Boxing has seen a wave of incredible talents arise out of Russia and the eastern European nations in the last five years. Vasyl Lomachenko, Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbiev have electrified boxing with their sensational skills and talents.
It suddenly appears that tennis could be on the verge of a similar Russian revolution, with a brigade of young male players apparently on the verge of becoming elite players.
Nineteen year old Alexander Zverev (based in Germany) is the most popular of the young Russians, already with an ATP title (St.Petersburg) under his belt, a top 20 ranking, and several stunning performances against the ATP elite. The likes of Rafael Nadal, John McEnroe and Roger Federer have already praised Zverev as a future No. 1 player and major title winner.
Following closely behind the lead of Zverev are two other very impressive, hard-hitting prospects who are both arresting a lot of attention with their heavy hitting and quality results.
Karen Khachanov is 20-years-old and ranked around 50 in the world. Double K names Del Potro and Safin as his tennis idols and he has shown a similar extraordinary ball striking capability that has already garnered an ATP singles title (Chengdu) and thirteen match wins last year. Khachanov has wins over Viktor Troicki, Roberto Bautista-Agut, Janko Tipsarevic, Alberto Ramos-Vinolas, Sergey Stakhovsky and also a junior Roland Garros win over Nick Kyrgios in 2013.
Another player who has emerged in recent months is Daniil Medvedev, who cracked the top 100 late last year. Medvedev earned his first ATP points as a fifteen year old in 2011 by qualifying at a Moscow Futures. But this year Medvedev has made a giant leap, winning a set from Novak Djokovic in Davis Cup last week before retiring later in the match with cramps. Medvedev showed that fine result was no fluke by dominating Fernando Verdasco yesterday in Montpelier 63 63. The spectacular Medvedev showed everything against the Spanish veteran lefty, including firing winners off both wings, accurate service winners, and deft touch on volleys, drops shots and also swing volleys. Also Medvedev had a natural cool on the court, looking perfectly comfortable with the pressure. It was Verdasco who showed constant facial expressions of discomfort and pressure.
Based in France (he speaks Russian, English and French), Medvedev (no relation for former Roland Garros finalist Andrei Medvedev) is coached by Jean-Rene Lisnard, a former ATP pro from France, Gilles Cervara and a former top ranked junior Julien Jeanpierre. Already, Medvedev has career wins over Kukushkin, Troicki, Kozlov (at Wimbledon qualies last year), Zeballos and a junior win at Prato over Alexander Zverev.
All three of these mighty Russians look like possible, if not probable, top ten players – and that may be making a conservative estimate of their potentials.
Slightly behind this talented trio is another highly-touted Russian – Andrey Rublev. This nineteen-year-old first emerged two years ago in 2015 where as a wildcard, Rublev beat Pablo Carreno-Busta in Miami in three sets. Then at 2015 US Open Rublev lost in four sets to Kevin Anderson. Rublev posted an 8-13 ATP Tour record in 2015 but regressed last year with a 3-5 record, though his ranking actually climbed last year (174-156) despite falling outside the top 200 for seven weeks.
Rublev won his first ATP title – in doubles in 2015 – while paired with Dmitry Tursunov in Moscow (youngest ATP doubles winner since Nadal in 2004 in Chennai). Another career highlight for Rublev was clinching a 3-2 Davis Cup win for Russia vs Spain by beating no. 32 Pablo Andujar in 2015 Group 1. Rublev also has ITF junior wins over Hyeon Chung, Taylor Fritz, Stefan Kozlov, Quentin Halys, Tommy Paul, Noah Rubin, Alexander Zverev and Stefano Tsitsipas.
We all know the United States, Canada, Australia are looking very strong right now with excellent foundations of NEXT GEN players steadily rising up the ranks. But Russia, though not nearly as ballyhooed, could wind up in the mix or perhaps even, with Medvedev, Rublev and Khachanov continuing their fine play, as the leading tennis nation in a few years.
