Tsonga, Nishikori, Raonic, Monfils, Dimitrov...

[USO]

Is it too late for them? All these players (and I’m sure others) had such hype and high expectations around them but for different reasons often due to injuries but mostly due to the big three they have really underachieved.

It would be nice if some of them could have another masters 1000 or finally a slam because it seems that they should have accomplished more... I’m sure they’re disappointed to not have won more big titles but on the other hand they are millionaires so it’s not so bad

Ferrer and Berdych did retire without another big title despite fighting and chasing glory for many years, I guess eventually these players will have to accept that it’s also their destiny

 

[USO]

I wonder also if in 5-10 years we will put players like Medvedev, Zverev, Rublev, Shapovalov, FAA, Berrettini, De Minaur, Kyrgios, Coric... in the same category.

 

[Terenigma]

Tsonga - yes - Too old and out of form
Nishikori - Yes - Injuries have crippled his career and he seems done now
Raonic - No - Still has chances if he stays healthy
Monfils - yes - Never had a chance, never will
Dimitrov - No - Despite going into a crap form period, he seems to be doing ok now. I could see him making a comeback

 

[mike danny]

Tsonga is 35 and hasn't been relevant in big events since 2017 - Done

Nishikori might finally win a masters if the stars align but he is done as a slam player

Raonic might fluke a masters title down the road and might go far in some slams especially since he seems to have a handle on the Next Gen. I don't think a slam will ever come though. Movement is too weak.

Monfils never had it in him to win slams and is too weak against top 10 players. Also, at 34, I'm not sure if he'll even get a masters.

Dimitrov is just a journeyman at this point.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

 

[skaj]

For some of them the main problem was the wrong mentality. They could've been (multiple)slam winners, with the Big3 around or not.

 

[King No1e]

Still holding onto the hope that Raonic can comeback and have an Ivanisevic-esque underdog win at Wimby before he retires.

 

[Krish872007]

Tsonga had his shot 12 years ago. He's probably done at any level, even 250. Hasn't played since the AO has he?

Nishikori's body is made of glass. Can still win the odd smaller title but won't be able to string 7 Slam wins together. Or even 6.

Raonic's serve may keep him competitive but I don't know if he'll get to another Slam Final. He could win a Masters event though.

Monfils - the Professor of the ATP. Unfortunately looks like his time is up for contending anywhere as well, unless there are some weak 250 fields.

Dimitrov - probably won't win a Slam or reach a Slam Final. Could potentially nab another Masters title though with some flashy play.

These guys all had outside chances 5-10 years ago but got lost within the Big 3/4 domination. And now they're simply not good enough to take advantage with Thiem, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Medvedev all the mainstays in the Top 10 and other talents like Sinner, Shapo and FAA coming hard at them.

 

[ravenousRublev]

Unpopular opinion however it shouldnt be
the current next gen are far better than than lost gen. Shapo, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Sinner, Zverev all have potential to be multiple slam winners and should go on to have better careers . Nishikori, Dimitrov, Clownfils never had the ability or mentality to win a slam. Tsonga, Berdych, Raonic could of perhaps won 1 at best.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Tsonga - finished
Dimitrov - useless - overachieved, I respect him in that he is an opportunist, took his chances.
Nishikori - good but not great - done well in his career
Monfils - absolutely terrible, boring as hell, i don't care if he puts himself in such a bad position that he pulls off one miraculous shot per match and a big highlight reel at end of year
Raonic - overweight, not very good anyway. Had great career for his talent.

 

[ollinger]

Does it seem like much of this forum consists of lamentations about players who didn't become "great" but were merely "good" or "very good"? I would refer you to the bell-shaped curve, normal distributions, and the concept of standard deviations. Not everyone is going to be an all-time great, or even merely great. I'm not entirely sure what the OP is talking about, as none of the players in the thread title here ever gave me the impression he was going to be a world-beater. They are solid pros, and some of them have had more than their share of injuries.

 

[Jonas78]

They havent underachieved because of Big3, theyre simply just not good enough and never was.

If its because of Big3, why has Zverev already won more masters titles than these 5 players combined?

 

[Mainad]

If its because of Big3, why has Zverev already won more masters titles than these 5 players combined?

Actually he has the same number as the other 5 players combined ie. 3.

 

[Jonas78]

Actually he has the same number as the other 5 players combined ie. 3.

Oh yeah i forgot Tsonga had 2. Doesnt make it much better though . Even worse that Tsonga is a 85'er, the post 87/88 generations have won pretty much nothing until NextGen. Thiem only exception.

 

[BlueB]

Still holding onto the hope that Raonic can comeback and have an Ivanisevic-esque underdog win at Wimby before he retires.

Wouldn't that be something?
I'd love if he pulled that off.... after Nole was done with his career

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Raonic has a chance at Wimbledon if he can peak for it. It isn't like the young players are world beaters on grass. Although that could change by next year.

 

[King No1e]

Wouldn't that be something?
I'd love if he pulled that off.... after Nole was done with his career

This.

 

[James P]

Tsonga - yes - Too old and out of form
Nishikori - Yes - Injuries have crippled his career and he seems done now
Raonic - No - Still has chances if he stays healthy
Monfils - yes - Never had a chance, never will
Dimitrov - No - Despite going into a crap form period, he seems to be doing ok now. I could see him making a comeback

My exact take, as well.

 

[mbm0912]

how many MUGS can you fit into one title? Geez..

 

[Russeljones]

Whilst others may have injury and this top dogs to blame for hitting a disappointing ceiling, Dimitrov was the architect of his own downfall. The shift to a more defensive-minded game style pretty much unravelled all the hreat work he'd done as an early Federer clone.

