Donald Young Is a major waste of talent

asifallasleep

Hall of Fame
This is what insane talent and no hard works gets you. Pampered by Ma and Pa Young for way too long, this guy was never pushed hard enough. Watching him play, he's the guy that was the big man on campus in the juniors but once he entered the big league, everyone was just as good or better and he couldn't make the grade. Couldnt gut it out. The shots that used to beat everyone else are coming back harder. Donald, your talent isn't enough to get you by anymore.

2005 ITF Junior World Rankings
Notables
1. Donald Young
2. Marin Cilic
12. Andy Murray
14. Sam Querry
49. Juan Martin del Potro
53. Alexandr Dolgopolov
87. Kei Nishikori

So terribly sad.
 

ChanceEncounter

Professional
Donald Young just didn't have the top end game that the other players had. With guys like Murray or Del Potro, you got the sense that if they ever figured it out, they had a high enough ceiling to be a top player. Young doesn't have as high a ceiling, so he needs to be a more consistent player to win. Unfortunately, consistency often takes longest to develop and can easily get derailed.
 

tistrapukcipeht

Professional
Where is He talented?
FH? no.
BH? no, no.
Volleys?no,no,no
mental game?? no X 4.
serve? 10X no.

Game overall? 100 x no.

Donald Young is not talented, He is not better than a top 140-150. He has no game whatsoever, just look at him you'll see, if you know tennis.

Again, stupidity has no limits.
 

kanamit

Hall of Fame
Donald Young has great athleticism and a nice feel for the ball. Having watched a number of his matches, I can pretty confidently say that his biggest issue has been putting his skills together into the right package, knowing when to go for big shots, knowing how to use his skills to optimum effect. In other words, the issue is a coaching one. And now that he's finally brought in a coach from the outside, but even then is only allowing him to be a co-coach, shows that Young is still unlikely to make much progress because he still has no idea that the biggest scandal here has been his parents' selfishness.
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
Donald Young has great athleticism and a nice feel for the ball. Having watched a number of his matches, I can pretty confidently say that his biggest issue has been putting his skills together into the right package, knowing when to go for big shots, knowing how to use his skills to optimum effect. In other words, the issue is a coaching one. And now that he's finally brought in a coach from the outside, but even then is only allowing him to be a co-coach, shows that Young is still unlikely to make much progress because he still has no idea that the biggest scandal here has been his parents' selfishness.

honestly, for reasons I wont get into, DY's parents tried to duplicate the Richard Williams model of coaching.

the problem is, DY isnt as talented as the WS, his parents arent as good at coaching as RW, or a combo of both.

That said I agree, DY like Wozniacki, needs to cut the chord already on his family coaching him.
 

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
Where is He talented?
FH? no.
BH? no, no.
Volleys?no,no,no
mental game?? no X 4.
serve? 10X no.

Game overall? 100 x no.

Donald Young is not talented, He is not better than a top 140-150. He has no game whatsoever, just look at him you'll see, if you know tennis.

Again, stupidity has no limits.

Yes yes yes!
 

World Beater

Hall of Fame
young has always been overrated.

he has got great hands, but he doesnt have enough firepower and his consistency is below par.

That means he will lose a lot.

Physically he is also at a disadvantage compared to his peers.
 

Sid_Vicious

G.O.A.T.
lol hearing stuff like this about Young all the time truly makes you realize that he is overrated.

Why should only Young's number 1 finish in the juniors indicate that he is talented? Does anyone say the same about Richard Berankis or Thiemo De Bakker? They also finished number 1 in the world during junior years.
 

SLD76

G.O.A.T.
lol hearing stuff like this about Young all the time truly makes you realize that he is overrated.

Why should only Young's number 1 finish in the juniors indicate that he is talented? Does anyone say the same about Richard Berankis or Thiemo De Bakker? They also finished number 1 in the world during junior years.


woods are filled with top ranked juniors who didnt make the transition to the pro game.
 

paulorenzo

Hall of Fame
lol hearing stuff like this about Young all the time truly makes you realize that he is overrated.

