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The greatest match ever played? Djokovic and Nadal create more magic at Wimbledon
43 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
I can’t prove it but I would like to present the notion that the Djokovic vs Nadal Wimbledon semifinal might be the greatest match ever played.
Magic happens when Nadal and Djokovic meet at Grand Slams and it happened again today/yesterday. Both players have the capacity to unleash laser beam winners from both wings and they can strike any target area of the court.
Roger Federer just seems slightly behind these two, slightly inferior. Federer is behind both Rafa (15-23) and Djokovic (22-23) in head to head combat. And Djokovic leads Nadal (27-25).
The numbers support the possibility that Rafa and Djokovic are slightly, minutely superior to Federer.
And today’s superhuman slugfest, which John McEnroe called “impossible” tennis took the sport to a new height. Watching in awe the shotmaking and degree of difficulty and the pressure cooker situations that both players had to deal with over the last three sets was so overwhelming and jaw-dropping that even Djokovic’s wife Jelena could be seen shaking her head in disbelief after. I had never seen her or any other player box guest shake their head in disbelief after a match before.
Even after the win was finally secured Djokovic had no energy or desire to express or release a deserved celebration, to vent out all the suppressed emotions. Maybe he didn’t have any energy left to do it.
All along I felt Djokovic was going to win. He had the demeanor that he knew he had the key to how to beat Nadal. No matter how much adversity and chaos and crazed shots Nadal unleashed at him, Djokovic always kept his cool and stayed on track with his focus. It was Nadal who seemed more uptight and agitated and under more pressure. Nadal certainly sweated a couple of more buckets of perspiration more than Djokovic did, if one pays attention to such details.
Nadal of course stayed the course and put himself in position to win, threatening Djokovic with at least two 15-40 deficits on his serve late in the match but each time Djokovic dug deep and held.
Nadal did everything he had to do to win except win. He made the impossible shots numerous times, he had the break points, he played his very best tennis that surely would have broken the will of any other player including even Federer in my opinion.
But Djokovic, unlike Federer, has some kind of mental edge over Nadal. The head to head record proves it. Also, Nadal even once said after their 2016 Doha final, that Djokovic had played the best most perfect tennis anyone had ever played against him. Djokovic won that final 61 62.
Djokovic is equally respectful of Nadal’s prowess, asserting that Nadal, not Federer, is his “greatest rival.”
So most of the evidences point to Djokovic and Nadal, at their best, being the two greatest players of the sport, excluding the misleading total Grand Slam titles stat.
Today Nadal and Djokovic were both at their best and the masterpiece of a match they both created today, actually, despite being impossible to prove, could have been the best match ever played. I just can’t think of a better one.
“Strokes of Genius” has been surpassed.
If I wasn’t working on books about Marat Safin, Serena Williams, Steffi Graf, I would love to do a book about this latest edition of one of the greatest rivalries in sports history, Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal.
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Leif Wellington Haase · July 15, 2018 at 2:19 am
I agree– I think it was the greatest match of the greatest rivalry in the history of men’s tennis, with a lot of strange circumstances which both contributed to its greatness but will obscure, to some degree, the recognition of that fact.
Over the years the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry, despite its better numbers and palpably higher level of play, has always been treated as second fiddle, at best, to Federer-Nadal, which has featured a greater contrast of styles, and a more glamorous protagonist in Federer. And it came first, with Djokovic always featured in the media as something of a usurper to the throne, and his cyborg-like precision hard to identify with.
But even more important– and I’m going on straight memory here– the Nadal-Djokovic matches have had some of the best first sets in history and then conclusions that end with a whimper rather than a bang…not surprisingly, since for years they have been wars of attrition that end badly for Rafa on hard courts and grass and badly for Novak on clay.
Even the marathons have ended, like a couple of Djokovic’s French losses, with Novak butchering an overhead or losing the match rather than both players maintaining their quality (yes, watching too much World Cup) throughout. (There was a little in-joke early in this match as Nadal served up lob after lob to Djoker’s eternally suspect overhead, but not bad company, as the midcourt overhead was Laver’s Achilles heel as well.)
