Top 10 Movers on Tour

[The Guru]

In another thread I was discussing the best movers right now. Who do you guys think are among the best?

Names I came up with for my 10 are:

Carlos
Novak
Rune
ADM
Paul
Tsitsipas
Dimitrov
FAA
Schwartzman
Musetti

Not in exact order but that's also not a bad loose order though I'd prolly change it around if I had more time to think about it.

 

[80s New Wave]

A lot is surface dependent but on hc I would put med above tsitsipas for sure.

In terms of pure first step and quickness to the ball deminaur and alcaraz are probably the best. Deminaur just doesn't have potent enough strokes.

Not sure where Djokovic ranks now, he still moves well but doubt he's top 3.

 

[Jonesy]

1 - Alvarez
2 - Demon
3 - Djoker

 

[Chairman3]

No Medverdev?

Also think Rublev is underrated as a mover, he's pretty quick, good court coverage.
When talking movers, I don't consider finesse or elegance, just speed and coverage.

 

[The Guru]

A lot is surface dependent but on hc I would put med above tsitsipas for sure.

In terms of pure first step and quickness to the ball deminaur and alcaraz are probably the best. Deminaur just doesn't have potent enough strokes.

Not sure where Djokovic ranks now, he still moves well but doubt he's top 3.

He's the best mover on grass by a mile that's what keeps him there imo. There are a lot of guys who move better on clay than him now though I agree. Hard I still think he's near the top but he's not the best anymore there either.

 

[The Guru]

No Medverdev?

Also think Rublev is underrated as a mover, he's pretty quick, good court coverage.
When talking movers, I don't consider finesse or elegance, just speed and coverage.

He's close but who do you take off for him. Considering he's only an elite mover on hard courts I don't think he makes it above more well rounded movers.

 

[Chairman3]

He's close but who do you take off for him. Considering he's only an elite mover on hard courts I don't think he makes it above more well rounded movers.

Didn't he just win Rome?

Axe Tsitsipas, dude is so slow

 

[LaVie en Rose]

It's not just about movement -speed, but anticipation
So

Djokovic
.
.
.
The rest

 

[ND-13]

<







>

All listed above

 

[AO13]

Djokovic, Alcaraz, Nadal, Medvedev, Rune, Ruud, De Minaur, Auger Alliasime, Rublev, Tsitsipas.

In that order, but it's hard to make a top 10, because most if the let's say top 50 are very good movers. But maybe we can differentiate good from elite movers, and elite ones that are exceptional are Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev and healthy Nadal of course.

But even today, Djokovic is probably the only one who moves equally good at every surface - hard, clay, grass, with Alcaraz getting soon to that spot.

 

[InsuranceMan]

Paul an honorable mention in my top 3. Watching him on HC is so fluid, something I would’ve imagined more on clay. So loose too just a joy to watch laterally.

Would’ve said Rune as the honorable mention but I’m incredibly biased

 

[Kralingen]

Alcaraz and Djo tower above the rest.

A 19 and a 36 year old. How funny.

 

[Angrybirdstar]

out of 10, would say Alcaraz and de Minaur are 10s; Rune, Dimitrov, and Paul are 9s; the rest are 8

 

[The Guru]

Didn't he just win Rome?

Axe Tsitsipas, dude is so slow

I think Tsitsipas is clearly faster and a better athlete. Never thought I'd hear someone call Stef slow.

 

[Kralingen]

Rune is gonna be top 3 sooner rather than later. On clay he’s probably already there. His issue is the ball-striking, methinks.

 

[Chairman3]

I think Tsitsipas is clearly faster and a better athlete. Never thought I'd hear someone call Stef slow.

Did you see him play Alc at the French.....barely got to drop shots and half he didn't even go for.
Foot speed is weak, if he were quicker he'd struggle less with his OHBH (ala Federer or Thiem)

 

[Clay lover]

Djokovic Alcaraz Medvedev
In that order

 

[Kralingen]

Did you see him play Alc at the French.....barely got to drop shots and half he didn't even go for.
Foot speed is weak, if he were quicker he'd struggle less with his OHBH (ala Federer or Thiem)

His issue is he has pretty awful anticipation, that’s why he didn’t reach the drop shots. I don’t think raw athleticism (especially for being 6’4”) is at all the issue.

