Tennis Prose




Mar/19

26

Djokovic Contemplates His Successor

By Scoop Malinowski

Roger Federer set the bar. Then Rafael Nadal raised it. Then of course, Novak Djokovic even somehow managed to raise it a little higher.

The Serbian world no. 1 will not rule the sport forever. After Djokovic’s loss today I asked him about this.

Q. Federer, Nadal, then you took tennis to a higher level. The next guys out there, do you have any idea who he is? And if you do, would you say it?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I mean, you already know the names of a couple names like Felix and Denis, as well. I mean, a couple of Canadian young stars that are really bold and courageous on the court and playing some great tennis.

You know, we’re gonna have a shift. Obviously Zverev leads the way of young guys. Don’t know who else. I mean, there are a couple of young guys like Hurkacz, the Polish guy. It’s great. We need that. We need new faces in tennis. I think the tennis future is bright.

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9 comments

  • Hartt · March 27, 2019 at 1:55 am

    Shapo just beat Tsitsipas in an incredibly close match that went to a third set TB. Each player had 100 points. The quality of tennis was very high, with the players making one winner after another. A lot of fun to watch, although very nerve wracking for this Denis fan.

    Denis will meet Tiafoe in the SFs.

  • catherine · March 27, 2019 at 3:11 am

    Barty bt Kvitova to reach the s/f which was a slight surprise. The women’s draw here is looking a bit drab. No sparkling talents coming through to compare with ATP and we all know what Miami 2019 is going to be best remembered for. Maybe we need more of those DQs.

    Attendance at the women’s matches hasn’t been great either from what I’ve seen and heard.

  • Dan Markowitz · March 27, 2019 at 9:27 am

    Scoop and I jus stayed for first seven games of Shapovalov v Tsitsipas and the rallies were electric. The match didn’t start until 11 pm because of torrential downpour, and it came on heels of Tiafoe beating Goffin which also had electric play. Let’s just say both young dudes never met a ball they didn’t belt. Very good win for Shapovalov as Tsitsipas garnered the first break.

  • Hartt · March 27, 2019 at 10:38 am

    I envy you getting to see even a few games of that match live. I watched it on TV, but wasn’t totally awake during the first 2 sets, but perked right up for the third set. I am now watching a recording of the match, and am amazed all over again by the quality of play from both guys.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 27, 2019 at 2:10 pm

    Yes it was high quality, the segment I saw. Shap did a cmon at the end of the 2-1 game in the first set. Very important match for both, they wanted to establish superiority in this NEXTGEN hierarchy. Tsitsipas is top dawg but he has now lost twice to Felix and Shap which casts some doubt on his leader status.

  • Hartt · March 27, 2019 at 11:19 pm

    FAA just beat Coric in SS. Borna was having a bad day, but FĂ©lix pretty well crushed him in the 2nd set, after winning the 1st set TB. So he goes from qualies to the SFs! FAA now has a 5-0 record against top 20 players. He will face Isner next.

  • Hartt · March 28, 2019 at 8:09 am

    FĂ©lix has now played against 5 top 20 players in his young career, and beat all 5 – Pouille, Tsitsipas, Fognini, Basilashvili and now Coric.

    Can he extend this run and beat Isner? That will be tough, but not impossible.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 28, 2019 at 11:54 am

    Felix made Coric have a bad day. Another brilliant display. This kid could win Paris. Isner will have his hands full.

  • Hartt · March 28, 2019 at 1:21 pm

    I hope you are right about Isner, and I am dreaming about FĂ©lix winning that match.

    FAA doesn’t have many points to defend over the next few weeks, so he should continue to go up the rankings. I don’t know about Paris, but he likes clay, so I am looking forward to some good results during the European clay season. He is scheduled to play Marrakesh next, but with his deep run in Miami I wonder if they will stick to that schedule.

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