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Let’s talk about Kenny DeScheppers and other forgottens
10 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Kenny DeScheppers, lefty from France. He’s into the fourth round at Wimbledon. That’s all I can really say about him aside from seeing his name in Challenger draws and ATP agate results.
It happens in tennis that certain players pop up out of nowhere and then disappear again. Not saying Kenny DeScheppers will fade away to oblivion next week, who knows, after some of the results we’ve seen in the first week, maybe he can even win this tournament with that attacking lefty game.
Wimbledon has a way of introducing unknown players. One of the first times this happened since I began following tennis was in the 90’s when Richard Matuszewski made the round of 16 in 1993, losing to Stefan Edberg in three sets. Richard Matuszewski. I will never forget that name or what he accomplished.
There have been others like him. Alexaner Popp, the 6-7 grass court specialist from Germany. For a few years there, he always seemed to win rounds at Wimbledon, even making the quarters in 2003 and R16 in 2004. But Popp never seemed to pop the champagne bottles anywhere else on the ATP Tour.
Andre Sa, now a doubles specialist, once made the quarters in singles at Wimbledon in 2002.
It happens on clay too. How about Filip DeWulf making the French Open semis in 1997 or Fernando Meligeni in 1999? Or Martin Verkerk from the Netherlands who actually made the French Open final in 2003, losing 61 63 62 to Juan Carlos Ferrero.
I always remember Olivier Mutis beating Roddick at the French Open and Jerome Haehnel also beat Andre Agassi in Paris. Mutis or Haehnel are two names nobody ever talks about, other than here at Tennis-prose.com.
Kenny DeScheppers. Will he be a Richard Matuszewski one-year wonder? Or is he about to become a new ATP stalwart?
Who are some other forgotten players that maybe this article reminds you of? Anybody feeling some high hopes for Kenny DeScheppers?
Dan markowitz · June 30, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Scoop, I saw De Scheppers play Mitchell Frank in the first round of the Open qualis 2 years ago and Frank beat him. So I was shocked to see him in the Rd of 16. But the French are amazing with Mannarino and Paire and a host of other top to fairly good men’s players.
Spadea btw beat Popp at Newport in 2004 after Popp made a name for himself at Wimbledon.
Steve · June 30, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Scoop, It’s just great to see a big serving(some of the time at least) lefty attack the net at Wimby. I think Goran could have made the quarters this year with a few months practice.
Verdasco, though famous, gets lost in shuffle due to his erratic play. He hit a serve at 137 that was just barely out. Every once in a while he reminds us that he has a world class game when he’s on. Attack of the lefties. Always good to get a few days of that.
Andrew Miller · June 30, 2013 at 4:50 pm
That would be Belarus’ Vlad Voltchkov, lowest ranked player to reach Wimbledon semis (until our man Ivanisevic), who borrowed Safin’s shorts and got donated shoes from rival sneaker companies to make the 2000 semifinals. Sampras beat up on him then Rafter. Voltchkov exited staged left in 2009. We could also include Alexandra Stevens, but maybe we shouldn’t.
Harold · June 30, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Voltchkov won Junior Wimbledon, he must have liked the grass. Other than teaming with Mirnyi in DC and getting Belarus into the World Group, he has probably made more money as Sharapova’s hitting partner than as a player,until he got hurt last year
Steve · June 30, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Something I won’t forget is Kubot’s victory dance:
http://youtu.be/4ekQEbNh8Mc
I still think Korda’s scissor kicks were slightly more impressive though Kubot’s dance is more creative.
Scoop, will you do the worm after your next victory?
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2013 at 9:58 pm
Dan are you sure it wasn’t that player Dennis Van scheppingen who RoboFrank beat? I don’t remember Kenny de Scheppers being around two years ago. THe French are always known for having tough but little known players, Mutis, Haehnel, Eyserric, the French system has a ton of players.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Verdasco has been forgotten for some reason Steve. But he had maybe the biggest win of his career last year – finally beating Rafa in Madrid in a tough three setter. Than win was huge for his confidence. He finally knows he can beat Rafa now. last time I saw Goran play he was losing in straight sets to Rios on the senior tour on clay on that dvd you kindly gave me to see. That was about six years ago. Goran did not look too good there. Rios was toying with him.
Scoop Malinowski · June 30, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Good call on Vladimir Voltchkov Andrew, he came outta nowhere and made the semis of Wimbledon, never did anything else really besides Davis Cup.
Melinda Blackwell · July 4, 2013 at 8:26 pm
With these outstanding performances, isn’t it downright shocking that Poland has now far surpassed the United States, Germany, Sweden and Russia in the global tennis hierarchy?
Scoop Malinowski · July 5, 2013 at 8:07 am
It sure is Melinda and nobody saw this coming. And if Lisicki keeps playing her high level of tennis and keeps improving, she can be a dominant #1. Very impressive how she handled Serena, she out-Serena’ed Serena and out-toughed her in crunch time. Janowicz also has very very big potential. Remember JJ’s only in his first full year on the ATP Tour. In 2-3 years he can become a dominating force. PMcEnroe says JJ has “so much upside.” Gimelstob has said “The skies the limit” for JJ.