical development and game. Quite the perk for him having clay season delayed. Strong, strong physically. Went deep in Rio at age 16.
16. Thiago Seyboth Wild - not sure if he belongs, but the 20 year old Brazilian won Sao Paulo over another promising clay courter (Ruud who along with Christian Garin will be threats at RG for years to come.) Seyboth Wild's play and win was a surprise and another young clay courter who may continue to surprise
Honorable mentions for 2020; Isner and Wawrinka may prosper. Isner won't have played himself out before the US Open. Wawrinka (aka Diesel as Fed likes to call him) is just a stamina machine and those knees should be better. Stan is no spring chicken, but he is a great dark horse for both events if his over two year recovery process still has some upside.
At this stage the Big 3 can rest easy with their legacies, but to have over ten players up and coming who might meet or exceed Thiem's potential still is a fine thing for the game after the long talent drought that has allowed the Big 3 to dominate so easily and for so long.
The fresh additions. Sinner:
Alcaraz (turned 17 May 5th):
Seyboth Wild:
Would have loved to see the IW/Miami swing, but that ship has sailed.
Thought clay was lost for the year, but RG, Madrid and Rome will be played in the Fall which to my mind is a great thing as the tour used to have a lot of clay events then. Also in the early stages of the ReOpen of Tennis we are seeing a lot of loaded clay fields though sadly today we were robbed of an excellent match between Djokovic and Rublev. A lot of quality clay play yet in store this summer in Europe.
Short US Open with one big warm up event will bring clashes between the new and the old. Plus all the top young players have done Milan with full electronic line calling and should have a small comfort advantage with all electronic linescalling.
Another helpful factor for the younger players is they can't really over play trying to gather points on the regular ATP tour so maybe just maybe we'll see some deeper runs at the majors.
Lets hit the form of the major forces of the Diamond Age (I'll avoid Covid since if Dimitrov has given it to a bunch of other players they should be recovered by US Open Series):
1. Nadal - not playing/practicing much so far (twice a week I heard) which means all those nagging injuries won't be hampering him, but US Open hard court series even with skipping one of the 1000s has left Nadal physically in trouble post US Open and that is not good for the clay season on the heals of the US Open. Because of this don't be surprised if Nadal skips US Open, but it will be hard for him to resist the tempation of playing.
2. Djokovic - his form got much better in Croatia and he just looks hungry to me. Probably won't love the compact scheduling with US Open and clay events, but he's proven in too many majors lately that he has extra reserves he can tap (see Auz Open final). My impression from Adria coverage is that Djokovic has been practicing and training a lot and is eager to make up for lost time on the slam count.
3. Federer - out for 2020
4. Thiem - usually Thiem is working on burn out often during the season. This schedule should be good for him and even if he goes all the way at US Open he should be able to carry that high form to clay and dominate with some much needed short matches and this carries to RG. With Thiem likely 100% fit and fresh for this short slam swing he could really make a statement. Still his game is not as complete as the Big 3 and he can be picked off outside of clay.
5. Tsitsipas - remember he's very, very young so should be a force to reckon with. Probably an SF or a Masters 1000 win.
6. Zverev - despite the 2nd serve somehow getting even worse on the Adria tour the rest of the game looks quite good with his net play finally approaching competence. Opponents love to draw Zverev to net and drop shot him: he's shored up that weakness considerably. Zverev has had a great 2nd serve, so lightning could strike and he could get red hot. The huge serve will save him a lot of energy and he is a great closer deep in events so more potential than Tsitsipas, but only if the 2nd serve heals up.
7. Lost Generation - Dimitrov looks meh and has new serve motion (but if that clicks well look out). Nishikori - don't see him finding great form quickly enough. Raonic - injuries keep killing him, but did have some return to form so admitedly dangerous, but he'll find another injury with such a schedule. Cilic - kinda of sorta looks good, but still losing. Delpo - won't find form fast enough if able to play. Goffin might enjoy the heavy play the Fall offers and Johanssen has beefed up his game though there are limits (generally Goffin down under was much more aggressive and hard hitting with his ground game.) And really this is why Lost Generation is not part of the Diamond Age.
8. De Minaur - was on course for top ten this year and proved himself a dangerous player on fast courts (not doing much on clay). Super young player who will be physically improved. Serve game went throught he roof unexpectedly. Was blowing Nadal off the court for a time at ATP Cup.
9. Shapovalov - tremendous form late 2019 into 2020 and then just fell apart. Very, very young so should keep making physical leaps. Top ten caliber this year.
10. Rublev - excellent returner particular against those who don't have huge first serves. First serve looks even better and it took a jump this time last year. Very weak 2nd serve did improve and we saw the results early this year with 15 straight wins down under. Not sure if its even better and grrr the canceled final with Djoko would have been fun as they've never played before and Rublev probably would have been a tough matchup.
11. Medvedev - momentum player whose game loses sharpness without play. Huge physical surge in his game last year. Even if the rest of his game is not back into form quickly, the time off may have allowed his serve game to heal up (terrible down under this year). Uber dangerous if his serve game is really clicking. It was at about 80% of his best during his big run last year, so this possibility gives him some more upside to finish 2020
12. Khachanov - firmly on the Diamond Age B Team (Medvedev may be heading back to that status at the rate he's going)
13. Felix Auger (FAA) - probing to be all too injury prone, but super young. His outlook is diminished due to the injury issues.
14. Jannik Sinner - just beat the tar out of a in form De Minaur last year in Milan. Could make a big leap and surprise all the TTW regulars given that even though we've had no play, that doesn't stop a young player from physically developing. A mental giant in matches. Great serve for his age. Fantasticaly flat and powerful hitter. Was a top skiing talent and this translates to a phenonomenal rhythm to his game, like he's swooshing back and forth doing slalom/giant slalom skiing.
15. Alcaraz - young Spanish clay phenom who with the extra six months might really surprise with his physical development and game. Quite the perk for him having clay season delayed. Strong, strong physically. Went deep in Rio at age 16.
16. Thiago Seyboth Wild - not sure if he belongs, but the 20 year old Brazilian won Sao Paulo over another promising clay courter (Ruud who along with Christian Garin will be threats at RG for years to come.) Seyboth Wild's play and win was a surprise and another young clay courter who may continue to surprise
Honorable mentions for 2020; Isner and Wawrinka may prosper. Isner won't have played himself out before the US Open. Wawrinka (aka Diesel as Fed likes to call him) is just a stamina machine and those knees should be better. Stan is no spring chicken, but he is a great dark horse for both events if his over two year recovery process still has some upside.
At this stage the Big 3 can rest easy with their legacies, but to have over ten players up and coming who might meet or exceed Thiem's potential still is a fine thing for the game after the long talent drought that has allowed the Big 3 to dominate so easily and for so long.
The fresh additions. Sinner:
Alcaraz (turned 17 May 5th):
Seyboth Wild:
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Have never thought of Berrittini as a Diamond Age heavyweight, but wow does this guy look light years better than Khachanov right now.
Curygios the cowardly's snarking from down under in order to not play a perfectly safe tournament in Germany has you troubled? They are human and poor Zedly has ran for cover also pulling out of Germany.