Why should only Young's number 1 finish in the juniors indicate that he is talented? Does anyone say the same about Richard Berankis or Thiemo De Bakker? They also finished number 1 in the world during junior years.

one word, 'MURICA
 

cluckcluck

Hall of Fame
When will tournament directors stop giving him main draw wildcards? Make him learn to fight for a match by having to go through qualies.
 

jokinla

Hall of Fame
This is what insane talent and no hard works gets you. Pampered by Ma and Pa Young for way too long, this guy was never pushed hard enough. Watching him play, he's the guy that was the big man on campus in the juniors but once he entered the big league, everyone was just as good or better and he couldn't make the grade. Couldnt gut it out. The shots that used to beat everyone else are coming back harder. Donald, your talent isn't enough to get you by anymore.

2005 ITF Junior World Rankings
Notables
1. Donald Young
2. Marin Cilic
12. Andy Murray
14. Sam Querry
49. Juan Martin del Potro
53. Alexandr Dolgopolov
87. Kei Nishikori

So terribly sad.

Where are the other forty plus guys that were ahead of Delpo, amazing how things change from juniors to pros.
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
Whenever someone does it differently (e.g. being coached by his parents, sticking with a 90 inch racquet) and it doesn't work out for a while, it's always that thing to blame. Maybe Donald is just a mental midget, or doesn't work hard enough. Doesn't necessarily have to do with his parents. I agree he should change something, but it's not necessarily their fault.

Murray was coached by his mom for a long time, Nadal is still coached by family. Monfils doesn't work for a coach either and would perhaps be better of with his parents etc.
 

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't see the talent. He probably developed physically faster than some players in the rankings but that's about all. It's really telling that such a 1-dimensional player can reah the top just by being stronger.
 

henryshli

Semi-Pro
This is what insane talent and no hard works gets you. Pampered by Ma and Pa Young for way too long, this guy was never pushed hard enough. Watching him play, he's the guy that was the big man on campus in the juniors but once he entered the big league, everyone was just as good or better and he couldn't make the grade. Couldnt gut it out. The shots that used to beat everyone else are coming back harder. Donald, your talent isn't enough to get you by anymore.

2005 ITF Junior World Rankings
Notables
1. Donald Young
2. Marin Cilic
12. Andy Murray
14. Sam Querry
49. Juan Martin del Potro
53. Alexandr Dolgopolov
87. Kei Nishikori

So terribly sad.

Is this for real? Or is this skewed because the better players like Murray were already scaling down the junior tour for seniors?
 

henryshli

Semi-Pro
I just checked. Come on OP, Andy Murray played his first ATP level match in 2005 Barcelona and Donald Young didn't play ATP until 2007!

So misleading, you might as well have said Donald Young ranked above Pete Sampras on the juniors ranking in 2005
 

asifallasleep

Hall of Fame
It's not skewed. Donald Young was way ahead of the curve. He was beating all the guys who were 2-4 years older than he was.
 

tank_job

Banned
Donald Young just didn't have the top end game that the other players had. With guys like Murray or Del Potro, you got the sense that if they ever figured it out, they had a high enough ceiling to be a top player. Young doesn't have as high a ceiling, so he needs to be a more consistent player to win. Unfortunately, consistency often takes longest to develop and can easily get derailed.

What is there ever to 'figure out' about a tennis player?

A tennis player will either try to;

a). push and try to hit one more shot than you
b). bash, and smack everything as hard as they can

Even if you know nothing about a player beforehand, you have a 1 in 2 chance of completely figuring out their game.

It's not a complicated sport we play, people, which is why most tennis players don't seem to be the brightest of sparks.
 

citybert

Hall of Fame
If he found the right partner i dont see why he couldnt compete in doubles. He would be a top 10 doubles player i doubt any higher since he is short but with the right patner maybe.
 

tank_job

Banned
If he found the right partner i dont see why he couldnt compete in doubles. He would be a top 10 doubles player i doubt any higher since he is short but with the right patner maybe.

That's a good point, maybe he got his high junior ranking by bullying people about the court with his insanely massive serve and overpowering groundstrokes (for the 8 year-old-circuit), but then they all out-grew him and he's left weaponless.
 

citybert

Hall of Fame
It's not skewed. Donald Young was way ahead of the curve. He was beating all the guys who were 2-4 years older than he was.

