Felix Ager-Alliasime is hugely overrated

FatHead250

Professional
He isn't anywhere near top-10 or slam-winning material. He doesn't have any weapons or reliable shots. His great athleticism is going to keep declining, and he will settle somewhere in the 100s ranks, along with Gulbis and the like. He just doesnt have any dimensions to his game, and all of his shots are technically flawed.

People like Fognini, who can't commit themselves to the same degree like Felix, but due to their talented game and technically sound groundstrokes always hang around 20s and 30s ranks, attract me way more as players
 

daphne

Hall of Fame
I really do not know what's a big fuss about this guy? He will never win a slam. Not even top 10. Forget about it.
 

merwy

G.O.A.T.
Technically flawed is the last thing I would describe his shots as, but he’s been astonishingly underwhelming. Some players just can’t figure out how to win matches. Don’t know if it’s mental or if he’s just tactically awful, but I hope he can turn it around. I want to say he might be another Dimitrov, but at least the latter won the world tour finals. FAA has to focus on winning any kind of ATP tournament first.
 

Swingmaster

Hall of Fame
He isn't anywhere near top-10 or slam-winning material. He doesn't have any weapons or reliable shots. His great athleticism is going to keep declining, and he will settle somewhere in the 100s ranks, along with Gulbis and the like. He just doesnt have any dimensions to his game, and all of his shots are technically flawed.

People like Fognini, who can't commit themselves to the same degree like Felix, but due to their talented game and technically sound groundstrokes always hang around 20s and 30s ranks, attract me way more as players
I don't know about 100s. Maybe more like a Monfils level career.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
I don't understand the "he doesn't have weapons" comment. He has literally all the weapons. He is lacking in something, but it's not his strokes. I also have felt pretty underwhelmed by his "growth" the last two years, but there's no way he's going to fade to the 100s. That's absurd. He might be stuck in the 10-25 range for a while, but he's not that bad.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
He's been hovering around the top 20 for about a year or two now. I think he needs to decide if he's going to embrace his inner attacking player, or keep trying to play the margins. Uncle Toni is good in that he helped him add some margin to his game. The problem is, he needs to rely more on his attacking skills for him to win on hard court.
 

bleno567

Professional
Agreed. Same can be said about Sinner too.

Can't tell if trolling or serious. He's 19 and top 20 (would be higher without frozen points), and he has 2 ATP 250 titles and a masters 1000 final. Would not be surprised if he wins the Citi this week and adds a ATP 500 to his resume.
 

FatHead250

Professional
I don't understand the "he doesn't have weapons" comment. He has literally all the weapons. He is lacking in something, but it's not his strokes. I also have felt pretty underwhelmed by his "growth" the last two years, but there's no way he's going to fade to the 100s. That's absurd. He might be stuck in the 10-25 range for a while, but he's not that bad.
His forehand is a jerky technically flawed shot. Weapons are forehands of guys like Berdych, Del Potro, Fognini. Or backhands of guys like Gasquet or Wawrinka or Fognini. Weapon is consistency and power. A weapon can ensure a long top-30 carreer. Felix doesn't have any consistency and never will, because his forehand is from Shanktown. His backhand lacks power and never will have much power because it's not fluid enough. The serve as well.

Now, Shapovalov can develop a weapon with his forehand. But he struggles a bit against pace with it. But it is a nice shot
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
His forehand is a jerky technically flawed shot. Weapons are forehands of guys like Berdych, Del Potro, Fognini. Or backhands of guys like Gasquet or Wawrinka or Fognini. Weapon is consistency and power. A weapon can ensure a long top-30 carreer. Felix doesn't have any consistency and never will, because his forehand is from Shanktown. His backhand lacks power and never will have much power because it's not fluid enough. The serve as well

o_O Clearly you haven't watched too many of his matches before this year. His forehand is clean and sharp. He can paint the lines. The problem is he always wanted to paint the lines. Every single time. Not a great strategy against anyone with any consistency. Or when you lose your forehand.

So he brought on Uncle Toni who taught him how to get some margin on his shots. And he now plays with more defense. The problem is that he needs to be able to switch from controlled aggression to all out attack on a dime. This is what he has figured out yet.
 