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« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 8:35 am
Andrew: The Dimitrov win in Sofia was huge and very emotional for Grigor who was ahead a set and 5-0 and then blew triple match point and Goffin fought all the way back to 5-4 and haunting memories of the choke last year in Istanbul final to Schwartzman came back but Dimitrov kept it together and finally prevailed and was in tears after hugging his mom and box – The packed house loved it and it all showed why Dimitrov is one of the most beloved players on the Tour – It’s always tricky to win the title in the home nation for certain players like Rios lost all four finals he played in Chile and two of those were hideous chokes – It was very nice to see Grigor win this title you should see the highlights –
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 8:37 am
Boy oh boy did I hear an incredible story from a very reliable source about what really happened with Bouchard’s concussion which apparently did not happen inside the US Open locker room but (Oh I wish I could say – the hit #s for this site would go through the roof) – Source says I should do a book “Facing Bouchard” but it should consist of interviews not of WTA players but ATP and sports boyfriends :0
Andrew Miller · February 16, 2017 at 9:07 am
Hey on Bouchard I’m becoming more of a fan because she kept her word, which she didn’t have to, on going on a date with the kid who bet her over the superbowl. She had no obligation to do it, it was definitely good publicity and pr, but she did it anyways. No matter what she will be criticized.
I have a sense Bouchard will do better this year. I don’t think we’ll see her back on slam semifinal Saturday , though that’s not impossible just improbable based on her game today.
Andrew Miller · February 16, 2017 at 9:12 am
I get it no one impressed that DY gets his win on Opelka but I think it matters. This was a court surface that heavily favors a huge game in Memphis. In this sport I believe a huge factor is whether a player can wipe out the bitter taste of losing to a guy or girl across the net. Harrison was able to do that last summer in upending all sorts of players that had gotten the better of him. Nadal was able to do this in Australia and beat guys like Young Zverev.
If you are a serious player you need to be able to one up a player that dogged you. Harrison hasn’t done it with Mischa Zverev yet but if he does mark another milestone.
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 9:15 am
Loved that play by Bouchard to go on the date -very cool and I don’t think any player ever did that before though I did once ask Seles to go on a date in 92 at the Mahwah NJ exo at the press conference but she said she could not because she was flying back to FL after the press conf 🙂 Big fan of Bouchard who is a growing fan favorite –
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 9:23 am
Andrew: Young is expected to beat Opelka – Young gets super fired up to beat the young USA guns (saw Young ultra fired up beating Kozlov in Newport last year) but solving the Opelka puzzle is a good win bordering on a BIG win – Opelka is a dangerous player right now who is very hungry and very aspiring (though he just lost to the red hot Pospisil in Dallas) – Young is kind of floating around out there ready and eager to get on a big roll –
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 10:24 am
Harrison annihilated Querrey 6361 which is a huge win for Harrison – Is Harrison playing top 25 tennis? He could be indeed – Young now plays Isner who he is 0-4 career against – Isner is ranked 23 while Young is 81 –
jg · February 16, 2017 at 1:44 pm
update from previous post-I just read Doug Adler’s civil complaint against ESPN (you can review on line), interesting that he goes thru the history of the term “Gorilla Tennis” points to the Sampras/Agassi Nike commercial where they used the term, and a Bodo piece in sports illustrated on Radwanska where he uses the term, the complaint says NY Times tennis writer Ben Rothberg had a falling out with the Williams and tweeted what Adler said and commented on it to get back in good standing with the Williams’.
Adler doesn’t appear to have much of a case here legally, but the complaint is interesting reading. Complaint may very will get kicked out on a motion to dismiss.
Andrew Miller · February 16, 2017 at 1:49 pm
Is Harrison going for first ATP title? Some serious statement tennis.
Hartt · February 16, 2017 at 2:51 pm
As I understood it Adler said that the term “guerrilla tennis” was used in those examples, not “gorilla.” He says he said “guerrilla” not “gorilla” so there was nothing racist in the term.
Hartt · February 16, 2017 at 3:10 pm
One problem for Bouchard getting back high in the rankings is injury. She withdrew from Dubai with an abdominal injury, which seems to be a recurring injury.
