TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
A up-and-coming rising star making breakthrough wins on the big stage and even taking out Roger Federer. Sounds like we're talking about 2007, the year before the 12-time Grand Slam champion made his mark, but this year, a new face is gracing the tennis courts on the world stage. Alexander Zverev.
Zverev, the 20 year old German first made splashes at St. Petersburg, defeating 2-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the final and No. 9 Berdych in the semifinal. Since then, he's defeated numerous Top-10 players and lived up to his hype when he defeated 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Rome 2017 final. After that, he made his mark again when he defeated the great Roger Federer in the Canadian Open final, winning his second Masters title of the year and guaranteeing himself a spot in the Top 10 at the end of the year.
This performance reminds many of Djokovic only a decade prior. Djokovic, another 20 year-old still had to make his mark on tennis. He did so in 2007 when he won the Adelaide Open before the Australian Open, where he made it to the 4th round. Djokovic really produced results immediately following Melbourne, reaching the final of Indian Wells, only losing out to the World #2 at the time, Rafael Nadal. After that impressive showing, Djokovic took it even further with a stunning performance in Miami, beating Nadal en route to the title.
After an slightly less impressive clay season and grass season, with many semifinals and quarterfinals, Djokovic returned to his preferred surface- hard. He immediately won the Canadian Open by beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer en route to his second Masters title of the year. Djokovic only took this as further motivation, reaching the US open finals and losing to Federer in the finals.
Now, I see great parallels between the two young guns so far.
Djokovic and Zverev both won 2 Masters at 20 years old, beating Federer in one of the finals.
Djokovic and Zverev both cracked the top 10 at 20 years old.
Djokovic and Zverev both had more than 5 wins against the top 10 at 20 years old.
Djokovic and Zverev both won the Canadian Open for their 2nd Masters.
However, Zverev still falls short in some departments-
Zverev has never reached the quarterfinals of a slam. Djokovic had reached 2 semifinals and a quarterfinal by the time he won his second Masters.
Zverev has never beaten the World No. 1 and No. 2 en route to a title. Djokovic did in Montreal.
Zverev has yet to dominate his generation, Djokovic was schooling Murray even in the beginning, doing so both times he won a Masters in 2007.
I think 2017 will be a similar year for Zverev as it was for Djokovic, but Djokovic was ahead in the slams. Comparing their slam results, I estimate we see Zverev reach the Semis of the US Open this year and the Semis/Final of the Australian Open. He may win his first slam in 2018.
Thoughts?
Zverev, the 20 year old German first made splashes at St. Petersburg, defeating 2-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in the final and No. 9 Berdych in the semifinal. Since then, he's defeated numerous Top-10 players and lived up to his hype when he defeated 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the Rome 2017 final. After that, he made his mark again when he defeated the great Roger Federer in the Canadian Open final, winning his second Masters title of the year and guaranteeing himself a spot in the Top 10 at the end of the year.
This performance reminds many of Djokovic only a decade prior. Djokovic, another 20 year-old still had to make his mark on tennis. He did so in 2007 when he won the Adelaide Open before the Australian Open, where he made it to the 4th round. Djokovic really produced results immediately following Melbourne, reaching the final of Indian Wells, only losing out to the World #2 at the time, Rafael Nadal. After that impressive showing, Djokovic took it even further with a stunning performance in Miami, beating Nadal en route to the title.
After an slightly less impressive clay season and grass season, with many semifinals and quarterfinals, Djokovic returned to his preferred surface- hard. He immediately won the Canadian Open by beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer en route to his second Masters title of the year. Djokovic only took this as further motivation, reaching the US open finals and losing to Federer in the finals.
Now, I see great parallels between the two young guns so far.
Djokovic and Zverev both won 2 Masters at 20 years old, beating Federer in one of the finals.
Djokovic and Zverev both cracked the top 10 at 20 years old.
Djokovic and Zverev both had more than 5 wins against the top 10 at 20 years old.
Djokovic and Zverev both won the Canadian Open for their 2nd Masters.
However, Zverev still falls short in some departments-
Zverev has never reached the quarterfinals of a slam. Djokovic had reached 2 semifinals and a quarterfinal by the time he won his second Masters.
Zverev has never beaten the World No. 1 and No. 2 en route to a title. Djokovic did in Montreal.
Zverev has yet to dominate his generation, Djokovic was schooling Murray even in the beginning, doing so both times he won a Masters in 2007.
I think 2017 will be a similar year for Zverev as it was for Djokovic, but Djokovic was ahead in the slams. Comparing their slam results, I estimate we see Zverev reach the Semis of the US Open this year and the Semis/Final of the Australian Open. He may win his first slam in 2018.
Thoughts?