Definitely not one of the top 5 or even top 10 movers for me though.

 

[fundrazer]

I think Tsitsipas is clearly faster and a better athlete. Never thought I'd hear someone call Stef slow.

His movement to forehand side always seemed really poor to me.

 

[ChrisJR3264]

Medvedev is 6’6 and moves like he’s 6’0. Novak, Carlos, and meddy easy the top 3.

 

[The Guru]

I think with Stef people are viewing it as his movement is limiting his BH when to me it's clearly the other way around. He camps deep in the BH corner to protect his BH which is why he get beat more to the FH and on the drop shot in the Alcaraz match. Alcaraz bullied him back with pace and spin to his BH which made him retreat and left the drop shot open. It was his court positioning (caused by his limited BH) that screwed him not his movement. All these criticisms people are making here can also be leveled against Dimi but for some reason people recognize for him it's not the movement that's the problem.

 

[GabeT]

for those that may have forgotten this is what Borg and McEnroe looked like moving in Wimbledon (BTW, these are the ‘highlights”)

 

[Kralingen]

for those that may have forgotten this is what Borg and McEnroe looked like moving in Wimbledon (BTW, these are the ‘highlights”)

They both move incredibly well

 

[LaVie en Rose]

for those that may have forgotten this is what Borg and McEnroe looked like moving in Wimbledon (BTW, these are the ‘highlights”)

Look at the grass quality after 2 weeks of play

 

[GabeT]

They both move incredibly well

“They have eyes but cannot see”

 

[The Guru]

How many guys move to the FH well enough to do that at 4:25?

 

[GabeT]

And here’s Federer-Djokovic. Among other differences the ball actually touches grass!

 

[Kralingen]

“They have eyes but cannot see”

The limiting factor in that match is that they’re attempting to hit the ball with something that most closely resembles a fly swatter, wearing shoes that most closely resemble converse all-stars with very little grip/traction, moving on a surface that most closely resembles an unkempt football pitch.

Not their movement.

They aren’t swinging tennis racquets, not as you or I know them, and their shots must be incredibly precise and balanced as a result. The footwork on a surface like that is way trickier than today’s, and that’s before we consider how many bad bounces there are.

That video still amazes me. It’s one of the greatest matches of all time.

 

[GabeT]

The limiting factor in that match is that they’re attempting to hit the ball with something that most closely resembles a fly swatter, wearing shoes that most closely resemble converse all-stars with very little grip/traction, moving on a surface that most closely resembles an unkempt football pitch.

Not their movement.

They aren’t swinging tennis racquets, not as you or I know them, and their shots must be incredibly precise and balanced as a result. The footwork on a surface like that is way trickier than today’s, and that’s before we consider how many bad bounces there are.

That video still amazes me. It’s one of the greatest matches of all time.

LOL!

 

[Kralingen]

LOL!

Do you realize how small the sweet spot is on a racquet like that? To get racquet to ball, especially on the move, is a proposition that in reality is orders of magnitude more difficult than you think it is.

You really are the worst.

 

[GabeT]

Do you realize how small the sweet spot is on a racquet like that? To get racquet to ball, especially on the move, is a proposition that in reality is orders of magnitude more difficult than you think it is.

You really are the worst.

Lol, you need to stop. Just watch the videos! Back then they barely moved by today‘s standards. Look at the ball around 2:04 that JMac simply lets go by. And it wasn’t even that fast.

Precision is what modern players do. They hit 90 mph forehand or backhands DTL that go deep into the corners. And they do that over and over again In match. Yes, they can do that because the tech has changed. But it also means that they need to train to get such balls. As the ‘arms race’ continues it‘s no coincidence that a player like Novak that can not only move incredibly well, but can stretch and reach balls past generations would have not even attempted to get at, has won as much as he did. You can say something similar about the other Big 3.

And I was generous by posting a Wimby highlights reel. Look at Borg-Lendl at RG! Balls that went back and forth forever and they barely moved a few yards each time to reach the ball!