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 5:10 pm
jg: You just accidentally used “gorilla tennis” and not the intended “guerilla tennis” term therefore you are suspended for twelve hours 🙂 – Seriously “guerilla tennis” is a concept that has been popularized by Nike and Peter Bodo two of the biggest entities in the sport of tennis – Adler played off that and he should be given his job back – this is an outrageous injustice –
Jg · February 16, 2017 at 6:44 pm
I’m back, so what’s also interesting from the complaint is that Adler was a walk on all-American at USC, how many times has that happened
Scoop Malinowski · February 16, 2017 at 7:09 pm
jg: Underdogs and the overlooked can always thrive in all sports including tennis – Brady in the NFL and Victor Estrella are two of the greatest overachievers in sports today –
Dan Markowitz · February 17, 2017 at 1:46 am
No, you’re right, Jg, being a walk-on all-American at USC is extremely rare. Is Adler claiming that he actually did use the term “gorilla” tennis and that there’s nothing offensive to it? I think he should’ve stuck with the story (which doesn’t seem like a story to me, that he was misunderstood and used the term “guerrilla” tennis)?
Amazing that he’s suing ESPN over it. You’re the lawyer, but can’t a private business fire you over something they deem is offensive? What are the damages? Is it a defamation suit? What happened to his gig at Tennis Channel? I never even heard him on air for ESPN. I wonder if being a tennis commentator is his main source of income.
How about Tomic losing in straights to Darian King and then Fritz losing to Ebden1 Geez, if I’m Fritz, I hire another coach or do something to shake up his downward spiral. Scoop, Harry’s comeback is impressive, but besides his win over Raonic at the Open, who has he beat who’s a top 25 player?
Jg · February 17, 2017 at 6:13 am
I think that’s his story, he meant the other word, you are correct he has no case, he was an at will employee and I didn’t see any exceptions to it in his complaint, he’s suing for implied contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of covenant of good faith, all loser arguments.
Scoop Malinowski · February 17, 2017 at 8:23 am
Dan: Harrison didn’t beat but he extended Berdych to 76 in the third in Toronto –
Scoop Malinowski · February 17, 2017 at 8:25 am
Howard Cosell said Joe Washington running through the hole: “look at him go – he looks like a little monkey” – Do you remember that? It was on monday night football – Cosell was not fired and neither should Adler be –
Dan Markowitz · February 17, 2017 at 8:48 am
Look? Are we holding up Cosell is the pillar of sound judgment and politically-correct announcing? I hope not. He was a product of his times, a very racially-insensitive times it was. He of course had the great bond with Ali so I don’t think he was a total racist.
Adler should’ve been either reprimanded strongly and/or taken off the air for a period. I don’t like seeing anyone fired, but his choice of words was terrible, even if he meant the word “guerrilla.” I mean who uses a war term to describe a tennis return of serve or aggressive play? It’s just stupid and over-dramatization. He’s supposed to be a wordsmith, a communicator, and he uses a word like guerrilla announcing a Venus Williams match? Very wrong, very inappropriate, even if he thinks he didn’t consciously mean it.
The big question is would he have used the word to describe Coco Vandeweghe, who plays a lot like Venus, going for her shots in extreme situations. I don’t think Adler would because while he equates Venus with being a gorilla, he wouldn’t say that about a blonde Southern Californian girl, who’s actually built stronger and bigger than Venus.
So I don’t like the word usage of Adler and I know I would’ve cringed if I heard it live and would’ve thought, “Wow, this guy’s being a jerk and totally out of his mind.” So should he have been fired? I’m sure sports announcers have been fired for saying a lot less offensive things. It’s how people respond to it and I’m sure there were some angry emails/texts.