So in this case the otherwise ill-timed break saved us from the deteriorating play that typically mark their duels and set up the enthralling final set. In the old days Novak would have done his fourth set python squeeze on Rafa but in this version he was both sharper in execution and physically slighter the weaker, so I think oddly the rest might have helped Djokovic more than usual. Even though he is back mentally and almost all the way physically he doesn’t seem to have quite the strength of shot off the baseline as in his recent glory years, although his placement was at its surreal best. (Both men served better than usual in the reset, again a benefit of the break and their knowing the greater need for free points.)
So the break resulted in their best final set ever and the back-and-forth game pressure made it the best match between the two. However, it probably won’t get its just due, at least not yet, because it was a semi-final, it was a comeback effort rather than a 1 v 2 match (at least on paper), and because Djokovic will have to win tomorrow to “consolidate” the triumph.
It’s quite likely, however, to rise in stature should Djokovic start winning a few more Slams to get back into the GOAT discussion. As it is he prevented Nadal, for the moment, from having a shot to claim that mythic crown– though I’m with Scoop in thinking that this is the top duo in men’s tennis history, now and for a long time to come.
Leif Wellington Haase · July 15, 2018 at 2:52 am
Just for a trip down memory lane…still my vote for the best match of all time (really two linked matches), Sampras v. Becker in the 1996 ATP Tour World Championship Finals in Germany, with Sampras taking the final 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6(4), 6-7(11), 6-4. This was after Becker won the implausibly even higher level, now forgotten, round robin match, 7-6 (10), 7-6(4). It drove Pete to what I think was his finest ever performance.
The match isn’t that historically important but it was basically Becker’s last hurrah and featured Sampras in his absolute prime.
Take a look at the video below (ten MINUTES of highlights, not a couple of cherry-picked great shots) and the fine retrospective. Two main things I noticed that confirmed my memories…first, unlike most tennis videos over twenty years old, you don’t have to adjust for tempo, athleticism, and strength of shot. It hasn’t dated badly: this is full-percussion, slugfest-heavy, hold nothing back modern tennis, simply ahead of its time.
With one obvious exception: Sampras and Becker are finishing points at the net most of the time, often with staggering degree of difficulty, which is now a relic from the time capsule. The absolute pinnacle of a vanished era, but whether it equals Djokovic-Nadal I think is as much a matter of taste as of playing excellence.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/520047-classic-rewind-pete-sampras-vs-boris-becker-1996-atp-world-tour-championships
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPsu-zL2Ah0
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 8:45 am
Nice reply Leif, well articulated this tricky perception to convey. It was stunning how few bad shots and sloppy errors were made. Like NONE. Every point had to be earned. Even the rare missed returns were caused by pinpoint accurate serves with just enough pace. There was one critical point in the last set where the ball hit three lines during the rally. It illustrated how much work, daring, courage had to be involved in each point. Both were in the zone for the entire match, Rafa even started grunting in the very first point of the first game. Rafa even tried something new and different, he attacked some serves and came forward, and he won at least two points doing this. It’s a new tactic by Rafa, only Djokovic could provoke Rafa to try something new. With Federer fading now, the sport will be in good hands and the future is bright for the next years as this rivalry will be at it’s pinnacle. Which players will emerge to take over from Rafa and Djokovic and launch the sport into the next era remains to be seen.
Joe Blow · July 15, 2018 at 11:28 am
Djoko in awards presentation speech
“ I want to thank Genie, oops I mean Jelena”????????????
Gaurang · July 15, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Agree Scoop! One of the best matches I have ever seen. Nadal vs Djokovic played a very long Aus Open final match many years ago — but that match was more machine-like — with left and right, left and right — and rallies were more defensive. But in this match, the rallies were more aggressive, and both players went for winners more often. Though there were some unforced errors by both players in this match — many, many points were spectacular and featured amazing, bewildering shot making. Especially Nadal hit more fanciful, mind boggling shots. But Djokovic played the important moments better, and thats why he won. This match was essentially a “draw” though!
Amazing match!
