James P
G.O.A.T.
Damn, I must have misread the score. Still a remarkable run. Haven't seen him play yet, but I'll check him out.
The Official Teenage Tennis Talent Thread
- Thread starter stringertom
- Start date
James P
G.O.A.T.
Teenagers in action for RG quallies:
#177 Dominic Stricker, 19 (SUI)
#200 Luca Nardi, 18 (ITA)
#201 Dalibor Svrcina, 19 (CZE)
#320 Arthur Cazaux, 19 (FRA)
#381 Luca Van Assche, 18 (FRA)
#407 Arthur Fils, 17 (FRA)
#589 Sascha Gueynard Wayenburg, 18 (FRA)
#595 Sean Cuenin, 18 (FRA)
#781 Gabriel Debru, 17 (FRA)
#177 Dominic Stricker, 19 (SUI)
#200 Luca Nardi, 18 (ITA)
#201 Dalibor Svrcina, 19 (CZE)
#320 Arthur Cazaux, 19 (FRA)
#381 Luca Van Assche, 18 (FRA)
#407 Arthur Fils, 17 (FRA)
#589 Sascha Gueynard Wayenburg, 18 (FRA)
#595 Sean Cuenin, 18 (FRA)
#781 Gabriel Debru, 17 (FRA)
James P
G.O.A.T.
Women's side, RG quallies teenagers:
#139 Elina Avanesyan, 19 (RUS)
#158 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, 16 (AND)
#167 Nastasja Schunk, 18 (GER)
#184 Linda Noskova, 17 (CZE)
#191 Linda Fruhvirtova, 17 (CZE)
#198 Oksana Selekhmeteva, 19 (RUS)
#345 Selena Janicjevic, 19 (FRA)
#361 Petra Marcinko, 16 (CRO)
#430 Salma Djoubri, 19 (FRA)
#579 Lois Boisson, 18 (FRA)
#598 Lucie Nguyen Tan, 18 (FRA)
#652 Oceane Babel, 18 (FRA)
#139 Elina Avanesyan, 19 (RUS)
#158 Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, 16 (AND)
#167 Nastasja Schunk, 18 (GER)
#184 Linda Noskova, 17 (CZE)
#191 Linda Fruhvirtova, 17 (CZE)
#198 Oksana Selekhmeteva, 19 (RUS)
#345 Selena Janicjevic, 19 (FRA)
#361 Petra Marcinko, 16 (CRO)
#430 Salma Djoubri, 19 (FRA)
#579 Lois Boisson, 18 (FRA)
#598 Lucie Nguyen Tan, 18 (FRA)
#652 Oceane Babel, 18 (FRA)
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Svrcina might surprise a few people - he's not a giant but he looks like a player to me. Stricker is in the same bracket but he has looked lost of late. Fils and Debru play each other so you know one will advance. Neither of them seems ready to me but they're in a manageable slot with a bunch of washed-up has-beens so you never know. Van Asche and Cazeaux could meet in the decisive round but both have tough openers - don't see either getting through. Gueyenard Wayenburg should crash out first round vs Cobolli. Lastly, my boy Nardi has a rough draw with veteran Martin in R1 and the very strong dirt specialist Zapata awaiting in the final round - will need to find a level he has not shown yet.
On a side note, even though he's no longer a teen, lemme ask again: why has Draper withdrawn from Paris?
On a side note, even though he's no longer a teen, lemme ask again: why has Draper withdrawn from Paris?
James P
G.O.A.T.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
aaaand... he's gone.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Debru is through, after Fils hands a him a walkover at 5-3 in the third.
And Stricker with the bagel.
That was an INSANE match. Debru up 5-3 in 1st, had a couple of set points, lost it in tiebreaker. Then Fils up 5-1 in 2nd, 3 set points, loses 6 consecutive games and the set 7-5. With all the momentum now with Debru, a cramping Fils somehow goes up 3-0 with a double break in the third. The match once again appeared over, and once again Debru came back with 5 consecutive games before the highly questionable retirement.
