really top players?

[tennisfanireland94]

i've been thinking about this recently, and i was wondering if anybody has opinions on the following players:

Marin Cilic
in my opinion, this guy still has massive potential. however, he really seems to have hit a plateau over the last year, ever since his AO 2010 semi run. Currently #20 in the rankings, can still be a top tenner in my opinion if he becomes more consistant.

Gael Monfils
i think this guy, while certainly a great defensive player, is far too inconsistant. after an excellent 2008, things seem to have gone slightly downhill. Currently #12 in the rankings. Judging from his form at the US and at Paris Bercy, where he reached the final, i have hope that 2011 can definitely be a good year for the frenchman, if he can attack more and be more consistant week in week out.

Nikolay Davydenko
ever since i first started following tennis, davydenko has always been the player just outside that dominating ring of grand slam winners (fed, rafa, djoker). he is a fantastic player to watch in 3 set matches, but seems to struggle in grand slam events. Currently #35 in the rankings. while i love watching him, a dismal 2010 (both form and injury-wise) has seen him slide down the rankings. i personally hope he returns to form, but with a lower ranking making it harder to go deep into tournaments, i have a slight feeling we have seen davydenko's best days. Time will tell.

Robin Soderling
this guy has shot up the ranking in the past two years, beating both fed and nadal and winning his first masters 1000 in Paris Bercy last year. Magnus norman has successfully turned him from a mid-20s player into a legitimate top tenner. however, because he hits the ball so flat, i believe he is slightly more limited than a player who puts different amounts of spin on the ball. he has had trouble beating the top players as of late, and struggled to go beyond the quarter finals of many big tournaments. this, i fear, may be the difference between him and the very best in the game, and may restrict him to being what i said earlier, just a legitimate top tenner.

 

[Andres]

Soderling DOESN'T hit the ball so flat

 

[tennisfanireland94]

Soderling DOESN'T hit the ball so flat

maybe i was exaggerating slightly but he doesnt hit with anywhere near as much topspin as a lot of the top players

 

[cigrmaster]

Soderling has the weapons to win a major, he still needs improvement on his movement though.

Monfils has incredible talent, speed, ability to hit any shot, but he is such a head case I don't see him ever winning a slam.

Davydenko is just too small and can be over powered by the bigger hitters.

Cilic has an poor second serve and is very limited at net.

I think Soderling has the best chance at a major with Cilic second.

 

[juanparty]

and what you tell me about Tsonga?

 

[tennisfanireland94]

and what you tell me about Tsonga?

i think tsonga can still be a very good player, but he's another who faded away slightly after his heroics at AO 2008. honestly, that was some of the best volleying ive ever seen. if he can keep injury-free and be the Tsonga we saw at that AO, i think he can be a better all-round player than soderling and be 4/5 in the world. however, if the inconsistant, erratic tsonga we've seen of late continues, i dont think he will be any more than a top 12-15 player. that's just my opinion.

 

[li0scc0]

Cilic - Still a force when he is on. Will he crack the Top 10 again? Maybe so, but I cannot see him ever reaching Top 6.
Monfils - exciting, but burns too much energy. Top 10 ability, for sure. I do not see him ever winning a Major or reaching a final, however.
Davydenko - One of my favorite players. Has the ability to beat anybody, at any time. Sadly, he also can lose in the first round of a Major. I would not be surprised if he wins a few more tournaments this year. No idea how he is ranked so low.
Soderling - I think he has peaked. Clearly he COULD win a major, as he has reached the finals. I do not see him getting better, but since he has reached the finals, his current state is certainly good enough.
Tsonga - Too inconsistent, and not in good shape. He needs to win in straight sets, otherwise seems to fold. Could enter the Top 10 if he can improve his physical and mental conditioning...but don't count on it.

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

Soderling hits with plenty of topspin. Just because he hits hard that doesn't mean the ball doesn't have spin.

There's a reason he keeps getting to those FO finals.

 

[tennisfanireland94]

Soderling hits with plenty of topspin. Just because he hits hard that doesn't mean the ball doesn't have spin.

There's a reason he keeps getting to those FO finals.

i thought that was because of its slow surface he has more time to really wind up those flat forehands but maybe i should be looking a little closer thanks for the post

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

i thought that was because of its slow surface he has more time to really wind up those flat forehands but maybe i should be looking a little closer thanks for the post

You should really pay attention to his arm and the way he rotates it on the forehand. That should explain you why he's got a terrific amount of topspin on the ball.

 

[Tsonga nDance]

Soderling hits with an insane amount of topspin. Thats how he's able to control his type of forehand. He wouldn't be as good if his shots were just flat. I'm pretty sure those balls are damned heavy as well.