FlamingCheeto

Hall of Fame
He isn't anywhere near top-10 or slam-winning material. He doesn't have any weapons or reliable shots. His great athleticism is going to keep declining, and he will settle somewhere in the 100s ranks, along with Gulbis and the like. He just doesnt have any dimensions to his game, and all of his shots are technically flawed.

People like Fognini, who can't commit themselves to the same degree like Felix, but due to their talented game and technically sound groundstrokes always hang around 20s and 30s ranks, attract me way more as players

wait.
 

FatHead250

Professional
o_O Clearly you haven't watched too many of his matches before this year. His forehand is clean and sharp. He can paint the lines. The problem is he always wanted to paint the lines. Every single time. Not a great strategy against anyone with any consistency. Or when you lose your forehand.

So he brought on Uncle Toni who taught him how to get some margin on his shots. And he now plays with more defense. The problem is that he needs to be able to switch from controlled aggression to all out attack on a dime. This is what he has figured out yet.
I'm sorry, but if you're a high level tennis player like me, you can see that his shots are technically bad, stiff and jerky. Day and night difference with someone like Fognini or the Big-3. Watch this for example (especially the end)
Every time he accelerates on his shots (hitting an attacking shot), his error-chance increases. With great forehands and backhands, the harder they are hit, the less the error-chance
 
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Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
I'm sorry, but if you're a high level tennis player like me, you can see that his shots are technically bad, stiff and jerky. Day and night difference with someone like Fognini or the Big-3. Watch this for example

Fatheads don't play tennis...

And Auger-Aliassime won that match. On clay, which is almost certainly his worst surface and Fogini's best. Why...because there is more to truly "high" level tennis than just dropping your racquet head faster.

Now look at this match against Brooksby. What does he do wrong? Sure, Brooksby is another young up-and-comer with great potential. But why the heck is Auger-Aliassime hitting down the center to him around 6:20? You can't paint the line every time, but you have to move him around more. He has control of the point in a few of these rallies but he just can't seem to pull the trigger.

 

FatHead250

Professional
Fatheads don't play tennis...

And Auger-Aliassime won that match. On clay, which is almost certainly his worst surface and Fogini's best. Why...because there is more to truly "high" level tennis than just dropping your racquet head faster.

Now look at this match against Brooksby. What does he do wrong? Sure, Brooksby is another young up-and-comer with great potential. But why the heck is Auger-Aliassime hitting down the center to him around 6:20? You can't paint the line every time, but you have to move him around more. He has control of the point in a few of these rallies but he just can't seem to pull the trigger.

The reason he won is because Fognini is Fognini, but the difference in groundstrokes is immense. And Felix doesn't have anywhere he can improve to. And the reason he can't move around instead of painting the lines, is because he doesn't enjoy hitting his forehands and backhands, becuase they are technically flawed with big error-chance on them. If he tried to move around, he would either make mistakes or lack pace. That's why people with bad forehand have to paint the lines, while guys liek Federer always play with good margin
 

Swingmaster

Hall of Fame
Felix only has one thing in common with these two players...otherwise this is a crappy comparison.

Dimitrov is a better one. But he's young and has time to figure it out. look at Shapo.
I said a Monfils LEVEL career. I wasn't comparing the two.
 
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Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
The reason he won is because Fognini is Fognini, but the difference in groundstrokes is immense. And Felix doesn't have anywhere he can improve to. And the reason he can't move around instead of painting the lines, is because he doesn't enjoy hitting his forehands and backhands, becuase they are technically flawed with big error-chance on them. If he tried to move around, he would either make mistakes or lack pace. That's why people with bad forehand have to paint the lines, while guys liek Federer always play with good margin

Maybe Fognini just doesn't have the right game to succeed in the modern era...

Now, there are many ways to 20 Slams, apparently, because each of the big 3 have 20. And they got there by using different combinations of aggression and defense.

As for Auger-Aliassime, he should move his opponent around, not move around himself. As far as improvement, it's a matter of finding the right balance that suits him. The problem is that he has veered to far to the defensive on hard courts. On grass, he was much more aggressive and it paid dividends.
 

topspn

Legend
So far, all next players seem capable of breath taking brilliance but can't pull it off week in week out.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
So far, all next players seem capable of breath taking brilliance but can't pull it off week in week out.