That was part of the issue. He was constantly told he was 'Next' and going to win multiple GS. He probably let it get to his head and you cant blame him, he was 16. But yea in the end he is very weak mentally
 
N

NadalAgassi

Guest
I dont find he is that talented and never did. Who is best at 15 rarely means anything. Nalbandian was a better junior player than Federer, and Capriati is the best 13-15 year old player in womens tennis history.
 

tennisoh

Semi-Pro
I'd like to know how a guy who is like 5'10" maybe and has overall very little power is wasting his talent.

Maybe he is maximizing it by getting as far as he has. How many Little League Baseball All-Stars in your hometown do you know who flamed out by high school?
 

RodSmooth

Professional
I'd like to know how a guy who is like 5'10" maybe and has overall very little power is wasting his talent.

Maybe he is maximizing it by getting as far as he has. How many Little League Baseball All-Stars in your hometown do you know who flamed out by high school?

@doctorbackhand lol agreed.

lol your right hes not wasting his talent, he's just part of the 5% of black people with bad athletic genetics.

bieng 5'7 running a 11 second 100m
bieng 5'7 serving 130

height dosent matter man when it comes to power or skill, against players sure it has disadvantages but if he was 6'3 he would still have the same genetics and skill
 

tennis_balla

Hall of Fame
Check out all the armchair experts talk trash online about a player who's playing level they'll never be able to comprehend nor understand what it's like being a pro.
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Check out all the armchair experts talk trash online about a player who's playing level they'll never be able to comprehend nor understand what it's like being a pro.

Ya, I was thinking that the guy is at least one of the 100 best tennis players in the world. Perhaps one of the 50 best. That's not bad. I'm not even one of the top 100 accountants in the world (LOL).

BUT if he wants to continue as a professional, he'd better make some changes to his training, attitude, and mental approach to the game. He only just turned 23, so he has an easy 5-10 good years left. Let's hope he makes the most of them.
 

RodSmooth

Professional
Did I single you or anyone out specifically? Regardless, since you stood up and made that comment then enlighten me and tell me who you are.

lets just say ive been on tour. i know how the ins and outs of how the game works so your previous comment is invalid unless you single me out.
 

tennis_balla

Hall of Fame
Ya, I was thinking that the guy is at least one of the 100 best tennis players in the world. Perhaps one of the 50 best. That's not bad. I'm not even one of the top 100 accountants in the world (LOL).

BUT if he wants to continue as a professional, he'd better make some changes to his training, attitude, and mental approach to the game. He only just turned 23, so he has an easy 5-10 good years left. Let's hope he makes the most of them.

I don't know I mean we don't exactly know what's going on with him. However, being #1 in juniors doesn't mean much. Look at Monfils, the guy won 3 outta 4 junior Grand Slam titles if I remember correctly. Safin could be another case, Coria, Rio or countless top college or high school football, basketball or hockey players that did nothing once they hit the big time. It's a huge step, then there are the guys who bloom late, did nothing as juniors and become great pros.

Donald Young is one of many, and he's not the first and won't be the last so I don't understand all the hoopla going on about him. Some take it too personally, like he's taking away food from their table by not winning.
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
I don't know I mean we don't exactly know what's going on with him. However, being #1 in juniors doesn't mean much. Look at Monfils, the guy won 3 outta 4 junior Grand Slam titles if I remember correctly. Safin could be another case, Coria, Rio or countless top college or high school football, basketball or hockey players that did nothing once they hit the big time. It's a huge step, then there are the guys who bloom late, did nothing as juniors and become great pros.

Donald Young is one of many, and he's not the first and won't be the last so I don't understand all the hoopla going on about him. Some take it too personally, like he's taking away food from their table by not winning.

Wait a second. These guys did nothing once they hit the big time?

I guess expectations really mess with perceptions. All of the guys you mention were top 10 players AT WORST.

Donald Young is talented. If he worked his ass off, I could see him being something like a Gilles Simon or a Janko Tipsaravic. Meaning a damn good player. Top 20. But he ain't getting there if he continues down the path he's on now.

Young needs a little of the fire Ryan Harrison seems to have. I think Harrison is determined to maximize what he has. And what more can you ask of a guy?
 