 

[coolboarder]

It is of my opinion that Raonic's only chance of a slam is Wimbledon which is Taylor made fit of his game for as long as he doesn't meet Isner, Querrey, Anderson, and some servebot type of game that troubled him at Wimbledon. For some reason, Raonic struggled at US open for many years as it seems that heat and humidity doesn't fit to his game at U.S. Open. Other player that you mentioned may never get a chance to win as young guns will win more slams.

 

[David Le]

Unpopular opinion however it shouldnt be
the current next gen are far better than than lost gen. Shapo, Tsitsipas, Rublev, Sinner, Zverev all have potential to be multiple slam winners and should go on to have better careers . Nishikori, Dimitrov, Clownfils never had the ability or mentality to win a slam. Tsonga, Berdych, Raonic could of perhaps won 1 at best.

Lol at this Gen Z kid.

 

[Druss]

They're all past their peak years, especially Tsonga and Monfils. So I highly doubt they will win a slam, maybe a Masters1000 for Dimitrov or Raonic but that's about it. The younger players are coming through now.

 

[DSH]

 

[TheNachoMan]

I can see Milos winning a Wimbledon title if someone like Fed or Novak loses early

 

[Tennisfan339]

These players had good careers even if they never won a slam. Tsonga beat Nadal Djokovic and Federer multiple times, won 2 M1000, reached a slam final and WTF final, + multiple slam SF... I put Tsonga ahead of Ferrer, Berdych, Dimitrov, Monfils and Nishikori, personnaly. I liked his game and he was always spectacular and charismatic on a court.
I think Nishikori is done unfortunately. Dimitrov will stay in the top20 top30 (maybe appearances in the top10) but I don't see him winning a M1000, let alone a Slam. Monfils will always choke in slams and against the best players, he is too weak mentally. Maybe Raonic if he isn't injured. In Wimbledon or Australian Open he will always be dangerous.

 

[Swingmaster]

My exact take, as well.

Agree, except for maybe Nishikori. He’s still got a little time to heal up and come back strong. It’d be interesting to see him playing healthy post big three. Rejuvenated Nishikori could probably hang with Zverev and those guys.

 

[Giorgilli]

Nishikori is just too injury prone. His game is probably better than most of the next gen when he is playing well but he never can due to his glass body.

 

[conjoshruk]

I

Nishikori is just too injury prone. His game is probably better than most of the next gen when he is playing well but he never can due to his glass body.

I agree, his playing style is similar to Djokovic in a way, in terms of movement and the backhand, but Nole is just better at everything and has a better serve. Its a shame he was never able to recapture his form from the 2014 US Open.

 

[Mainad]

Dimitrov will stay in the top20 top30 (maybe appearances in the top10) but I don't see him winning a M1000, let alone a Slam.

Dimitrov does already have a Masters 1000 title: 2017 Cincinnati. He finished that season by winning the WTF as well.

 

[Lew II]

I'd like to see at least one from the lost Gen 1989-92 take a Slam title.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I think so.
They are already declined and the guys below them age wise are getting better.

 

[Zetty]

It's done, let's move on to the young guys.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Tsonga - won two M1000s so a good career overall, far more clutch than the typical French player anyway

IF he had won set 2 in the AO08 final (he had a set point to go up 2-0 vs Djokovic) who knows how things would have developed in tennis... Injuries did cause problems but not the main reason he "underachieved".

Nishikori - Injuries biggest factor, plus not quite clutch enough, though a great 5-set score.

Raonic - Considering what a lumbering, hopeless servebot he used to be he is an overachiever if anything. Not very clutch though. Lots of injuries.

Monfils - Preferred to entertain crowds than to win points. With this attitude he had sealed his fate as non-ATG despite large potential. Injuries were common but not the reason. A pathetic score in finales.

Dimitrov - Huge clutch issues, especially on serve with his double faults. Just doesn't have champ mentality. But won WTF and 1 M1000 so still a very solid career though clearly the biggest underachiever of his generation.

 

[lim]

Raonic is the only one whose game is at a high level but he clearly won’t make a break through (see uso following Cincinnati results). the rest 0% chance

 

[Sabratha]

Is it too late for them? All these players (and I’m sure others) had such hype and high expectations around them but for different reasons often due to injuries but mostly due to the big three they have really underachieved.

It would be nice if some of them could have another masters 1000 or finally a slam because it seems that they should have accomplished more... I’m sure they’re disappointed to not have won more big titles but on the other hand they are millionaires so it’s not so bad

Ferrer and Berdych did retire without another big title despite fighting and chasing glory for many years, I guess eventually these players will have to accept that it’s also their destiny

Yeah, I'd say so. I don't see any of these guys winning a slam.

 

[tennisjedi]

Tsonga and Nishikori are virtually done at this point in their career because of injuries.
Monfils, Dimitrov and Raonic still have a chance.

 

[Fedinkum]

Raonic might have an awesome two weeks of serving streaks at Wimbledon and possibly luck it out.

The rests are all done.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

OP: Yes, it is probably too late. They are not particularly talented, have aged in the system and have never improved their questionable games.

 

[Jonas78]

It was always too late for them. They havent underachieved, they were just not good enough. If Big3 is the reason, how could Zverev and Medvedev already win 3 Masters each? Dimitrov and Monfils have never reached a slam final, Raonic and Nishikori lost both theirs to non-Big3. You cant blame Big3 for their careers.

 

[BeatlesFan]

The problem is the age disparity between the group of players. Tsonga is 35 and Monfils is 34. Then there's a four year gap between that and Nishi, who is 30. Raonic and Dimi are just 29.

There is a monumental difference between tennis players aged 35 and 29... just ask 35 year old Federer when he played against the six years younger Djokovic.

 

[Keizer]

I never had much hope for Dimitrov. He was always 75% Federer to me. 75% of Federer doesn't beat Murray, forget Big 3.