What's so great about FAA?

[Meles]

I'd really like to know.

All I can say is that his 2019 surge at age 18 probably makes him a near lock for elite status in his career, but I really don't understand what is taking him so high at such a young age. Based on his results in 2019 one might think year end top 20 possible, but fortuitous draws may just be allowing Felix to shine bright a little early.

Strengths:
1. Stamina - pretty amazing his runs on South American clay given his weakness on the surface last year. One has to admire the team's decision for heavy clay schedule now that its paying huge dividends
2. Forehand - consistent and big enough is what I see. Its a deceptive combo that takes its toll.
3. Backhand - two-hander pretty strong for this age really
4. Serve - perhaps his biggest weapon given how good it is at just age 18. Saw at least one clay match where he pulled off 15 aces which is quite strong on clay. Felix does it with a slower, but heavy and fast enough first serve (often just 180k) that relies on placement. Another shot that escapes attention until the stats have piled up.
5. Movement/return - really excellent when you consider he's 6' 3" tall.
6. No holes in game - overhead, volley, willingness to attack all there

Really nothing quite stands out, but in total it does impress.

(@nn this is a diamond age report despite being more of a question at this point.)

 

[Nadal_Django]

He is the real deal for sure. Baring some injury, future multiple slam winner.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

he's not a letsgoyelling Ziraffe and that's already a great thing

 

[bjsnider]

Take a look at the stats. He's already got one of the top return games in the world. He's extremely fast, and except for his offensive mindset, he's already very similar to Monfils in terms of overall ability. His second serve is still raw, or else he'd probably be close to the top 10 in the rankings. He's got a huge weaponized forehand too. All he needs is a little refinement and, in equilibrium, he'll be almost unbeatable (NOTE: I must disclose I'm a .ca, so not as disinterested as I'd normally be).

NOTE 2: I mention Monfils not for racial reasons, but because of the similarity in height, athleticism, and the superior return game. I'd mention Murray, but I think FAA's forehand is much better, and used differently -- to attack instead of to defend.

 

[IowaGuy]

I'd really like to know.

In addition to the qualities you mentioned:

He also has really good touch for a young player. I have been following some of his recent matches and have been impressed at his drop shots and touch volleys.

He also has a nice slice BH, which is unusual for a young player with 2HBH.

His serve will likely only get better, and at an athletic 6'3" he has a high service ceiling, so he definitely is on an upward trajectory if he stays healthy...

 

[Dolgopolov85]

I'd really like to know.

All I can say is that his 2019 surge at age 18 probably makes him a near lock for elite status in his career, but I really don't understand what is taking him so high at such a young age. Based on his results in 2019 one might think year end top 20 possible, but fortuitous draws may just be allowing Felix to shine bright a little early.

Strengths:
1. Stamina - pretty amazing his runs on South American clay given his weakness on the surface last year. One has to admire the team's decision for heavy clay schedule now that its paying huge dividends
2. Forehand - consistent and big enough is what I see. Its a deceptive combo that takes its toll.
3. Backhand - two-hander pretty strong for this age really
4. Serve - perhaps his biggest weapon given how good it is at just age 18. Saw at least one clay match where he pulled off 15 aces which is quite strong on clay. Felix does it with a slower, but heavy and fast enough first serve (often just 180k) that relies on placement. Another shot that escapes attention until the stats have piled up.
5. Movement/return - really excellent when you consider he's 6' 3" tall.
6. No holes in game - overhead, volley, willingness to attack all there

Really nothing quite stands out, but in total it does impress.

(@nn this is a diamond age report despite being more of a question at this point.)

Tldr version : Zed fanboy finds a legit talent overrated. He has so much free power on the forehand and is very comfortable stepping into the backhand. It's astonishing you would have missed THAT.

 

[Sysyphus]

a well-coordinated, athletic, explosive and agile guy with compact and fairly textbook technique on all wings – all within a perfect physical frame. Was always bound to eventually be a force, nay?

 

[ForumMember]

I

I'd really like to know.

All I can say is that his 2019 surge at age 18 probably makes him a near lock for elite status in his career, but I really don't understand what is taking him so high at such a young age. Based on his results in 2019 one might think year end top 20 possible, but fortuitous draws may just be allowing Felix to shine bright a little early.

Strengths:
1. Stamina - pretty amazing his runs on South American clay given his weakness on the surface last year. One has to admire the team's decision for heavy clay schedule now that its paying huge dividends
2. Forehand - consistent and big enough is what I see. Its a deceptive combo that takes its toll.
3. Backhand - two-hander pretty strong for this age really
4. Serve - perhaps his biggest weapon given how good it is at just age 18. Saw at least one clay match where he pulled off 15 aces which is quite strong on clay. Felix does it with a slower, but heavy and fast enough first serve (often just 180k) that relies on placement. Another shot that escapes attention until the stats have piled up.
5. Movement/return - really excellent when you consider he's 6' 3" tall.
6. No holes in game - overhead, volley, willingness to attack all there

Really nothing quite stands out, but in total it does impress.

(@nn this is a diamond age report despite being more of a question at this point.)

