What does Vasek Pospisil have to do to reach ATP Top 30 or higher?

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Probably money and the hope of ranking points.

Money, yes...1R exit earns roughly the same as winning this week's Sarasota Challenger. Ranking points and confidence...decidedly a "no"; 10 points and a butt-kick to the curb by RBA is not worth the injury risk if he's really still niggled by something wrong in the body.
 
Yahoo Tennis Canada says that Vasek had back spasms last week in Bucharest. It seems insane that Pospisil is playing glad he withdrew from Munich this week. The guy is not using common sense if he is having back spasms he needs to see a doctor! This is INSANE! Vasek hasn't won a match since January due to the back pain. Why not go see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis?
 
Money, yes...1R exit earns roughly the same as winning this week's Sarasota Challenger. Ranking points and confidence...decidedly a "no"; 10 points and a butt-kick to the curb by RBA is not worth the injury risk if he's really still niggled by something wrong in the body.

Yeah but that is dumb losing first week in and out is not going to help Vasek confidence. Also it seems inevitable that Vasek will continue to drop due to the back injury. Vasek needs to see a doctor and get a proper assessment he might be destroying his career and back by continuing to pay.
 

vernonbc

Legend
Yahoo Tennis Canada says that Vasek had back spasms last week in Bucharest. It seems insane that Pospisil is playing glad he withdrew from Munich this week. The guy is not using common sense if he is having back spasms he needs to see a doctor! This is INSANE! Vasek hasn't won a match since January due to the back pain. Why not go see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis?

Vasek has seen plenty of doctors and therapists.

That said, if he needs surgery or something instead of just rest and physio, he should get it done and over with asap so he can carry on with his very promising career.
 

Down_the_line

G.O.A.T.
After his 2nd round win over Jan-Lennard Struff in 's-Hertogenbosch, Pospisil has finally strung together 2 wins in a tournament and is into the quarterfinals where he will face Benjamin Becker, a very winnable match.

It's been a miserable year for Pospisil ever since the Australian Open. After finally getting a win last week in London and with his prospects looking promising this week, looks like the grass season was just what the doctor ordered for Vasek.

He didn't quite make it as a seed at Wimbledon but hopefully he manages to win some matches there, get into the 3rd round or even 4th round maybe, and get his season back on track.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
looks like he has a pretty good path to the final now with ferrer out, hopefully he does!

Becker can be tough on grass...finalist at Nottingham Challenger '13, beat Tomic, Rosol and Dolgopolov @Queen's'13 before losing to Murray in QF and then drew Murray 1R @Wimby.

Should be a good match!
 

pound cat

G.O.A.T.
I see top 25, maybe top 20 as his max potential. He definitely is not going to be as good as Milos. He doesnt have big enough weapons even considering his relatively young age, and that was shown in his recent Davis cup match vs Djokovic where he was made to look almost useless.

He has already been 25,,,then his back issues stopped him from playing for a while.
 

Down_the_line

G.O.A.T.
A bit of luck for Pospisil today.

Nicolas Almagro pulled out of Wimbledon due to a foot injury and it's Pospisil who was awarded a seed as a result. He must have JUST missed the cut when the original seedings were done.
 

Down_the_line

G.O.A.T.
Sadly, Pospisil falls 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 4-6.

As happy as I am about the week he had, he really should have gotten by Becker, despite the fact he hadn't strung more than 2 wins in a row since the beginning of the year. Oh well, it was a close match at least. Hopefully this gives him just enough confidence to have a good showing at Wimbledon. I know it's sometimes not this simple, but being a seed now I hope he at least makes it to the 3rd round.
 

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Sadly, Pospisil falls 7-6(3) 6-7(5) 4-6.

As happy as I am about the week he had, he really should have gotten by Becker, despite the fact he hadn't strung more than 2 wins in a row since the beginning of the year. Oh well, it was a close match at least. Hopefully this gives him just enough confidence to have a good showing at Wimbledon. I know it's sometimes not this simple, but being a seed now I hope he at least makes it to the 3rd round.