Scoop Malinowski · February 17, 2017 at 9:54 am
What if Cosell truly believed in his heart that he felt Joe Washington or John Riggins (white running back) scampering through the hole for a good gain resembled a monkey running swiftly – with no racial mean-spirited overtones because it was his genuine observation and sense? Shouldn’t he be allowed to say it? Because of Freedom of Speech? Because it was his sincere analysis as a respected hired TV football analyst – Is it wrong that the thought police have to rush to judgement and racialize and declare a person guilty before proven innocent in these verbal wordplay episodes? I support Adler and think he should be given the benefit of the doubt – FREEDOm of SPEECH is a part of OUR CONSTITUTION – Greg Norman was called “The Shark” – NBA star Tree Rollins was called Tree – boxer Frank Fletcher called himself “The Animal” – were these guilty racially charged offense too?
Dan Markowitz · February 17, 2017 at 12:15 pm
Adler has freedom of speech. No one’s putting him in jail. ESPN just decided that what he said is offensive and they’re not going to let him announce their tennis matches anymore. I love your reasoning saying what if Cosell said about John Riggins he looked like a monkey running. But of course, Cosell wasn’t going to say that about a white running back. He reserved it for a black running back, which I’m sorry it’s racist. I’m not saying Cosell is a terrible racist by saying the remark, but a racist remark. Whites and black are racist. You bring up Charles Oakley, people have told me he doesn’t like white people. Now that’s a broad statement, but apparently when the police were arresting him the other night at Madison Square Garden, Oak was giving the white police officers a tougher time than the black.
I think we have to be very cautious especially in these charged political and social times, when we talk about blacks looking like gorillas or monkeys and Mexicans, as Trump did, of being mostly rapists, drug dealers and killers. It’s just un-fair, lazy and bigoted like Trump knows a lot of Mexicans. I’m not in favor of judging or type-casting people by their race or ethnicity. In my life, I’ve found it a very dangerous road to go down, even when probably in Adler’s case, he didn’t mean it vindictively.
catherine bell · February 17, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Hartt-
Just saw Kerber’s loss. I feel Angie will have a difficult year – you have to feel sympathy for her.
But maybe some time out of the spotlight will be welcome.
Hartt · February 17, 2017 at 12:48 pm
I will be interested to see how Angie does at IW and Miami. If she is still in this slump then it will be bad news for her season.
I try to remember that slumps, as well as hot streaks, do come to an end, but it’s not easy to remember that.
Scoop Malinowski · February 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Kerber following the career blueprint of many others who got to the top (or near top) and then stagnated or downward spiraled – Rios – Ivanovic – Jankovic – Na – You know what they say: It’s so very hard to get to the top but it’s even harder to stay up there –
Scoop Malinowski · February 17, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Trump did not say most mexicans are rapists and drug dealers and killers the fake news crooked anti Trump media slandered Trump by slandering that false label on him – The crooked fake media has demonized and hitlerized Trump unfairly for over a year with their constant barrages of lies and slander like the BS Russia hacked the election lies (How the hell could Russia hack or influence the election?) – Trump is the man and he is who this nation wants to lead and to drain the swamp of the deeply embedded “deep state” which does not want to lose their control of USA and their globalist agenda – You can’t trust the msm about anything anymore and least of all anything they say about Trump –
Andrew Miller · February 17, 2017 at 7:39 pm
Kerber had a dream year in 2016. Just that again you do that well other players steady their resolve and next year is harder. Also every tournament even if it seems like the same is a whole new ballgame. It’s a hard sport and if you do amazing you motivate others to beat you.
Btw Puig had a good week making a semifinal. Not as good as Wozniaki, who beat her in the semis, or Pliskova Karo, who faces the Woz, but in comparison with her tournaments after the 2016 Olympic gold medal this is a great result.
Andrew Miller · February 17, 2017 at 7:47 pm
As for Harrison in Memphis, Dan has a point but a player really can only beat who’s in front of them and I doubt he was going to head to South America this week to face dirtballers like Isner and Sock did last year or like Nishikori did this year. Or to the Netherlands tournament where he would have had to play qualies for the honor of facing Berdych etc in first round.
