Is Angrey Back?

[Meles]

Fractured back was building and crushed Rublev's early career at Monte Carlo 2018 in three set loss to Thiem.

Early 2018 hard court stats:
51.5% points won
42.6% return points won
60.5% serve points (really hurt by 42.4% 2nd serve points won)

Cincy onwards 2019 hard courts:
52.1% points won
only 39.0% on return
but 66.1% on serve including much improved 52.0% on 2nd serve (a long term liability)

Is he back? Maybe not with the drop from his superlative returning early in 2018 which featured great movement and consistency during that period. Getting his highest return game back and movement would have him near the top of the game. Recent Elo already 12 with recent Federer win pumping up the Elo.

 

[tennisaddict]

He is terribly boring. May be even more boring than Coric. Endless ball bashing from baseline with grunt.

I will take Zverev botching volleys at net any day.

Tsitsipas, Shapavalov , Tiafoe are better to watch. Not Rublev, Coric , De Minaur , Medvedev.

 

[Meles]

He is terribly boring. May be even more boring than Coric. Endless ball bashing from baseline with grunt.

I will take Zverev botching volleys at net any day.

Tsitsipas, Shapavalov , Tiafoe are better to watch. Not Rublev, Coric , De Minaur , Medvedev.

I find baseline tennis quite interesting and not sure I'd label any of these players with the boring tag, but Rublev sometimes the most one dimensional. Rublev has won a doubles title, but resists coming to net in singles like no other.

 

[Robert Baratheon]

Tsitsipas, Shapavalov , Tiafoe are better to

Tiafoe literally has the worst looking ground strokes ever.

 

[Sysyphus]

aggressive, relentless shotmaker with beautiful technique off the ground and the footwork of an out-boxer, and a dedicated following of hordes of middle-aged upper-class ladies droping their wallets and whatever else to get into his matches – what's not to like?

Expect Big Things for #2020.

 

[James P]

I think he'll be a factor going forward. Not sure how high he can climb the charts past 25, though. Total crapshoot from about 8 to 25.

 

[TimHenmanATG]

Rublev is too much of a twink.

He needs to beef up a bit to realistically challenge at the upper echelons of a highly physical sport.

 

[Meles]

I think he'll be a factor going forward. Not sure how high he can climb the charts past 25, though. Total crapshoot from about 8 to 25.

Recent Elo often is a fair barometer of ranking potential:

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Rankings Chart

Compare tennis players via ATP or Elo ranking charts

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

We can see in the above, Khachanov peaking at 5 last Fall and Medvedev also getting into top ten after 2018 Tokyo win long before either made the ATP top ten. Rublev has been around 12 recently and the above chart by age actually shows without the injury he was tracking better than Khachanov and Medvedev. Angrey's back at it approaching 22 years of age with a meteoric rise in serve game much like Medvedev.

For me @Sysyphus the drop off in return in this comeback is a sign he's still not fully recovered and may even be damaged goods. Still much more interesting results for Rublev than I expected. I've always thought of him as a frequent top 5 player before the injury. His serve game is really surprising this year and now I'm not sure what to think. He's got a workable draw in Vienna after huge speed bump in first match (FAA).

 

[helterskelter]

Recent Elo often is a fair barometer of ranking potential:

Ultimate Tennis Statistics - Rankings Chart

Compare tennis players via ATP or Elo ranking charts

www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com

We can see in the above, Khachanov peaking at 5 last Fall and Medvedev also getting into top ten after 2018 Tokyo win long before either made the ATP top ten. Rublev has been around 12 recently and the above chart by age actually shows without the injury he was tracking better than Khachanov and Medvedev. Angrey's back at it approaching 22 years of age with a meteoric rise in serve game much like Medvedev.

For me @Sysyphus the drop off in return in this comeback is a sign he's still not fully recovered and may even be damaged goods. Still much more interesting results for Rublev than I expected. I've always thought of him as a frequent top 5 player before the injury. His serve game is really surprising this year and now I'm not sure what to think. He's got a workable draw in Vienna after huge speed bump in first match (FAA).

Definitely approaching 22 years of age: it's his 22nd birthday tomorrow!

 

[Red Rick]

Fractured back was building and crushed Rublev's early career at Monte Carlo 2018 in three set loss to Thiem.