A good run at SW19 is Pospisil but his key will be to defend and improve on his NA HC swing.
 

vernonbc

Legend
Vasek tweeted this today. Such good news after all he's been through. :)

Vasek Pospisil ‏@VasekPospisil Jun 19

Tough match today but a good week nonetheless. Officially the first pain free tournament of the year. Feels great!!
 

MindoverMatter

Professional
Yeah, I think he'll go pretty far if he ever learns how to beat at least 3 people in a row. Because that's kinda necessary. And he kinda hasn't done that this year.
 

Down_the_line

G.O.A.T.
Yeah, I think he'll go pretty far if he ever learns how to beat at least 3 people in a row. Because that's kinda necessary. And he kinda hasn't done that this year.

Agreed 100%. As I mentioned earlier, his quarterfinal performance last week in 's-Hertogenbosch was the first time he had strung together 2 or more wins since the Australian Open! Just an ugly year for Pospisil and it continues with this 1st round loss. Haase is a tough opponent, but still...

I think Pospisil is a lot like Raonic in that most of his success will come during the summer hard-court season. After all, the surface and conditions are what both Raonic and Pospisil grew up and trained with.
 

Smasher08

Legend
Injuries aside, I still believe there's a lot of work to be done between Popsicle's ears, and I'm not sure his current coach is the one to do it.

The tools are there but not the belief, and he's really struggled with becoming the hunted.
 

InvisibleSoul

Hall of Fame
Pospisil is going to need some decent results soon because his ranking is going to plummet within the next couple months when his major points drop off. That will mean no more direct entries into bigger tournaments.
 
Injuries aside, I still believe there's a lot of work to be done between Popsicle's ears, and I'm not sure his current coach is the one to do it.

The tools are there but not the belief, and he's really struggled with becoming the hunted.

I agree the back was a huge set back BUT Vasek is not mentally tough he is fragile and he doubts himself. Last year when Vasek lost matches he fought pretty hard this year I do not see the fight. The summer hardcourt season is huge Vasek has a ton of points to defend. I wonder does anyone think Vasek should fire the coach? Vasek hasn't shown much mentally this year. Vasek's back I read in an article on Yahoo he saw a doctor in Prague and it is finally okay. Does Vasek have a personal trainer? Canadian tennis NEEDS Vasek to get into the top 20 he has the talent but he needs to get mentally stronger. Vasek needs a coach who can push him in a positive manner. What as Frederick Fontang done? Vasek really messed up playing while he hurt his back. Vasek needs a good fitness trainer ASAP.
 
I hear Vasek is playing some small ATP 250 events he needs to find a way to do well and win one. About time Vasek win an ATP title. It won't be easy but winning some small events would boost Vasek confidence.
 
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pound cat

G.O.A.T.
Funny thing: Vasek Pospisil's surname for Polish-speaking people sounds like a form of the verb 'speed up'. It's something like "Vasek Accelerated" :)

Pospisil is Czech and Czech (Pospíšil): nickname for an impatient or active individual, from Czech pospíšit 'to be in a hurry'.


What a sutable name. Not too different from Polish, but both languages are Slavic so that shouldn't be surprising.
 
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decrepitude

Rookie
Today was the first time I have watched a full match of his. In my opinion he needs to improve his fitness and learn some patience - so often, he was going for too much too soon.
 

Mr.Lob

G.O.A.T.
Today was the first time I have watched a full match of his. In my opinion he needs to improve his fitness and learn some patience - so often, he was going for too much too soon.


Definitely needs to improve his fitness. Serving for the second set against Murray, lost set point on a 30 shot rally, could not catch his breath, proceeded to get a time violation warning and could not recover.
 

Beacon Hill

Hall of Fame
Today was the first time I have watched a full match of his. In my opinion he needs to improve his fitness and learn some patience - so often, he was going for too much too soon.
They're likely related. He never recovered from a long rally when serving for the second set - that speaks volumes. Also, his emotions often seem to use up too much of his energy.
 