 

[tudwell]

for those that may have forgotten this is what Borg and McEnroe looked like moving in Wimbledon (BTW, these are the ‘highlights”)

I’m sorry, are you attempting to compare levels across time?

 

[ND-13]

I’m sorry, are you attempting to compare levels across time?

People don’t realize how they expose themselves with just a post or two like this

 

[NAS]

I think with Stef people are viewing it as his movement is limiting his BH when to me it's clearly the other way around. He camps deep in the BH corner to protect his BH which is why he get beat more to the FH and on the drop shot in the Alcaraz match. Alcaraz bullied him back with pace and spin to his BH which made him retreat and left the drop shot open. It was his court positioning (caused by his limited BH) that screwed him not his movement. All these criticisms people are making here can also be leveled against Dimi but for some reason people recognize for him it's not the movement that's the problem.

You are right, not only Tists but Berr and Ruud also try to protect bh and end up doing more error on fh side

 

[Subway Tennis]

Alcaraz, De Minaur and Med for me.

Med’s balance at end range is amazing now. Hard to believe someone who is that violent a mover with such a long stride can also have so much body control.

 

[accidental]

De Minaur is really good at getting to every ball and then doing absolutely nothing with it

 

[NatF]

How many guys move to the FH well enough to do that at 4:25?

That's nothing particularly special movement wise mate lol.

 

[Clay lover]

for those that may have forgotten this is what Borg and McEnroe looked like moving in Wimbledon (BTW, these are the ‘highlights”)

Is it just me but it looks just fine except for the obvious power difference due to the racquets?

For a verrrry rough picture of how they would play in modern conditions we can look at their senior tour matches (yes, it's an exhibition), and I think they look reeeeeally good and move reeeeally well. (maybe it's just me)

 

[GabeT]

I’m sorry, are you attempting to compare levels across time?

Never!

 

[accidental]

Here is old man McEnroe running circles around prime Djokovic

 

[The Guru]

That's nothing particularly special movement wise mate lol.

Balance body control recovery very nice there imo but yeah I'm sure if I scoured more highlights I coulda found much better but I'm lazy lol

 

[NatF]

Balance body control recovery very nice there imo but yeah I'm sure if I scoured more highlights I coulda found much better but I'm lazy lol

Fair enough. I've never really seen Stef as a truly elite mover but perhaps it's lack of ability to really defend the backhand corner that colours my perspective.

 

[Third Serve]

LOL!

If you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, better to say nothing at all.

 

[Third Serve]

The limiting factor in that match is that they’re attempting to hit the ball with something that most closely resembles a fly swatter, wearing shoes that most closely resemble converse all-stars with very little grip/traction, moving on a surface that most closely resembles an unkempt football pitch.

Not their movement.

They aren’t swinging tennis racquets, not as you or I know them, and their shots must be incredibly precise and balanced as a result. The footwork on a surface like that is way trickier than today’s, and that’s before we consider how many bad bounces there are.

That video still amazes me. It’s one of the greatest matches of all time.

I actually think the 1981 final was better. The highs of 1980 are awesome, like the fourth set, but I think there have been better grass court matches during that period.

 

[The Guru]

Fair enough. I've never really seen Stef as a truly elite mover but perhaps it's lack of ability to really defend the backhand corner that colours my perspective.

I think that's it. His BH limits his movement options severely. Also depends on your definition of elite. He's not peak Djo/Nads/Alc special obviously he's the tier below imo.

 

[upchuck]

Alcaraz might be quicker, but djokovic still the best mover in the game. So little wasted, such great anticipation.

 

[Rosstour]

That's nothing particularly special movement wise mate lol.

Lolwat

 

[DSH]

Alcaraz and Djo tower above the rest.

A 19 and a 36 year old. How funny.

In case you don't remember, Carlitos is already 20 years old.

 

[DSH]

Regarding the game on grass, besides Federer, Sampras, what other tennis players in the Open Era have had a fairly effective slice on that surface?

 

[GabeT]

If you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, better to say nothing at all.

This advice would shut down TTW!