Is Shapovalov a contender in 2025?

The Guru

Legend
Watching the highlights all week out of Belgrade are crazy he looks amazing. It wasn't all that long ago that he was considered the golden ticket that was going to save tennis and be the big next star. Compare his results to this age to Stan's and they look pretty similar. I'm hoping he's figured something out.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
Not just a contender, he will be a serious contender. Much like Audley Harrison, it will all come together for Shapovalov next year. (y)
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Is this a jinx thread? I really hope Shapo puts it together in 2025. We need more, not less competition at the top of tennis, and he can hit some "woo" shots others can't. A little sizzle in tennis couldn't hurt. Cautiously, I'm rooting for him to have a great year. He's really been in the tennis wilderness for while now, though, so hope is all I've got.
 

RS

Bionic Poster
As my colleague Hyman Roth said, we now live in a world where The Penguin has surpassed The Joker. Shapovalov turning the page is small potatoes compared to this. Slams are coming.
Price is very tall was what was going to my mind. Even Audley is looking up.
 

Legend of Borg

G.O.A.T.
He's in a final tomorrow, his first in a while. Go dance on someone else's grave. I hear Kamala's got a lot of spare time these days

What's a 250 final gonna tell me about how far he gets at the AO or RG?

Even if he sweeps the final 0 and 0 tomorrow, I don't see it as a reliable enough indicator that he's going to have a career resurgence for next season.

Also, not sure what your politics have to do with a journeyman making a 250 final.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
What's a 250 final gonna tell me about how far he gets at the AO or RG?

Even if he sweeps the final 0 and 0 tomorrow, I don't see it as a reliable enough indicator that he's going to have a career resurgence for next season.

Also, not sure what your politics have to do with a journeyman making a 250 final.

I'm not putting money on it but I'm hoping for it. He's got his head in the right place at the moment and you can tell he really wants it now. He seems sick of being a wasted talent. Hopefully he keeps it up.
 

Winner Sinner

Hall of Fame
For 2025 I could very well see a final between him and Kyrgios, the final that establishes who is the clown of clowns.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
@The Blond Blur please do your job, sir.

What do Rafa fans have against Shapo now? That fact that he dared to win sets off the Great Man in 2022 AO?

He just won a trophy 4/4 over Medjedovic, a player who TTW is much more excited about. Not really in the mood to hear ppl gloating about how bad he is.
 
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Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
For 2025 I could very well see a final between him and Kyrgios, the final that establishes who is the clown of clowns.

Just for you I'm gonna cross my fingers for Shapo to crush Clostebinner at Wimbledon this year.

Not sure why so many of you hate the guy. He's hardly done anything and obviously has never beaten any of your favorites
 

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
No. He's had a brief surge of form and that's all, I fully expect him to sink back into mediocrity next year with maybe a couple of okay runs but absolutely not a contender for slams or masters.
 
No, but has remarkably come back from the dead, which very few players do.

1. He looks a lot stronger and physically fit.
2. His footwork and backhand defense have improved greatly. All week you’ve been seeing him, hit the full backhand on the run on a fast court.
3. That hand return hasn’t been that bad, which is a liability for him and for really every one-handed backhand player.
4. His mentality has been different. In the past, he would always Be a point away from a complete meltdown, but he has looked so steady and calm all week.

He did something this week which very, very few players ever do, i.e., a 1.5+ dominance ratio in 4 straight matches, which is basically something only the GOATs do. He also played three consecutive matches with a 2.3+ dominance ratio, something I’ve rarely seen.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
He did something this week which very, very few players ever do, i.e., a 1.5+ dominance ratio in 4 straight matches, which is basically something only the GOATs do. He also played three consecutive matches with a 2.3+ dominance ratio, something I’ve rarely seen.

This is why I said in the other thread that blowing out a player like Lehecka is something you would typically see from a Big 4 player. Shapo is producing that level of tennis right now. Thanks for confirming my intuition with hard numbers
 

Dropshot777

Rookie
He'll probably come back into the top 30 maybe 20 in 2025, but I don't see him returning to top 10. Definitely not consistent or straight up good enough to win slams against people like Sinner, Alcaraz, Medvedev or Zverev. He may have some good results scattered here and there, but not enough to get too close to the top.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Watching the highlights all week out of Belgrade are crazy he looks amazing. It wasn't all that long ago that he was considered the golden ticket that was going to save tennis and be the big next star. Compare his results to this age to Stan's and they look pretty similar. I'm hoping he's figured something out.
Was Stan ever as hyped as Shapo, though?
 

The Guru

Legend
Was Stan ever as hyped as Shapo, though?
Definitely not. He really came out of nowhere. When Shapo's in the groove he has that thing where it doesn't even look hard. He's just out there hitting casually. Stan doesn't really have that so he wasn't viewed as that big of a talent as usually that ease translates to greatness or at least very goodness but that unbelievable AO 22 choke really destroyed his career. Hopfully, he can at the very least get back to top 20 because for those 5 matches a year where he's balling he's a fun watch.
 
