***Official Steve Johnson March to the Top Ten Thread***

[TupeloDanger]

Calling it now.

Some time in the year starting with the US summer HC season this year, and going through USO 2017, Steve Johnson, USA, will be ranked in the top ten. And I think it quite possible he hangs on for a good, long, while.

Not sure he'll ever win a slam, but a good, solid, deep runner in most important tournaments, a la Thomas Berdych...that's in the cards. He's got a nice, solid, simple, adaptable game that'll make hay everywhere but maybe on the clay. And by this time next year, we'll be discussing whether or not more players ought to just abandon their topspin backhands altogether and get on with the business of slicing balls, wrecking fools, and winning tournaments.

It is known.

Discuss.

 

[VamosBamos987]

How does this guy hit slice backhands on every fkn ball? I can't even slice the ball unless I'm returning a serve or a very very low ball on the backhand side.

But seriously, he has a very good forehand, very good serve, and a very good slice. I don't know how good he is at net, but whenever I saw him play, looked pretty good/decent up there to me.

One thing that he needs to do consistently is be able to hit a two handed backhand passing shot when being approached on the backhand side. Also he needs to use the slice DTL more often. This will open up his money forehand for an easy ball.

 

[racquetreligion]

He worries about Delpo getting a wild card cause its somehow unfair and forgets the misery Delpo has gone through
I like the slice bh and court craft but he otherwise has that ugliness to his game that brings a new level to winning ugly

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

It is pretty clear Johnson had been fired up by Querrey's run at Wimbledon.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

No

 

[DreddyTennis45]

This guy is your generic American player nowadays; Big serve, Good forehand, average backhand, average all-round game. Nothing special.

This is why American mens tennis sucks so much- all the players are basically the same mould, there's no creativity all they have is a big serve and a big forehand combo. And yes the likes of Sampras fitted this mould but he was way more creative than any of these guys

 

[TupeloDanger]

Cinci Round 1 in the books.

Is this the most exciting shot in tennis?

 

[TupeloDanger]

No

You can get off the tracks or get run over by the train, but it's a-comin' either way.

 

[FudgeMyn]

Gonna start playing like ol steve in my league matches. who needs a backhand

 

[TupeloDanger]

Gonna start playing like ol steve in my league matches. who needs a backhand

It's wabi sabi tennis. Master those few elements that are essential; discard everything else. Simple, elegant, beautiful, and bearded.

 

[sureshs]

This guy is your generic American player nowadays; Big serve, Good forehand, average backhand, average all-round game. Nothing special.

This is why American mens tennis sucks so much- all the players are basically the same mould, there's no creativity all they have is a big serve and a big forehand combo. And yes the likes of Sampras fitted this mould but he was way more creative than any of these guys

That describes most players.

The flashy creative ones like Monfils, Tsonga, Brown, Dolgopolov haven't won any Slams either.

 

[TupeloDanger]

This guy is your generic American player nowadays; Big serve, Good forehand, average backhand, average all-round game. Nothing special.

I'd say Big serve, Good forehand, well-above-average slice backhand, well-above-average all court game. Very special.

The revolution is coming your way, and it's coming with underspin.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

That describes most players.

The flashy creative ones like Monfils, Tsonga, Brown, Dolgopolov haven't won any Slams either.

"Creativity" doesn't mean "flashy" it means having more than one way to play- none of which the Americans have because their only tactic is to hit a booming serve then whack a big forehand, if that fails then they're stuck. Yes you could make the point that this describes most players but that just further highlights how little depth there is

 

[DreddyTennis45]

I'd say Big serve, Good forehand, well-above-average slice backhand, well-above-average all court game. Very special.

The revolution is coming your way, and it's coming with underspin.

You probably have a point with the slice backhand but all-court game? Nah. At the risk of going full 90's Clay, I believe these Americans will never amount to anything with their one-dimensional play and don't get me started with British players- Apart from obviously Murray, all the British players are absolute trash and it's actually a miracle how they won the Davis Cup. British tennis has been in the gutter for years and years now and the LTA has basically done nothing to produce genuine British talent.

 

[ICanBeSerious]

Sign of a weak era..Johnson gets his own thread...

 

[sureshs]

"Creativity" doesn't mean "flashy" it means having more than one way to play- none of which the Americans have because their only tactic is to hit a booming serve then whack a big forehand, if that fails then they're stuck. Yes you could make the point that this describes most players but that just further highlights how little depth there is

Yeah that is why Isner beat Federer in the Davis Cup and Querrey took out Djokovic at Wimbledon. Really bad players.

 

[newpball]

It's wabi sabi tennis. Master those few elements that are essential; discard everything else.

I am not fully agreeing with your interpretation of Wabi Sabi.

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Yeah that is why Isner beat Federer in the Davis Cup and Querrey took out Djokovic at Wimbledon. Really bad players.

Those were one-offs. Just look at their H2H against the respective players. Sure they get the odd win here and there but mostly theyre just whipping boys

 

[sureshs]

Those were one-offs. Just look at their H2H against the respective players. Sure they get the odd win here and there but mostly theyre just whipping boys

Isner was a top 10 player

 

[DreddyTennis45]

Isner was a top 10 player

And? Loads of players have been in the top 10 and it's not like he ever finished the year inside the top 10
Like I said before, look at how many slams and masters they have won all together and look at their H2H against the top players.

 

[sureshs]

Aggressive style of play is better than running around like Nadal and injuring the knees

 

[Big_Dangerous]

You can get off the tracks or get run over by the train, but it's a-comin' either way.

I like it when he partners with Jack Sock for obvious reasons.

Also, after his comments, I hope he draws Del Potro in the first round of the U.S. Open.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Aggressive style of play is better than running around like Nadal and injuring the knees

The great Poobah knows all about that aggressive style!

 

[The Green Mile]

I don't see it happening, but we'll see. What's his ranking now? His base level isn't good enough for a top 10 placing. Not sure it will ever be.

 

[TupeloDanger]

I don't see it happening, but we'll see. What's his ranking now?

Mid 20's for the last year or so.

 

[FudgeMyn]

Just beat Tsonga today. Dark horse at the USO watch out murray

 

[Raindogs]

He tried to hide his own feelings about Delpo's wildcard by saying it "might make a lot of fans upset" and for this he's just another American dolt who hopefully bows out early in the USO.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Johnson is now the top ranked American, overtaking Isner.

 

[TupeloDanger]

Johnson is now the top ranked American, overtaking Isner.

Oh yeah. This is happening. In the prognostication biz, we call these immediate dividends.

 

[atatu]

Ironic that Delpo is his fellow slice backhand advocate on the rise in the ATP

 

[bigserving]

Big congrats to Stevie on becoming the top ranked American male. College degree, four NCAA rings, Olympic medal, and now the top ranked American. Getting it done through hard work for the USA. Good kid, good story.

 

[Gazelle]

Those were one-offs. Just look at their H2H against the respective players. Sure they get the odd win here and there but mostly theyre just whipping boys

Querrey has beaten Djokovic twice. That's as good as Berdych and better than Monfils/Cilic and quite a few others.