Your favorite players outside the big 4 to watch

socal1976

socal1976

Rookie
Too much attention is paid I feel at times to the top 4 guys although they are of course all doing outstanding things on such a consistent basis. Who are the most fun players for you to watch outside the top 4 and give me your top 5:

1. Kyrgios: the guy is so unpredictable a great athlete and a talented shotmaker, plus you never know when he could get fined or suspended or get into a fight with the official there is also some trainwreck appeal to his watchability

2. Richard Gasquet: I have to say he is frustrating at times when he stands too far back but when he hits those one hand up the line winners it makes it all worthwhile. Great hands and feel at net to, another talented shotmaker who just lacks the foot speed and raw athleticism of the players better than him. And he can step in and hit spectacular winners off either side.

3. Benoit Paire: the most explosive two hander I have ever seen, bizarre shot selection, good mover, big serve, and another player with really good hands. But he has a forehand that well needs some work.
Also another drop shot artist that can fall in love with the shot.

4. Wawrinka: Huge power off the serve, FH, and the one handed BH that may be the hardest backhand one or two handed on the entire tour. A player when he is in the mood can blow anyone off the court.


5. Dolgopolov: Really great mover, bizarre and powerful service motion and a relentless attacking flat ball striker.
 
Looking at the list probably 4 of those five guys are backhand dominant players, I just realized that but generally in the past I would find the FH dominant players as most watchable. Two are one handers and Two are two handers. Even Kyrgios has a tricky up the line BH although his bigger wing is the FH.
 
I enjoy watching Nadal play (no, I don't consider him as being part of the "Big 4", since I think those other players are a class below him). But Tomic is occasionally nice.
 
Nadalgaenger said:
1. Zverev : Saw him up close at Indian Wells this year. Awesome power and grace.
2. Thiem: Crushes his FH and demonstrates a Nadalian grit on court.
3. Kyrgios: How can you not enjoy watching him, even if you dislike him?
4. Fritz: The only hope for American men's tennis.
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You got a lot of the guys I was debating on the outer edge of my list. Thiem, Fritz, and Zverev. Zverev's serve and how he hits his CC BH like it owes him money. Thiem just hits such a heavy ball off the serve, bh, and FH. And Fritz is going to be a star reminds me kind of Marat Safin.
 
Also honorable mentions that were in my thoughts but didn't make the top five would be Nishikori, Tsonga, and Monfils (well because he trips and falls over himself more than anyone on tour and watching people fall is funny)
 
Outside the "Big 4" I can't even watch their useless tennis (Since you know NONE of them have a hope in hell of winning a big tourney) so I'll just watch the senior's tour.
 
Nadalgaenger said:
1. Zverev : Saw him up close at Indian Wells this year. Awesome power and grace.
2. Thiem: Crushes his FH and demonstrates a Nadalian grit on court.
3. Kyrgios: How can you not enjoy watching him, even if you dislike him?
4. Fritz: The only hope for American men's tennis.
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My list includes the 4 guys above + Monfils, Dolgopolov, and Gulbis.
 
socal1976 said:
You got a lot of the guys I was debating on the outer edge of my list. Thiem, Fritz, and Zverev. Zverev's serve and how he hits his CC BH like it owes him money. Thiem just hits such a heavy ball off the serve, bh, and FH. And Fritz is going to be a star reminds me kind of Marat Safin.
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Yeah, these guys will ensure that tennis is exciting long after Djokovic retires.
 
Nadalgaenger said:
Yeah, these guys will ensure that tennis is exciting long after Djokovic retires.
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I think the next generation is actually going to be a good crop of players there is supposed to be a good class of Americans coming up with players like Tiafoe as well and it looks at least initially that the guys 18-22 are better than the guys that were 23-27 that never mounted much of a challenge to the established order.
 
90's Clay said:
Outside the "Big 4" I can't even watch their useless tennis (Since you know NONE of them have a hope in hell of winning a big tourney) so I'll just watch the senior's tour.
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Pretty bad and negative attitude you know the gap at the highest levels in tennis in terms of quality between a guy in the top 5 or 20 or 30 is really very small if you watched any of these guys live or up close your jaw would drop with the shots they hit.
 
socal1976 said:
Pretty bad and negative attitude you know the gap at the highest levels in tennis in terms of quality between a guy in the top 5 or 20 or 30 is really very small if you watched any of these guys live or up close your jaw would drop with the shots they hit.
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3 of the 4 top guys are well past their primes. All 4 guys are WELL past their peaks. There shouldn't be much of a gap anymore
 
90's Clay said:
3 of the 4 top guys are well past their primes. All 4 guys are WELL past their peaks. There shouldn't be much of a gap anymore
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Well, I also find a lot of the youngerish players like Nish and then the next gen guys Fritz, Zverev, and Kyrgios all really watchable in fact there is a whole crop of Americans supposedly to come along with Fritz who has developed the fastest. Goffin also I like as well although he is a little older than the others, none of these guys are grizzled vets.
 