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This is why I said in the other thread that blowing out a player like Lehecka is something you would typically see from a Big 4 player. Shapo is producing that level of tennis right now. Thanks for confirming my intuition with hard numbers

It is very difficult and rare to beat a Lehekha level player in a SF/F round because he is also is playing with winning confidence. 3.40 DR in a SF/F is Big 3 stuff and even they did it rarely.
 
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Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
It is very difficult and rare to beat a Lehekha level player in a SF/F round because also is playing with winning confidence. 3.40 DR in a SF/F is Big 3 stuff and even they did it rarely.

Agree completely and it's great to hear my eyes weren't lying
 

The Guru

Legend
It's crazy to think how easily Shapo could've been on a different trajectory. USO 20 QF he should've won easily and then he has a real shot at winning the tournament considering how Z and Thiem performed in the semis and F respectively. Then in AO 22 he fries Zverev in a beautiful match has a Nadal that can barely move and should be dead to rights. Could head into the semi against Berr off two huge wins and already be a slam champion. Who knows where his career goes and the confidence he develops if he doesn't completely **** the bed there.
 
Contender for what?

250s? Sure, he just won one, good bet he’ll get to at least a semi or two (I.e “contend “)

500s? Maybe. It’ll be tough but maybe with a good draw and a good week he’ll have a shot.

Masters series? Almost certainly not. With a lot of luck and the stars aligning it still seems out of reach.

Slams? No, not even with the best tennis he’s ever played and the best draw he could get.
 

Winner Sinner

Hall of Fame
Just for you I'm gonna cross my fingers for Shapo to crush Clostebinner at Wimbledon this year.

Not sure why so many of you hate the guy. He's hardly done anything and obviously has never beaten any of your favorites
“Different rules for different players. I can't imagine what all the other players who have been disqualified for contaminated substances are feeling right now."

Because he is a clown who should inform himself about protocol procedures before alluding to favoritism.

And in any case, don't worry, hoping that Shapovalov beats Sinner on any type of surface (including Wimbledon grass) is equivalent to hoping to put out a fire by throwing petrol.
They are part of different light year categories.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
“Different rules for different players. I can't imagine what all the other players who have been disqualified for contaminated substances are feeling right now."

Because he is a clown who should inform himself about protocol procedures before alluding to favoritism.

And in any case, don't worry, hoping that Shapovalov beats Sinner on any type of surface (including Wimbledon grass) is equivalent to hoping to put out a fire by throwing petrol.
They are part of different light year categories.

At least you are honest about being petty

You don't think some saltiness is understandable? Ok
 
The tennis he is playing right now could win a Slam. That's what @ghostofMecir is trying to tell us

The tennis he played at this tournament is top, top shelf, but I still don’t think that his backhand defense and backhand return could hold up over seven matches, but I will say that if he plays like this, nobody would want to play him because he was taking the initiative early and every point and even with his weaknesses, he is playing the matches on his terms and winning or losing them on his terms.
 
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Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
The tennis he played at this tournament is top, top shelf, but I still don’t think that his backhand defense and backhand return could hold up over seven matches, but I will say that if he plays this, Nobody would want to play him because he was taking the initiative early and every point and even with his weaknesses, he is playing the matches on his terms and winning or losing them on his terms.

Is the backhand that much of a weakness?

His form on that shot is so good and reliable. He gets under it with his legs and uses a straight arm. Very efficient. And there's no Nadal now to hit 10k rpm shots. And if there was? Use the Skywalk.

Shapo's BH average speed is among the fastest on tour. But I welcome stats to show that it is a weak point
 

Rafa4LifeEver

G.O.A.T.
What do Rafa fans have against Shapo now? That fact that he dared to win sets off the Great Man in 2022 AO?

He just won a trophy 4/4 over Medjedovic, a player who TTW is much more excited about. Not really in the mood to hear ppl gloating about how bad he is.
Nothing, really.
 

The Blond Blur

G.O.A.T.
What, being a total jerk? What do Rafa fans have against Shapo now? That fact that he dared to win sets off the Great Man in 2022 AO?

He just won a trophy 4/4 over Medjedovic, a player who TTW is much more excited about. Not really in the mood to hear ppl gloating about how bad he is.
The absolute lack of self awareness is astounding :-D At least have the Wilanders to tag me directly next time :censored:
 

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
What do Rafa fans have against Shapo now? That fact that he dared to win sets off the Great Man in 2022 AO?

He just won a trophy 4/4 over Medjedovic, a player who TTW is much more excited about. Not really in the mood to hear ppl gloating about how bad he is.

Except for the initial buzz after the Kiddie Finals last year, I don't see a lot of excitement for Medjedovic. But overall I think a lot of TTW (aside from the gloryhounds), are waiting to see if Shapo can capitalize on this run. He's had a few false starts before.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Except for the initial buzz after the Kiddie Finals last year, I don't see a lot of excitement for Medjedovic. But overall I think a lot of TTW (aside from the gloryhounds), are waiting to see if Shapo can capitalize on this run. He's had a few false starts before.

When was his last title?
 
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