 

[tennisfanireland94]

Soderling hits with an insane amount of topspin. Thats how he's able to control his type of forehand. He wouldn't be as good if his shots were just flat. I'm pretty sure those balls are damned heavy as well.

Thanks for that. I just always assumed that he hit very flat because his forehand is so hard. I would like him to win a grand slam mainly as it would be good to see a new first-time GS winner. He is very good, unplayable on his day. however, as i said before, i just don't know for sure if he has the overall consistancy and mental toughness required to go all the way.

 

[glazkovss]

Davydenko is just too small and can be over powered by the bigger hitters.

Yet he is the one whom Del Potro called 'Playstation' after losing to him in 2009 Masters Cup final. Another big-hitter Soderling was also beaten. Not to mention Federer and Nadal, i don't know how big hitters are they in your classification. And thats all happened indoors, which should favour big-hitters.
The one who really suffers from big-hitters is Nadal. Davy is small but he has big game. Dont believe me - watch Doha'10 final highlights.

 

[cucio]

People have Robin somehow pegged as a flat hitter because he can hit a massive flat forehand to go for a winner, like Djokovic or others.

But I find Robin's topspin forehand, the one he uses to construct the point until he can go for the winner, much more impressive. I'd say top 5 easily, lots of action.

He also has this 1-2 combo from the deuce court where he hits a big serve and then this wide open inside out topspin forehand from the half court that dips like a bomb, it is great stuff.

 

[Kobble]

I've seen Soderling up close, he hits a heavy looping ball when he wants, and it is very tough for players to deal with. Monfils is overrated as far a shot making. I think what Agassi said about how big is a player's 80% applies to him. His backhand, from what I have seen is not very impressive. I mean, even when he goes for it. Just not stunning at all. I have seen Monfils from when he was a junior until 2009. His talent is getting the ball back with consistent pace, and pop on the serve. However, he has no real shot making wizardry. Doesn't really punish anyone from the baseline like Federer, Nadal, Agassi and Djokovic do. I actually think Soderling is a much superior player to Monfils.

 

[tennisfanireland94]

I've seen Soderling up close, he hits a heavy looping ball when he wants, and it is very tough for players to deal with. Monfils is overrated as far a shot making. I think what Agassi said about how big is a player's 80% applies to him. His backhand, from what I have seen is not very impressive. I mean, even when he goes for it. Just not stunning at all. I have seen Monfils from when he was a junior until 2009. His talent is getting the ball back with consistent pace, and pop on the serve. However, he has no real shot making wizardry. Doesn't really punish anyone from the baseline like Federer, Nadal, Agassi and Djokovic do. I actually think Soderling is a much superior player to Monfils.

I agree that Soderling is a better player than Monfils. He is much more consistant, has shown he is able to beat the top players and has been in the final of a GS, which Monfils hasn't. However, when it comes to winning Grand Slam after Grand Slam and staying at the top of the game on a regular basis, i do not believe either of these players have what it takes. One is better than the other but, in my opinion at least, neither has the potential to be a no. 1 player.

 

[CyBorg]

Yet he is the one whom Del Potro called 'Playstation' after losing to him in 2009 Masters Cup final. Another big-hitter Soderling was also beaten. Not to mention Federer and Nadal, i don't know how big hitters are they in your classification. And thats all happened indoors, which should favour big-hitters.
The one who really suffers from big-hitters is Nadal. Davy is small but he has big game. Dont believe me - watch Doha'10 final highlights.

The problem with Davydenko isn't so much "getting overpowered". Actually he's himself powerful enough.

Rather his serve sucks; he doesn't get freebie points when he needs them. Furthermore one can probably show that Davydenko lacks a clutch mentality.

 

[mental midget]

monfils needs to clean up his technique. he uses his athleticism to get away with a lot of bad footwork and sloppy stroke production, rather than as a compliment to a solid, consistent approach. coach's nightmare. but he does what he enjoys, doesn't owe anyone anything, i guess.

 

[Defcon]

Monfils is a clown. I forget which slam it was, but he was playing a top player and going for trick shots on easy putaways, and he was called a disgrace for a professional athlete.

 

[tennisfanireland94]

The problem with Davydenko isn't so much "getting overpowered". Actually he's himself powerful enough.

Rather his serve sucks; he doesn't get freebie points when he needs them. Furthermore one can probably show that Davydenko lacks a clutch mentality.

I agree, his mental toughness, particularly when attempting to close out matches, is poor. I don't know why but i am gutted to see davydenko so low down in the rankings. Maybe it's because i'm so used to seeing him in the top 5-10 and i also love watching him play as i feel he can be unbeatable on his day. Also, maybe i know in the back of my mind that, at nearly 30 years of age, time is running out for him to get back to where he was.

 

[tennisfanireland94]

I still wonder how davydenko beat Rafa in Doha last month. He's on terrible form