Where's the 17 year old Juncheng Shang? He's like 400th ranked in ATP, isn't he?
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Of the many French phenoms who will surely dominate the game in a couple of years time 
-D
), only 18yo Sean Cuenin is still standing after 2 quali rounds. He faces a surprisingly focused Giulio Zeppieri (still a teenager at heart) for a spot in the main draw.
The only other teen left in play is Pesaro's own Luca Nardi, also 18, who will need to oust the strong dirt dweller Zapata Miralles in order to book his ticket for the show.
Not too many Chinese getting wild cards in Paris, especially these days
-D), only 18yo Sean Cuenin is still standing after 2 quali rounds. He faces a surprisingly focused Giulio Zeppieri (still a teenager at heart) for a spot in the main draw.The only other teen left in play is Pesaro's own Luca Nardi, also 18, who will need to oust the strong dirt dweller Zapata Miralles in order to book his ticket for the show.
Not too many Chinese getting wild cards in Paris, especially these days
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Of the many French phenoms who will surely dominate the game in a couple of years time
The only other teen left in play is Pesaro's own Luca Nardi, also 18, who will need to oust the strong dirt dweller Zapata Miralles in order to book his ticket for the show.
Not too many Chinese getting wild cards in Paris, especially these days
Did not young Cuenin, the younger man, slay poor Nardi in a Challenger not too long ago?
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Did not young Cuenin, the younger man, slay poor Nardi in a Challenger not too long ago?
He did, although Nardi was on the mend after his covid+injury layoff. But I watched him a few minutes today and he looked good. BTW, I didn't mean to mock the rest of the French enfants prodige (OK, maybe just a little) who all seem like they can play, but we've just seen so many of them fall short in recent years...
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Indeed, the new four musketeers let everyone down.
I still maintain, La Monf was awash in talent. Had he played the way he plays with Elina as his coach, he may have been at least a Dimitrov. Reeshard may have only wanted to please his papa at first, and poor Tsonga always seemed to nurse injuries.
Still, the young debutant should not be judged by only one generation of flubs.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Indeed, Monfils had ALL the tools, technical and physical, to dominate in the modern game. But he lacked the mental-intestinal fortitude to close out big matches - which he sometimes camouflaged as disinterest or clownery, when in fact he was TOO emotionally invested and - let's be clear - scared shtless. (Kyrgios, Bublik, Paire all very similar in that regard, IMO). And I'm not mocking him - I've played competitively (though nowhere near that level) and I know that feeling in your stomach when you have to hit a second serve, or a drop shot, in a third set tiebreaker. Everyone knows it. But knowing how to manage and channel that is what sets the great ones apart . and in that regard Monfils is one of the worst ever.
However, I wasn't even talking about those old clowns (
) as much as the Mayots Gastons Moutets Martineaux Blancaneaux and the likes, who were all advertised well beyond their merits...
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Indeed, Monfils had ALL the tools, technical and physical, to dominate in the modern game. But he lacked the mental-intestinal fortitude to close out big matches - which he sometimes camouflaged as disinterest or clownery, when in fact he was TOO emotionally invested and - let's be clear - scared shtless. (Kyrgios, Bublik, Paire all very similar in that regard, IMO). And I'm not mocking him - I've played competitively (though nowhere near that level) and I know that feeling in your stomach when you have to hit a second serve, or a drop shot, in a third set tiebreaker. Everyone knows it. But knowing how to manage and channel that is what sets the great ones apart . and in that regard Monfils is one of the worst ever.
However, I wasn't even talking about those old clowns (
Yes, to some extent they are perfectionists in a clown's clothes. I think this is what Tsitsipas was hinting at when he mentioned that he played more freely in the past, like Alcaraz does now.
Still, in one of those ATP shorts, they asked the players who was late to practice the most. Zverev and Monfils both came up.
Isn't that telling?
It's funny, it seems all the young players these days are under 6 feet or above 6' 5". Mayot, Gaston, Moutet all fit into that category. Didn't anyone learn from this era of greatness that just above or below 185cm could be an advantage?
