Zverev/Tsitsipas: Who’s got the bigger chance of winning a slam?

[Crocodile]

I think Zverev had a very good AO and he had his chances: From an outsider’s view he looks to be very motivated this year to do well. Tsitsipas, also a tall man has had some lower back issues so we will have to see how he manages that.
At the beginning of the AO or sometime before there was a cheeky photo with the Greek boys together: Tsitsipas, Kokinakis, Kyrgios and a mate sitting together - they would make a great team.

 

[socallefty]

Tsitsipas, also a tall man has had some lower back issues

Too much ‘cowgirl’ and not enough ‘missionary’ with his new girl? More strain for the lower back?

 

[yourtennisfit]

A fact that everyone forgets: No tennis player of Zverev's size has even been able to reach the final of Roland Garros in the Open era.
If it is not raining, outdoors, the German player can be beaten there by several players.

I think there hardly has been any player of that size, that was as comfortable as Zverev on clay and playing defensive tennis.
That is his downfall at times, but he surely has a chance regardless of the weather

All depends on Djokovic and Alcaraz and their shape in June I would say

 

[tennis_pro]

Zverev gets a decent draw and he can pull it off. He can beat anyone anywhere. Tsitsipas would need every top 20/30 player to withdraw before a Slam and I still wouldn't trust him.

 

[DSH]

Zverev gets a decent draw and he can pull it off.

He can beat anyone anywhere. Tsitsipas would need every top 20/30 player to withdraw before a Slam and I still wouldn't trust him.

Like in the US Open 2020?

 

[SonnyT]

Zverev has the strokes to win slams.

 

[tennis_pro]

Like in the US Open 2020?

Hes knocking on the door in pretty much every Slam, he can pull it off I think.

Tsitsipas is regressing like crazy.

 

[neytron]

Zverev gets a decent draw and he can pull it off. He can beat anyone anywhere.

He got a decent draw in this AO, but only defeated Klein and Norrie in the 5th set tiebreak. His time is gone. He can only beat top 4 players when they are in bad shape.

 

[Kralingen]

Zverev has the strokes to win slams.

Does he actually have the forehand for it, though?

 

[DSH]

Does he actually have the forehand for it, though?

What about his second serve?

 

[Kralingen]

What about his second serve?

Second serve has been fine (not good, but not disastrous, his DF% is pretty low) for awhile now

Forehand by contrast has not been.

 

[TheRed]

Tsitsipas has too big of a hole on his backhand side. Players know if that if they can get shots to his backhand side, the best shot coming back will be no more than a standard rally ball. Anytime a player starts falling behind in a rally, he just hits it back to T's backhand and the rally becomes neutral again if T can't run around it. T's got neither power nor directional control.
I don't feel Z's problem is necessarily his mental fortitude. He doesn't have a very natural, instinctive feel for the game, shot by shot. It's pretty mechanical. He either bashes from the baseline or comes in on a random ball. It's like he decides beforehand what he's going to do, no matter what the opponent does on the other side. The fact is, just hitting really hard from the baseline is difficult to do over 5 sets and 7 rounds. Z is a ball machine, set on high speed, but against top players, he won't win enough matches, especially if he's not having a really good day.
Arguably, Medvedev isn't different but while he also doesn't like coming to the net (maybe even less), he's pretty creative and has good instincts from the baseline.

 

[Wesling]

you dont win slams without a solid forehand. zverev has a shaky one ( nevermind his 2nd serve lol)

 

[Wesling]

Tsitsipas has too big of a hole on his backhand side. Players know if that if they can get shots to his backhand side, the best shot coming back will be no more than a standard rally ball. Anytime a player starts falling behind in a rally, he just hits it back to T's backhand and the rally becomes neutral again if T can't run around it.
I don't feel Z's problem is necessarily his mental fortitude. He doesn't have a very natural, instinctive feel for the game, shot by shot. It's pretty mechanical. He either bashes from the baseline or comes in on a random ball. It's like he decides beforehand what he's going to do, no matter what the opponent does on the other side. The fact is, just hitting really hard from the baseline is difficult to do over 5 sets and 7 rounds. Z is a ball machine, set on high speed, but against top players, he won't win enough matches, especially if he's not having a really good day.
Arguably, Medvedev isn't different but while he also doesn't like coming to the net (maybe even less), he's pretty creative and has good instincts from the baseline.

this applies to ruud too, lol. loopy short backhand coming back

 

[yourtennisfit]

you dont win slams without a solid forehand. zverev has a shaky one ( nevermind his 2nd serve lol)

It might be shaky, but if he has a good day, it surely is a top 5 forehand.
Plus his backhand is top notch as well, as is his first serve

Only thing he has to fix is his transition and finishing at the net - then I'm sure he will have his Grand Slam soon

 

[Wesling]

problem is when the stakes are high, the chances of zverevs forehand having a good day drops significantly...

 

[TheRed]

this applies to ruud too, lol. loopy short backhand coming back

It is surprising that for a 2 hander, Ruud's backhand does not handle power well. And his forehand isn't big enough to make up for it.
there's nothing technically wrong w/ Z's forehand but he does not lean in on them enough. Like a 1/3 of his forehands are hit with his foot firmly planted, causing him to just swing across his body.

 

[LuckyR]

IMO the key is mindset and from that perspective Zverev has an advantage over Stephanos.

 

[Razer]

Alexander is 10 times better than Stefan.

 

[KantenKlaar]

Alexander is 10 times better than Stefan.

Fact. Calling on @Tshooter to put down the visuals.

 

[Tshooter]

Fact. Calling on @Tshooter to put down the visuals.

 

[DSH]

I think Zverev's gonna win FO 2024.