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tennisoh

Semi-Pro
lets just say ive been on tour. i know how the ins and outs of how the game works so your previous comment is invalid unless you single me out.

LOL, here we go...a former touring pro gracing us with his presence and explaining all that is wrong with Donald Young.

Should we be paying for you to come speak with us? Maybe TennisWarehouse can pay you to give us the real ins and outs.
 

RodSmooth

Professional
you said "Check out all the armchair experts talk trash online about a player who's playing level they'll never be able to comprehend nor understand what it's like being a pro."

if you knw the ends and outs = comprehending and understand whats its like to be pro. strong common sense
 

BrooklynNY

Hall of Fame
What is pro? Higher ranked than Donald Young? Otherwise you are likely on the challenger and future tour...or maybe event he USTA-Pro circuit
 

Matt H.

Professional
Watching Pam interview Donald’s “coach” in the stands with his mom sitting next to him was all you needed to see in why Donald has gone nowhere.

He said his mom put together the game plan for his match against Fed. I’m sorry, but Donald, you’re a 23 year old MAN. Mom’s do not run the show in any aspect of a man’s life, if that man expects to be succeed.

It also explains the on court body language and attitude. It felt like I was watching a junior. A privileged one, who hasn’t matured because his mother still calls the shots.

The shot selection was horrible, and it just looked like he had no desire to put in work or construct a point. Quite frankly, he looked exactly the same as when he first played in the US Open.
 

RodSmooth

Professional
Atilla Bucko- used to have an atp point
class of 2006
2 in the nation when donald was 13 in the nation, played juniors with him.
54 itf ranking

never said i was big on tour but i did play and got a point.
jokes on you
 

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
The OP once wrote (about Monfils) that you can't be a top 100 player if you're lazy. Young at his peak got up to the top 30s in rankings, so maybe his work habits aren't as bad as you speculate.
 

tennis_balla

Hall of Fame
Wait a second. These guys did nothing once they hit the big time?

I guess expectations really mess with perceptions. All of the guys you mention were top 10 players AT WORST.

Donald Young is talented. If he worked his ass off, I could see him being something like a Gilles Simon or a Janko Tipsaravic. Meaning a damn good player. Top 20. But he ain't getting there if he continues down the path he's on now.

Young needs a little of the fire Ryan Harrison seems to have. I think Harrison is determined to maximize what he has. And what more can you ask of a guy?

Yea I worded that wrong my bad but what I meant was people considered Safin a talent waster, as they did with Rios.

Ryan Harrison needs to keep his emotions in check more but he's been like that since I first met him back when he was 12. His dad would tell him to go home to get off the court when he misbehaved. He was a cocky little sh*t but he could play. His brother Christian is the same way, he's very determined and shows a lot of emotion. Ryan has a lot of potential, will see how he turns out.
 

Avles

Hall of Fame
Atilla Bucko- used to have an atp point
class of 2006
2 in the nation when donald was 13 in the nation, played juniors with him.
54 itf ranking

never said i was big on tour but i did play and got a point.
jokes on you


Do you often spell your own name wrong Attila?
 

Avles

Hall of Fame
The OP once wrote (about Monfils) that you can't be a top 100 player if you're lazy. Young at his peak got up to the top 30s in rankings, so maybe his work habits aren't as bad as you speculate.

Criticizing the work habits seems like the default reaction when someone's results don't meet expectations. Like all the guy needs is an 80's movie-style training montage or two and he'll be in the top 20. Don't think it's really that simple.
 

tennisoh

Semi-Pro
Note to self: when trying to boost my ego on internet message boards, always pretend to be someone with an easy name to spell. Should have gone with Donald Young...oh wait, that wouldn't have worked either.
 

ChanceEncounter

Professional
What is there ever to 'figure out' about a tennis player?

A tennis player will either try to;

a). push and try to hit one more shot than you
b). bash, and smack everything as hard as they can

Even if you know nothing about a player beforehand, you have a 1 in 2 chance of completely figuring out their game.

It's not a complicated sport we play, people, which is why most tennis players don't seem to be the brightest of sparks.
That's like saying a basketball player with either try to dribble around outside and score off jump shots, or try to get in close to the basket and score layups and dunks. It may be somewhat true, but it misses all the subtlety of the game.
 
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