I get it because I consider Memphis an easy tournament like New Zealand for a player to get ATP points, where a lower ranked player is more likely to get a main draw and get a win or two.
However winning cures a lot of things and Harrison has been winning for the better part of seven plus months. Up from 200s to number 62. Left for journeyman territory.
Pulling off the second biggest improvement on tour behind nemesis Mischa Zverev. Winning doubles matches to boost his singles earnings and game and confidence.
The guy’s turned into a consummate pro. I think he probably would’ve won a few rounds even at the harder more top heavy tournament in the Netherlands.
Now another guy to watch, even though Scoops’ young Russian picks have beaten him, is Mike Kukushkin. He’s just a good player. He’s playing well in Memphis also.
Andrew Miller · February 17, 2017 at 7:57 pm
Agree Fritz needs real coaches. Real physio, real advice, real entourage. He was over the moon with the Yu win? Lee? Good player, and Fritz dug deep to save some match points. I think he was also in the dubs, mot sure how that turned out. It’s gut check time, and he has a challenger final and a nice first round win at the tournament he finaled at last year.
I don’t think that’s great, it’s not abysmal either, but I’d think he would’ve wanted to win several matches this week.
So to Scoops credit it’s probably premature to write off Fritz in terms of whether he can do better than last year. I’m more doubtful as he doesn’t seem to employ much of a strategy beyond godgiventalent out there and sheer competitive fire.
So I’m totally in favor of real coaching. Even if I can’t stand his well struck backhand, his tennis instincts are pretty unreal. Just that he doesn’t have someone helping him to line his game up properly.
Sorry to say it this is a one year project for Brad Gilbert to sweep in, set him up, then get let go before a legend takes over.
Andrew Miller · February 17, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Same goes for the other players, just that they are performing more consistently. Rubin’s performing about where you’d think he would. Tiafoe has huge upside, and a higher ranking. I think Donaldson will do better and better given his textbook backhand power. Mmoh has cooled off. Kozlov is sticking to the challengers though his ranking is up in the 120s not far from Fritz. Escobedo has cooled too. Guess these guys are all taking a seat to the vets.
US vets are doing all the work. They’ve kept the next generation under their thumb even if they know they’ll need to look over their shoulder soon.
Dan Markowitz · February 17, 2017 at 9:31 pm
Scoop,
You should know this as much as anyone, without a strong and independent media, you cannot have a democratic state. Trump is always bashing the media who rein him in and report the unbiased truth, and that upsets Trump because he has an uneasy relationship with the truth and he’s a demagogue.
Doogie · February 17, 2017 at 10:24 pm
@scoop:
U cannot imagine how the “big” european medias (tv and journals) are bashing Trump. Every day (!) we hear and read what stupid thing Trump has made the day before.
Famous journalist say “Trump is a clown” and so on. How can a writer say this about the US president???
It is a shame what is going on – there is no (zero) respect for the US president.
No respect and no objective opinion in the mainstream.
Or is Trump really soo dump and stupid??
There is a huge, huge front against Trump here in the media. (this is not the public opinion)
Andrew Miller · February 17, 2017 at 11:34 pm
DY d Isner 7-6 in third. Awesome! Who will win their first ATP title? Harry? Kukushkin (not sure if he has one)? Baliasvili?
Scoop was right on Sandgren. He and Novikov won their quarters down in Tempe challenger, while the Kozlov and Escobedo (l to Novikov) lost. Novikov gets Escobedo back for the dc loss last year.
catherine bell · February 18, 2017 at 2:55 am
I think it would be best if we stayed off national politics on this site. It’s one reason I come here 🙂
Angie should hire Boris Becker.
I also agree with those who have remarked on her apparent loss of upper body weight. Her face looks thin. I wonder if someone has told her to look glamorous. Wouldn’t be surprised.
On that topic – I’m far too polite to comment on some of the photos we see of women players. Let’s just say they don’t look too natural.