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Yes, to some extent they are perfectionists in a clown's clothes. I think this is what Tsitsipas was hinting at when he mentioned that he played more freely in the past, like Alcaraz does now.
Still, in one of those ATP shorts, they asked the players who was late to practice the most. Zverev and Monfils both came up.
Isn't that telling?
It's funny, it seems all the young players these days are under 6 feet or above 6' 5". Mayot, Gaston, Moutet all fit into that category. Didn't anyone learn from this era of greatness that just above or below 185cm could be an advantage?
I feel like the new gold standard is shifting closer to 190 now... However it's nice to see that most of our Italian prospects are now the right height, after being historically undersized. Nardi and Musetti are both 185, Sinner is still listed as 188 but actually 1 or 2 cm taller.
And while we're at it, another name that deserves mention on this thread is Francesco Maestrelli, 19 and 193 cm, about to crack the top 500 for the first time next week, not as precocious and maybe not as talented (in the "traditional" sense) as his better-known countrymen, but he has a big booming serve (when he actually hits it flat, which he still does too seldom) and a nice modern game that should make him a tour-level player in a couple of years time.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
The teens are toast.
Cuenin bids "adieu" to RG against the suddenly businesslike Zeppieri, who coolly came back from 0-40 when serving for the match, then proceeded to defy the rambunctious Court 14 crowd by repeatedly giving them the "shush" gesture after closing it out, in pure WWF villain style. I guess the old Zeppieri is still in there somewhere... The good news is he didn't threaten to kill anyone this time (as he had in the infamous Cerundolo match that cost him a suspension), not even the line judge who stuck him with a foot fault on a would-be ace in the final game. He moves on to his first grand slam MD without dropping a set, or even a single service game.
But not all is well in Italian prospect land, as 18-yo Luca Nardi somehow snatches defeat from the jaws of victory against Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The young Italian had indeed found his next level, putting on a spectacular tennis display to go up a set and a break with several chances for the double break. Then, he apparently remembered his age, producing a catastrophic meltdown against the hard-working, hard-grunting Spaniard, losing 9 consecutive games from 4-2 up in the second and ultimately succumbing 3-6 6-4 6-1. A tough pill to swallow, but the flashes he showed over the past few days leave no doubt that we'll hear from him again.
Pic of the day:
Cuenin bids "adieu" to RG against the suddenly businesslike Zeppieri, who coolly came back from 0-40 when serving for the match, then proceeded to defy the rambunctious Court 14 crowd by repeatedly giving them the "shush" gesture after closing it out, in pure WWF villain style. I guess the old Zeppieri is still in there somewhere... The good news is he didn't threaten to kill anyone this time (as he had in the infamous Cerundolo match that cost him a suspension), not even the line judge who stuck him with a foot fault on a would-be ace in the final game. He moves on to his first grand slam MD without dropping a set, or even a single service game.
But not all is well in Italian prospect land, as 18-yo Luca Nardi somehow snatches defeat from the jaws of victory against Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The young Italian had indeed found his next level, putting on a spectacular tennis display to go up a set and a break with several chances for the double break. Then, he apparently remembered his age, producing a catastrophic meltdown against the hard-working, hard-grunting Spaniard, losing 9 consecutive games from 4-2 up in the second and ultimately succumbing 3-6 6-4 6-1. A tough pill to swallow, but the flashes he showed over the past few days leave no doubt that we'll hear from him again.
Pic of the day:
James P
G.O.A.T.
Wonder how many LLs needed for Nardi to make it. Probably too many.The teens are toast.
Cuenin bids "adieu" to RG against the suddenly businesslike Zeppieri, who coolly came back from 0-40 when serving for the match, then proceeded to defy the rambunctious Court 14 crowd by repeatedly giving them the "shush" gesture after closing it out, in pure WWF villain style. I guess the old Zeppieri is still in there somewhere... The good news is he didn't threaten to kill anyone this time (as he had in the infamous Cerundolo match that cost him a suspension), not even the line judge who stuck him with a foot fault on a would-be ace in the final game. He moves on to his first grand slam MD without dropping a set, or even a single service game.