CDNguy87

Hall of Fame
I'm sorry, but I can't agree with most of this. I definitely don't think Vasek is capable of challenging or surpassing Milos as Canada's top player. He's just too lacking in consistency and mental strength.

Also, I strongly disagree with the statement that "he has shown he can respond to pressure situations" (at least in singles). Other than the Rogers Cup run, where he was greatly helped by the boisterous Montreal fans and partisan atmosphere, and the Davis Cup tie against Israel a couple of years ago (I don't even know if this should count since those were far from top singles players), he's generally crumbled under the pressure. He choked horribly at both Wimbledon and the USO this year and, again excluding the outlier Israel tie, has a very mediocre record in DC singles. Losing to Djoker and Tipsy in Serbia is forgivable, but he also blew a 2-sets lead against Seppi on that ice-like indoor court in Vancouver, forcing him and Nestor to come through in doubles against Italy.

I see Vasek topping out at no higher than #25-30 in the rankings next year and likely falling drastically after he fails to defend his Rogers Cup SF points.

I made this post in August 2013 (see post #6 of this thread) right when everyone was hyping him up after his Rogers Cup run. His ranking topped out at #25 in January 2014 and has since fallen to #57. I'd say my prediction and general sentiments were pretty accurate.
 

mule250

Professional
Well he was injured for most of last year, if not for that I think he would still be in the top 35-40. Hoping he can get back into the top 30 this year
 

ricki

Hall of Fame
Hes too hot-headed. Crazy shot selection. Dumb errors. Otherwise his game is BIG and equals Murray.
 

romeo8880

G.O.A.T.
He's almost as bad as Isner when it comes to groundstrokes. He's just another guy who can only serve and I'm not sure why because a year or 2 ago he was looking promising. He has over 30 unforced errors against Agut. Anytime they are in a rally he loses. Awful tennis.
 
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Richie Rich

Legend
He's almost as bad as Isner when it comes to groundstrokes. He's just another guy who can only serve and I'm not sure why because a year or 2 ago he was looking promising. He has over 30 unforced errors against Agut. Anytime they are in a rally he loses. Awful tennis.

agree with you abut the serve. but his groundstrokes are not bad. i think it's his fitness that lets him down. he has to go for winners because if the rallies are long he gets winded easily.
 

Ironwood

Professional
Vasek is a very athletic player. He has better movement than Milos, but has been hampered by injuries, poor shot selection in long rallies and likely lack of self confidence or belief he can beat the top 20. Milos has made much better strides this past year improving his movement, service placement and confidence in closing our tight rallies or games. The rankings tell the story.
 

Pagoo

G.O.A.T.
Vasek is a very athletic player. He has better movement than Milos, but has been hampered by injuries, poor shot selection in long rallies and likely lack of self confidence or belief he can beat the top 20. Milos has made much better strides this past year improving his movement, service placement and confidence in closing our tight rallies or games. The rankings tell the story.

Vasek always plays Federer close. I think he has won a set in every match they've played.

That's why I'm always surprised to see him lose so often to lesser players.
 

InvisibleSoul

Hall of Fame
Vasek always plays Federer close. I think he has won a set in every match they've played.

That's why I'm always surprised to see him lose so often to lesser players.

Close. He's won a set in two of the three times they've met.

The one top player that he does have success against, for whatever reason, is Berdych.

He's 2-0 against him.

But yeah... he's still susceptible to losing to many other players below him in the rankings.
 

mule250

Professional
Vasek is a very athletic player. He has better movement than Milos, but has been hampered by injuries, poor shot selection in long rallies and likely lack of self confidence or belief he can beat the top 20. Milos has made much better strides this past year improving his movement, service placement and confidence in closing our tight rallies or games. The rankings tell the story.

Pretty much this, when he's not playing well he's an unforced error machine. The injuries have set him back a lot along with his confidence.
 
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