I am sure he serves faster than what u mentioned here.

 

[Wander]

He just looks very impressive all around when you see him play. No glaring weaknesses which is very unusual for an 18 year old. I'd be shocked if he doesn't end up having a very successful career.

 

[Shaolin]

What's not to like about this guy (other than he uses a babolat)?

Big fan of FAA for a while now and I hope he has a lot of success.

 

[EloQuent]

Don't jinx him Meles. Leave him alone.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I have to admit I had only watched 1 entire FAA match prior to this week and never paid him a whole lot of attention. But after having seen him practice at IW and watch him live, he is the real deal. Almost everyone watching him practice was oohing and ahing the whole time. Very nice to everyone too, unusually polite. His FH and ROS are exceptional. What's not to like? If he stays healthy and committed, no reason why he should not contend for majors when he gets older. I don't know how his game will translate to clay or grass, but on HC, Felix is already a fine player.

 

[Fridge]

mental toughness is what separates this kid from the rest of the young guns

 

[a12345]

Attributes wise he seems to have great balance, fast feet and good movement. Hes like a gazelle so thats a great base to work with.

Mental strength and desire is also extremely important. FAA is from Generation Z, who have backbone compared to the im not bothered about winning I just want to take part kumbaya Millennials.

This comes across in his interviews, hes calm, collected, focused, self confident.

 

[DSH]

maybe he is better than thiem, zverev, khachanov, rublev, kyrgios, pouille combined.
.

 

[dudeski]

Best part about Nadal is his incredible consistency. For example:
1. He consistently takes longer between points than allowed by rules.
2. He consistently picks his butt before every point. Sometimes even twice because you just have to do it before receiving 2nd serve. After all the butt pick before the 1st serve just wasn't enough.
3. He consistently tries to break his opponent's momentum using aggressive displays of celebrations, triple toweling every inch of his body, and if that doesn't work then using medical timeouts.
4. He consistently (after 2004) plays entire clay season even while finding new excuses for skipping large portions of other surfaces that same year. Apparently clay has miraculous healing power.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

, but I really don't understand what is taking him so high at such a young age.

Athleticism, all round game, no blatant weakness, mindset of a champ (Based on interviews etc since I really follow him).

 

[metsman]

Top tier athlete with excellent ball striking skills and weapons and nothing stands out? Meanwhile, Zverev, Thiem, and Tsitsipas, mediocre athletes (for top players) with flawed mechanics and limited weapons are the second coming? You sure do know how to pick em @Meles!

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Top tier athlete with excellent ball striking skills and weapons and nothing stands out? Meanwhile, Zverev, Thiem, and Tsitsipas, mediocre athletes (for top players) with flawed mechanics and limited weapons are the second coming? You sure do know how to pick em @Meles!

 

[Meles]

Tldr version : Zed fanboy finds a legit talent overrated. He has so much free power on the forehand and is very comfortable stepping into the backhand. It's astonishing you would have missed THAT.

I don't think he's over rated one bit. He's already got so much grit its pretty scary. I'm just not quite seeing how he's doing it right now. I'm coming around. His forehand back a few years ago he was hitting so open that it didn't look healthy. No surprise to me he's a bit prone to gassing with that forehand's roots. I'm just soft peddling him because he can't be as good as his recent results at only 18. Still no one shot stands out for me right now; its just all excellent.

I'm not really a Zedrot fanboy, just have noted his awesome potential. We'll see what happens when he comes out of the Zedrot stupor in 2019.

 

[Meles]

I

I am sure he serves faster than what u mentioned here.

I've seen him serve bigger and not really noted what he's produced in the kph departement at IW. For me the lower velocity on clay just means he's developing a fine clay court serve.

 

[Meles]

Top tier athlete with excellent ball striking skills and weapons and nothing stands out? Meanwhile, Zverev, Thiem, and Tsitsipas, mediocre athletes (for top players) with flawed mechanics and limited weapons are the second coming? You sure do know how to pick em @Meles!

I'll take a ding for the Thiem, but Zedrot and Tsitsipas have unprecedented movement for their size. What the game is really lacking right now is return skills; don't see anyone on the horizon with Murray/Djoko/Nadal return/defensive skills. Ferrer level returning talent would be a start.

 

[mental midget]

Athleticism, all round game, no blatant weakness, mindset of a champ (Based on interviews etc since I really follow him).

bingo. just very solid for someone so young, w size and speed you have to think gives him definite upside as he matures. his strokes just look...very repeatable, let's put it that way. bodes well for his return game in particular.

 

[Deon Sanders]

The only positive I see is that he isnt old enough to have suffered the sheer amount of uselessness that Milos has

But Felix will in time

 

[robthai]

I guess he's not that much better than Tsitsipas if he loses to Nishioka the very next round.

 

[TMF]

He could be the one who will stop the big 3 from winning slams.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

Thats what you people where saying about Zverev and Kyrgios 3 or 4 years ago!...Lets wait a couple of seasons and see! LOL Everybody already talk about how impressive he is, when he is only 18 now...that is just...LOL