Hartt · February 18, 2017 at 6:27 am
I still find the obsession with the women players’ looks quite strange. On the court they look like athletes, wearing little or no makeup and with their hair pulled back. (Outside of some of the kits which can be super short, downright girly, etc.) But off the court they must be all dolled up in fancy dresses, extremely high heels (which to me look downright dangerous) and lots of makeup. As you say, in photos they don’t look exactly natural.
I demand equal time. Let’s have the men in sharp clothes, good hairstyles (and not that awful shaved sides and longer top so many are sporting), maybe some shirtless photos. 🙂
Dan Markowitz · February 18, 2017 at 6:31 am
It’s just too tempting not to say a word or two about Mr. Trump. And those who want to blame the media, that confuses me because Scoop, you and I, for a long time, and you still today, are the media. I know I made my living being part of the media, writing for newspapers, magazines and penning three books, and I know in the 100 or so articles I wrote for the New York Times, on subjects as varied as articles on the playwright Edward Albee to Arthur Ashe, my articles were always faithfully fact-checked. So I have a lot of respect for the media and always have. Of course, I respect CNBC and NPR (which apparently Trump is going to cut their meek budget) than I do Fox News and The New York Post.
Great win for DY. He’s playing well. Kukushkin beating SteveJo is very surprising. The Russian’s ranking is north of 100 and he hadn’t won a match on tour this year until Memphis and only gotten a win or two on the Challenger circuit. I like the guy who beat Eden,Baliasvili, that guy really hits the ball. SteveJo just cannot go much further than he is right now because he can’t come over the ball on his backhand in any pressure situation.
Dan Markowitz · February 18, 2017 at 6:38 am
Wow, Gabashvili took the Koz to the woodshed, 3 and 1. This is my opinion on the Koz, it’s amazing he’s gotten to 120 because the guy can’t really hit a forehand. He’s got a nice backhand, nice court sense, decent athleticism, but he has no dynamic shot so when he plays a guy like Gabashvili, a grip it and rip it player, the Koz can get overwhelmed. A player without a weapon, who not Hewitt or Chang or Ferrer quick, is going to have a tough time breaking through.
How about Sandgren, in the semis. He’s won only three Challengers and has never played an ATP match. By the way, a shout out for Jimmy Arias. I love listening to this guy announce. He’s doing Memphis this week and his insights, humor and curiosity about the game is fun to hear.
Dan Markowitz · February 18, 2017 at 6:53 am
kind of ridiculous. Tonight in Delray Beach, Spadea plays his first Champions Tour event at 42, his opponent is 53 year old, Mikael Pernfors. If Vince loses this, he’ll never live it down.
catherine bell · February 18, 2017 at 8:01 am
Hartt-
It’s all part of the confusion about women and sport – men can just be men the whole time but women have to be ‘women’ as well. The WTA doesn’t show much awareness of this conundrum – pushing the women players as glam objects, which they’ve done since the late seventies, hasn’t helped at all.
Some of them, attractive in ‘real life’, end up looking like relics of Andy Warhol’s entourage. And I don’t care if that sounds cruel. All that bright red lipstick – ugh.
One appealing aspect of Simona H (yes Dan, you’ve mentioned Spadea above so I can ‘obsess’ too)is that she appears very much herself, wears clothes which suit her, and hasn’t appeared dolled up(so far). Maybe she knows that stuff would be wrong for her.
And yes – those heels are absolutely perilous – I’d like to think they get kicked off when the photo shoot’s over.