But not all is well in Italian prospect land, as 18-yo Luca Nardi somehow snatches defeat from the jaws of victory against Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The young Italian had indeed found his next level, putting on a spectacular tennis display to go up a set and a break with several chances for the double break. Then, he apparently remembered his age, producing a catastrophic meltdown against the hard-working, hard-grunting Spaniard, losing 9 consecutive games from 4-2 up in the second and ultimately succumbing 3-6 6-4 6-1. A tough pill to swallow, but the flashes he showed over the past few days leave no doubt that we'll hear from him again.
Pic of the day:
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Zero chance. He had his opportunity on the court, and he blew it.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Looks like my shoutout came just in time...
Big Frankie Maestrelli, better known as "Il Maestro" or "The Tower of Pisa", is into his first challenger final at the Francavilla Open. He will face countryman Matteo Arnaldi, who is also looking for his first title at this level.
On a side note, the tournament director this year is Gianluigi Quinzi, a former Junior world n.1 and Wimbledon champion who only four years ago was lifting the Francavilla trophy himself, after defeating Casper Ruud in the final. Talk about a teen talent that didn't pan out...
stringertom
Bionic Poster
At RG, QFs was the round of death of teenage slam dreams; both Alcaraz and Rune sent packing in four sets.
On to the Boys draw and they have reached QFs stage as well. Completed QFs today include the lone French survivor advancing one more round. He is the tall Gabriel Debru, seeded #14 due to his youthfulness (16 until December). He won today vs an unseeded Slovak in a 1&2 rout. Only the #10 seed joined him in the QFs so this draw is most unpredictable.
On to the Boys draw and they have reached QFs stage as well. Completed QFs today include the lone French survivor advancing one more round. He is the tall Gabriel Debru, seeded #14 due to his youthfulness (16 until December). He won today vs an unseeded Slovak in a 1&2 rout. Only the #10 seed joined him in the QFs so this draw is most unpredictable.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
3 of the 4 girls semifinalists are Czech. And they don't include ANY of the country's 3 top-ranked juniors, namely 15-yo Brenda Fruhvirtova (who surprisingly lost in the first round) and 17-yos Linda Fruhvirtova and Linda Noskova (who are already top 200 WTA and have moved on from junior play altogether).
The ability of this small country to consistently produce industrial quantities of top-tier female players is nothing new, but continues to be mind-boggling.
The ability of this small country to consistently produce industrial quantities of top-tier female players is nothing new, but continues to be mind-boggling.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Yes, but do any of the new crew have a brewmeister dad like Hlavackova’s poppa to offer a fresh Pilsner Urquell for a nice toast after winning a title?
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Andrea is now an Italian by marriage. Maybe she can have her baby girl learn the craft in Prague, but compete under the Italian flag
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Sestini preceded Norrie as a player at TCU in Fort Worth. Will the tennis playing parents prioritize some education like the Agassi-Grafs to go along with the athletics?Andrea is now an Italian by marriage. Maybe she can have her baby girl learn the craft in Prague, but compete under the Italian flag
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The RG Bots SFs are set:
Gilles Artaud Bailly (BEL) vs Martin Pawelski (POL)
(10) Dino Prizmic (CRO) vs (14) Gabriel Debru (FRA)
Bailly booted #1 seed Bruno Kuzahara (USA) in 3R. He has lost just one set.
Pawekski faced just one seed (#15) in 1R. He has lost just one set.
Both Debru and Prizmic have not faced a seed and haven’t dropped a set yet.
Gilles Artaud Bailly (BEL) vs Martin Pawelski (POL)
(10) Dino Prizmic (CRO) vs (14) Gabriel Debru (FRA)
Bailly booted #1 seed Bruno Kuzahara (USA) in 3R. He has lost just one set.