Right, but at some point one will likely have to come out on top (although it is possible that some talented 14-16 years old are waiting in the wing). The question is which one has the capabilities?
 

daggerman

Hall of Fame
He's been hovering around the top 20 for about a year or two now. I think he needs to decide if he's going to embrace his inner attacking player, or keep trying to play the margins. Uncle Toni is good in that he helped him add some margin to his game. The problem is, he needs to rely more on his attacking skills for him to win on hard court.

This is crucial. He showed such promising all court tennis during the grass court season, but so far on hard court he's been allergic to the net. This is all part of the development process, though. He's still gaining an understanding of his strengths as a player. It'll come together soon enough.
 

Musterrific

Hall of Fame
Strengths: physical fitness, technique (solid off both wings, big serve), movement, positive attitude, work ethic

Weaknesses: mental aspect, tactically unsound, robotic approach to play, lack of variety and creativity

With the right coach, a lot of those weaknesses can be improved, but it will take time, which fortunately he has a lot of on his side.
 

TomTennis495

Professional
He isn't anywhere near top-10 or slam-winning material. He doesn't have any weapons or reliable shots. His great athleticism is going to keep declining, and he will settle somewhere in the 100s ranks, along with Gulbis and the like. He just doesnt have any dimensions to his game, and all of his shots are technically flawed.

People like Fognini, who can't commit themselves to the same degree like Felix, but due to their talented game and technically sound groundstrokes always hang around 20s and 30s ranks, attract me way more as players


Hes...... nine.....teen.......
 

tex123

Hall of Fame
He isn't anywhere near top-10 or slam-winning material. He doesn't have any weapons or reliable shots. His great athleticism is going to keep declining, and he will settle somewhere in the 100s ranks, along with Gulbis and the like. He just doesnt have any dimensions to his game, and all of his shots are technically flawed.

People like Fognini, who can't commit themselves to the same degree like Felix, but due to their talented game and technically sound groundstrokes always hang around 20s and 30s ranks, attract me way more as players
Uncle Toni was supposed to make him a winner!
In all honesty, Rafa made Toni a legend. But Toni knows what it takes to win. So he should've chosen Shapovalov. He could've made a big difference there. Really really big. Shapo is raw - Toni's skills would've helped here.

Instead he chose FAA. Not sure what to make of him. Nice guy but I don't see him winning anything. No firepower.
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Uncle Toni was supposed to make him a winner!
In all honesty, Rafa made Toni a legend. But Toni knows what it takes to win. So he should've chosen Shapovalov. He could've made a big difference there. Really really big. Shapo is raw - Toni's skills would've helped here.

Instead he chose FAA. Not sure what to make of him. Nice guy but I don't see him winning anything. No firepower.

I like Shapovalov, but I sometimes wonder if he's not overrated.
 
He's good at everything, but not excellent. And I have to agree with earlier posts. He doesn't have a true weapon that gets him out of trouble or intimidates the opponent. His ground strokes are very whippy, and don't seem to generate the power that would knock anyone off the court.
 

offtheline

New User
Does anyone know what the record is for highest number of finals reached with zero victories? FAA cant be far off, can he?
 

Swingmaster

Hall of Fame
The way he has been developing, I do agree he may have a La-Monf kind of career.

But who know? He might have a 2011, 24-yrs old Djoker moment and ended up winning a couple of grand slams.
Yeah, without the big three around there might be a few dozen different slam winners during FAA's career. If so, he should be one of them.
 

Dan Lobb

G.O.A.T.
The problem with Felix is the same problem with other promising younger players, hardcourt is not a good surface for tennis. You cannot play real tennis on hardcourt, and the hard rubber surface grips the rubber treads of tennis shoes and jerks the knee joints and other joints around the leg, resulting in injuries.

Grass? Both Felix and Denis are coming off breakthrough performances at Wimbledon,, both reached the quarterfinals, Denis the semifinal.
There is nothing wrong with them that cannot be fixed by retracing our steps and going back to grass.
 
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