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2017 at 8:16 am
I think Kozlov could have subconsciously tanked because he has WC into delray beach and will probably play monday vs Johnson – I think getting points and experience in an ATP level event is more important right now than another Challenger – Kozlov plays Johnson who he beat last year on grass in I believe Nottingham or S-Hertogenbosch –
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2017 at 8:19 am
Hartt: If you want topless men photos are you willing for men to receive the same in return from WTA players? 🙂 It’s funny I see a lot of WTA players get all glammed up and I thin it looks unnatural and they look actually better on the court just natural – Like I think Bouchard and Bencic (just two examples) look their best on the court –
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2017 at 8:22 am
Nonsense Dan: The media has been at war with and bashing Trump for the last two years and now they are even more virulently anti Trump – The media has lost all credibility it used to be slightly biased now it’s a hundred percent hostile – The controlled world media is trying to crucify Donald Trump who will not give in and is ready for the fight – The Civil War is happening and it’s only going to get worse as the corrupt crooked media escalates its fake news and slanderous attacks on our democratically elected President Donald J Trump –
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2017 at 8:25 am
Finally Queen Puig resurfaces – and what a fantastic win for Young to finally solve the Isner puzzle (was 0-4 vs Iz previously) –
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2017 at 8:33 am
Bouchard loves this crazy red lipstick, she doesn’t need it. But whatever, I’m not going to get into this so&so would look x if they did y bit. My whole thing is this: Players, be healthy. Tennis is rough and if you don’t have enough muscle mass you will collapse. It will always be tricky because players know it’s tv, and the wta sells glamour, the head shots on wta website are pure glam. Makes no sense to me, but it’s true.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2017 at 8:37 am
Fish had an awful forehand and retooled with Todd Martin and others. Tiafoe completely retooled his forehand. Spadea retooled his forehand. Nadal retooled his forehand. Tomic retooled his forehand.
Kozlov can make his forehand better also. It is better than it was. I’d see Lansdorp.
Yes Scoop made a great call on Lansdorp.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2017 at 8:48 am
DY versus Harrison, Kukushkin vs Baliashvili. Memphis is definitely lesser than the Netherlands tournament, but this is interesting for sure. For Harrison and DY, this is about getting the first ATP title of their careers and it’s definitely game day. If they meet the moment this will be a great match. I’m happy for both of them.
On the other end you have Kukushkin and Baliashvili. Both must like their chances of knocking off an inexperienced finalist in their American counterparts and a chance to grab the title.
Hartt · February 18, 2017 at 8:50 am
Now Scoop, you know shirtless for men and for women are 2 very different things!
I agree that many women players look better on court when they have a more natural look.
I wish the WTA weren’t so fixated on showing the women players as glamourous.
Dan Markowitz · February 18, 2017 at 1:21 pm
Sccop,
I won’t engage you on Trump other then to say that he’s not been in office for a month yet, but he’s hired and fired an NSA director who was in cahoots with the Russians even before Trump became president and lied to the vice-president about it; he tried to ban Muslims from seven countries entry into the US until federal courts called the ban unconstitutional; he’s openly lied about his electoral college victory, saying it was the biggest in history when Obama had 333 electoral college votes and Trump 304 and finally he’s openly lied about “thousands” of illegal’s voting when that has just not been proven.
The reason why you need a fair and balanced media with a president like Trump is that he has no regard for the truth and and that bears itself out in the fact he’s been married three times and has had kids with three different wives, he’s declared bankruptcy five times and he’s said his daughter is so hot if she wasn’t his daughter he’d like to sleep with you. Now I know you have no kids, but what father would ever say that about his daughter/son? It’s absurd and vile and that’s way the press is more important with Trump in the White House than it ever was before. Can you imagine Obama saying something like that about his daughters?
Now about Kozlov, he’s throwing a match to Gabashvili when he’s 19 years old and lost in the first round of Qualis in Brisbane and Aussie O, the only two tournaments he’s played before Tempe? I highly doubt that.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Write off Dimitrov’s loss to Goffin? Praise Berydch’s triumphs? Maybe the ABN tournament in the Netherlands really is the same as the Memphis tournament.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2017 at 1:42 pm
Praise Nishikori though. He’s done some fine work on clay in Buenos Aires this week. You wonder whether Nishikori, not Djokovic or Thiem (who’s also had a great week in the Nerherlands as the world’s best young veteran by far, even out doing Raonic) is the real threat to any contenders in Roland Garros.
You heard it here first.
Nishikori, your 2017 French Open champion.
Hartt · February 18, 2017 at 3:06 pm
Andrew that is a brave prediction about Kei, but it is not impossible by any means.