Noelan said:
Kohlschrieber, Tsonga, Monfils, Bagdathis,GGL,Belluci, Gasquet,Thiem, Anduhar, Seppi, Fognini, Zverev, Chung, Rublev..
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Foggy is a good one, he just is a player that can hit any shot and also miss any shot. When he is on he is a terror for any player he just typically can't keep his focus over the course of set sometimes let alone a match. And he is almost so nonchalant like he could be smoking a cigarette along with his espresso after a 5 course Italian meal.
 
socal1976 said:
Foggy is a good one, he just is a player that can hit any shot and also miss any shot. When he is on he is a terror for any player he just typically can't keep his focus over the course of set sometimes let alone a match. And he is almost so nonchalant like he could be smoking a cigarette along with his espresso after a 5 course Italian meal.
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Yeah he is huge ass on court , but has such a beautiful game when hes on, shots are so effortlessly exsecuted
 
Nishikori. I know he is abused a lot here for being a better player of his generation.
Despite his size and physical weakness, he does his best.
His game is exciting to watch.
 
socal1976 said:
I think the next generation is actually going to be a good crop of players there is supposed to be a good class of Americans coming up with players like Tiafoe as well and it looks at least initially that the guys 18-22 are better than the guys that were 23-27 that never mounted much of a challenge to the established order.
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I haven't QUITE written off Jack Sock yet but I'm getting there. Like you, I'm optimistic about the younger crew. Heck, we even have a few guys with reliable, non-slice backhands! In addition to Fritz and Tiafoe: Kozlov beat down Stevie Johnson yesterday, Fratangelo had a great FO, and Tommy Paul continues to improve. My fingers are crossed for the next few years...

P.S. Greetings to a fellow "socal" username! :D
 
Tsonga and Thiem are my two favorites. I love how Tsonga uses a one handed BH in harder situations to make a beautiful shot
 
No particular order...
  • Nish: like his groundstrokes, energy, aura (yes, a different sort), and "fighting stance."
  • Dog: love the hands, unpredictable shot-making, speedy service, and movement.
  • Stan: probably the same reason(s) as many, chief of which would be epic BH.
  • Gasquet: obvi, the BH, but there is also a sort of mystique, a hope that he will fulfill the great promise of his youth.
  • Thiem: he's making it happen.
 
SoCalJay said:
I haven't QUITE written off Jack Sock yet but I'm getting there. Like you, I'm optimistic about the younger crew. Heck, we even have a few guys with reliable, non-slice backhands! In addition to Fritz and Tiafoe: Kozlov beat down Stevie Johnson yesterday, Fratangelo had a great FO, and Tommy Paul continues to improve. My fingers are crossed for the next few years...

P.S. Greetings to a fellow "socal" username! :D
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Lol! yeah got to love living in paradise with all this eyecandy. Anyway fully agree that if half these guys or less play to their potential we will see a little rebirth of US tennis which is good for the popularity of the game globally. Fritz is really impressive. His facial expressions are like he is an accountant or something he doesn't seem to get rattled at all. I think Sock can get there for sure, he has the ability to challenge Thiem once Novak has fallen off for the RG title. He just is really injury prone and bizarrely has great difficulty because of his grip in hitting his BH cross court, he goes up the line almost every BH, he doesn't do it to be aggressive he really doesn't feel comfortable going cross court, which is really bizarre because that is the safer shot for everyone else. But he has a good game and I already enjoy watching him more than Fish, Blake, or Roddick. He is a more skilled player but has had a tough time maintaining his health.
 
socal1976 said:
Lol! yeah got to love living in paradise with all this eyecandy. Anyway fully agree that if half these guys or less play to their potential we will see a little rebirth of US tennis which is good for the popularity of the game globally. Fritz is really impressive. His facial expressions are like he is an accountant or something he doesn't seem to get rattled at all. I think Sock can get there for sure, he has the ability to challenge Thiem once Novak has fallen off for the RG title. He just is really injury prone and bizarrely has great difficulty because of his grip in hitting his BH cross court, he goes up the line almost every BH, he doesn't do it to be aggressive he really doesn't feel comfortable going cross court, which is really bizarre because that is the safer shot for everyone else. But he has a good game and I already enjoy watching him more than Fish, Blake, or Roddick. He is a more skilled player but has had a tough time maintaining his health.
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For sure, man. Fritz just goes about his business and seems very levelheaded/professional most of the time. Kozlov is very similar in that respect so you should definitely catch a match if you haven't had a chance yet. When he converted match point against Johnson yesterday his facial expression didn't even change... He just calmly walked up to the net. Regarding Sock... I'd really like to see him improve his shot selection and reduce his UE count, especially in big moments. If he can make significant strides in those two departments I think he'll be in the top 10 soon if he stays healthy. That's a big IF, though!
 
SoCalJay said:
For sure, man. Fritz just goes about his business and seems very levelheaded/professional most of the time. Kozlov is very similar in that respect so you should definitely catch a match if you haven't had a chance yet. When he converted match point against Johnson yesterday his facial expression didn't even change... He just calmly walked up to the net. Regarding Sock... I'd really like to see him improve his shot selection and reduce his UE count, especially in big moments. If he can make significant strides in those two departments I think he'll be in the top 10 soon if he stays healthy. That's a big IF, though!
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I agree who couldn't get excited about a FH like he has, but he is prone to miss a lot of first serves and make a lot of errors when things aren't going his way. I think a lot of it has been injuries he needs to stay as slimmed down as he can and really work on his flexibility.
 
Chicharito said:
Murray.
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Very true. I still don't get this Big 4 thing. There is only the Big 3. Maybe Murray can have his own title being Big 1, the best at losing major finals, 2/10 and people continue to group him with the other 3.

Disclaimer : I am not a Murray hater, just stating a fact, subjectivity doesn't come into it, the numbers don't lie.
 
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Seen a lot of them live.. Have to say Kyrgios, Paire, Fognini, Thiem, Dimi, Tsonga and Nishi


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
For all this talk about weak era there are a lot of watchable and talented players. All this you hear about cookie cutter styles and boring tennis; if you actually list the players with skill and worth watching the list goes on and on.
 
Karlovic, I can't see why. Watching people try to return his serve is painful. I mean its great to see how powerful it is but one and two shot tennis is super boring to me.
 
Wawrinka, Stepanek, Rosol, Delpo, Thiem, Lopez, Zverev.
 
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