Early 2018 hard court stats:
51.5% points won
42.6% return points won
60.5% serve points (really hurt by 42.4% 2nd serve points won)

Cincy onwards 2019 hard courts:
52.1% points won
only 39.0% on return
but 66.1% on serve including much improved 52.0% on 2nd serve (a long term liability)

Is he back? Maybe not with the drop from his superlative returning early in 2018 which featured great movement and consistency during that period. Getting his highest return game back and movement would have him near the top of the game. Recent Elo already 12 with recent Federer win pumping up the Elo.

**** remember but did I or did I not dub him Angrey?

 

[Meles]

**** remember but did I or did I not dub him Angrey?

The OP picture is tennis art of the highest order of that there is no doubt.

I'm not good with these things; thought myself the creator of the term Fraud and I appear to had just led a 2nd renaissance. @stringertom

Spoiler

Did create fraud erer, and that was blocked in a week by the mods.

 

[eman11]

Tiafoe literally has the worst looking ground strokes ever.

*one of...
RBA has TERRIBLE looking strokes, as does Medvedev

 

[megamind]

He is terribly boring. May be even more boring than Coric. Endless ball bashing from baseline with grunt.

I will take Zverev botching volleys at net any day.

Tsitsipas, Shapavalov , Tiafoe are better to watch. Not Rublev, Coric , De Minaur , Medvedev.

i quite enjoy Rublev’s raw power

overall, baseline tennis can get boring at times, but not when it’s played at Rublev power levels

 

[megamind]

*one of...
RBA has TERRIBLE looking strokes, as does Medvedev

i quite like meddy’s backhand

his forehand looks 3.5 level (but obviously works for him)

 

[Red Rick]

Tiafoe literally has the worst looking ground strokes ever.

As I've told you.

Tiafoe looks like somebody doing the Harlem Shake with a tennis racket

 

[Poisoned Slice]

He's worth half a coin at most.

 

[Meles]

*one of...
RBA has TERRIBLE looking strokes, as does Medvedev

 

[haqq777]

*one of...
RBA has TERRIBLE looking strokes, as does Medvedev

Medvedev, sure very unorthodox. But have to call you out here. Bautista Agut and terrible looking strokes? Only if one is an extreme grip user who feels the need to whip and windshield wiper every ball perhaps then I guess you could find his strokes not that attractive.

Yeah, no he doesn't have terrible looking strokes at all, IMO. He has a classic eastern forehand, very textbook and it is pretty darn effective as well. His backhand is also on point - when going CC the contact is always in front for good torso rotation, and for DTL above knee weight forward and on top. Plus he is an excellent mover as well and gritty. Sure, I don't particularly find his service game endearing. But I would never call his strokes ugly either. Just different (forehand atleast) from most modern, whippy extreme styles.

 

[haqq777]

Fractured back was building and crushed Rublev's early career at Monte Carlo 2018 in three set loss to Thiem.

Early 2018 hard court stats:
51.5% points won
42.6% return points won
60.5% serve points (really hurt by 42.4% 2nd serve points won)

Cincy onwards 2019 hard courts:
52.1% points won
only 39.0% on return
but 66.1% on serve including much improved 52.0% on 2nd serve (a long term liability)

Is he back? Maybe not with the drop from his superlative returning early in 2018 which featured great movement and consistency during that period. Getting his highest return game back and movement would have him near the top of the game. Recent Elo already 12 with recent Federer win pumping up the Elo.

I like Rublev. Think we will see an upward trajectory from him and his game. Caveat here though that I thought he was going to break through first between the Rooski trio, and I was dead wrong. But still. I think he will improve for sure.

 

[Meles]

I like Rublev. Think we will see an upward trajectory from him and his game. Caveat here though that I thought he was going to break through first between the Rooski trio, and I was dead wrong. But still. I think he will improve for sure.

Fracturing one's back really muddies the waters.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

i think he's a bit underrated... at the US open, he played good in his matches vs tsitsipas and kyrgios.
he was relentless vs nickie...

 

[haqq777]

Rublev wins the VTB Kremlin Cup and played fantastic in the final vs Mannarino (minus the 2 double faults in last game, understandable when up 5-0 and match points). He will climb up fast through the rankings if he keeps playing like this. Great to see.

 

[eman11]

Kukkushkin?

 

[Meles]

Kukkushkin?

The Legend himself.