Pawekski faced just one seed (#15) in 1R. He has lost just one set.
Both Debru and Prizmic have not faced a seed and haven’t dropped a set yet.
atatu
Legend
Is Bailly related to the University of Texas player Pierre-Yves Bailly ?
stringertom
Bionic Poster
You’ve got me! Is PYB a Belgian?
Joseph_K
Hall of Fame
Last edited:
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The RG Boys final is set after Bailly and Debru both needed three sets to prevail (multiple bakery products in both SFs).
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Maybe he will become the first French Men’s champion since Noah and the first ever Frenchman to win both Boy’s and Men’s titles. Only three Open Era champions in both competitions…Lendl, Wilander and Wawrinka.
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Two Brit teens are among those playing today at the Wimby qualies:
Luca Pow (GBR) vs Mitchell Krueger (USA). He is getting powed by Krueger.
Arthur Fery (GBR) vs Thomas Fabbiano (ITA)
Luca Pow (GBR) vs Mitchell Krueger (USA). He is getting powed by Krueger.
Arthur Fery (GBR) vs Thomas Fabbiano (ITA)
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Not sure if this goes here or in the challenger thread, but 18-year-old Hamad Medjedovic has just taken the Sauerland trophy as a qualifier, absolutely demolishing anyone or anything standing in his way. He is now 27-2 since the end of March - a most impressive streak that propels him near the 260 mark after starting the year ranked around n. 700. Watching very closely...
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The teen got a WC into ATP 250 Belgrade and kept it close vs Djere in his 1R match (4&5). Very decent clay game so early. We may be able to watch him at some of the summer ATP tournaments if he gets any more WCs. On to the Salzburg Challenger now though for 1R vs veteran Carballes Baena. Beautiful city to take in during down time.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
2R Wimby Boys, Debru is in a MTO to receive an adjustment on his neck. It looks painful. On serve early, trading breaks with American Aidan Kim, 1-2.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The Wimby Boy’s QFs are set and there are two Americans, two Spaniards, and one each from Hong Kong, Switzerland and two Balkan nations Croatia and North Macedonia.
The two highest seeds remaining are #3 Mili Poljicak (hits like Joe Kovic, eats like The Srshs) from Croatia and #6 Kilian Feldbausch from Switzerland. They face each other in the QFs. Both have Challenger experience with Poljicak making the recent Zagreb final in front of a home crowd. Feldbausch also won a match at a home Challenger (Biel) in March, becoming the first player born in 2005 to do so.
The two highest seeds remaining are #3 Mili Poljicak (hits like Joe Kovic, eats like The Srshs) from Croatia and #6 Kilian Feldbausch from Switzerland. They face each other in the QFs. Both have Challenger experience with Poljicak making the recent Zagreb final in front of a home crowd. Feldbausch also won a match at a home Challenger (Biel) in March, becoming the first player born in 2005 to do so.
Baseline_Bungle
Legend
Mili "The Mouth" Polijcak somehow defeated Feldbausch despite spending all night on the toilet with an upset stomach - no joke.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Aabye5
G.O.A.T.
Clearly, there is something being lost in communication.
Shang Juncheng, February 2, 2005
Puerto Vallarta, November 22, 2021 (first Challenger win)
Kilian Feldbausch, September 7, 2005
Biel, March 22, 2022
Gabriel Debru, December 21, 2005
Roanne, November 9, 2021
stringertom
Bionic Poster
OK. Got the straight talk and yes, they are all born 2005 and both Shang and Debru were indeed successful earlier at Challenger level. Shang and Debru both won their first Challenger main draw matches in late 2021.
I guess there’s a troll on Wiki named The Sports Gnome who has now edited the Feldbausch bio 11 times, six of those edits occurring this week. It now reads, “He is the first player in tennis history, born in 2005, to feature in a professional tournament in Biel Switzerland in 2021.” Had he won the 1R Biel match last year he would have been first before Shang and Debru by several months. However, he was limited to four Futures matches last year.
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