Duke Carnoustie · July 15, 2018 at 1:53 pm
I think everyone on this site saw the evolution during SW19 of getting our champion Djoker back on form. He is back and may be set up to rack up even more slams after putting aside his unfortunate marriage problems.
I loved when he told the crowd to STFU. Of course, the Fed fans are in an uproar. They don’t understand that Nole is a hot-blooded Eastern European and they are fiery unlike the boring rich Swiss. They don’t understand that he is a survivor from a war torn nation who willed his way past two legends to become one himself.
The Fed fans who disparage Nole are a disgrace to the sport.
I’ll talk the Nole who cusses out the world any day of the week. What a champion.
Dan Markowitz · July 15, 2018 at 9:23 pm
I’m sorry I’ve got to disagree with Scoop and Leif. The two greatest matches in my opinion are Mac v Borg 1980 Wimbledon and Mac v Connors semis I believe at UsOpen. Go back and watch that match, both Mac and Jimmy were zooming around the court hitting laser shots that were clearing the net by mere inches. And with the Open atmosphere electric I just loved that match.
I didn’t get to see much of the semis or finals with either the women or men (kind of disappointing that one of the women’s semis or finals matches went three sets), but I don’t think Djoko is back as a slam favorite. He got off somewhat easily playing Nadal on his worst surface and then not having to face Federer in the finLs.
Doug Day · July 15, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Iron sharpens iron: As in the Fed goat forehand. GOAT reply: Rafa’s lefty forehand to Fed’s backhand (repeat 4 times) Introducing GOAT reply 2.0: the Nole two-hander!
Mat4 · July 15, 2018 at 10:00 pm
Dan, if you didn’t watch the match, how can you assess it? It was an exceptional match, Djokovic and Nadal were at their best. My personnal take is that it was their best match so far — and they have played 52 — and I am not alone with such an opinion.
I am not really sure that Djokovic (or Nadal) wouldn’t have beat Federer in the final.
Chazz · July 15, 2018 at 10:02 pm
Djoker has the greatest serve return of all time in my opinion. What a mismatch in the final. There were signs he was getting better with each tournament leading up to Wimbledon and that’s why I thought he had a good chance to win it. He’s back and the draw had little to do with it because he would have handled Federer unless Federer improved his form from what we saw vs Anderson. I would not bet against Djoker winning the US Open too.
Dan Markowitz · July 15, 2018 at 10:04 pm
I saw some of the match, Mat, but you’re right, I didn’t see enough to fully assess it. I just find it hard to believe that Djoko is playing at such a high level when only four months ago he lost badly to Benoit Paire.
Dan Markowitz · July 15, 2018 at 10:17 pm
But as I think about it more, Mat, you’re calling a match that was interrupted after three sets and re-started the next day, the greatest match of all-time? The very fact the match was halted after three sets, probably dis-qualifies it in my mind. Also, what I watched of the fourth set, Nadal won the first three games, Djoker the next three and then Nadal the final three so that makes me think the level of play wasn’t so high during that 4th set.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:32 pm
Gaurang, welcome back. Agree totally and well said. This edition of the greatest tennis rivalry was more offensive oriented with both players ripping astonishing winners all over the court, for nearly the entire battle. Anderson today got into that high level mode in the third vs Djokovic but he could only reach that level for about one set while Rafa and Djokovic sustained it for five sets. Djokvic and Nadal both made tennis look like the greatest sport on earth. Maybe it is.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:35 pm
Duke, there are some very very strange Fed fans out there, which some day I will expose a few. Djokovic had every right to tell that jack ass to shut up. I like the way Djokovic has a fiery side and will not tolerate any nonsense from any imbecile. Some Fed fans are extremely sensitive and possibly envious and jealous of some of Djokovic’s incredible exploits. They resent how many times Djokovic has tortured their idol, which they should appreciate and respect considering how hard it is to do.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:37 pm
Dan you need to see the Djokovic vs Rafa semi to comment on it. You didn’t see it so your comments are not valid. Trust us, it was an incredible display beyond comprehension. Like I said, even Jelena Ristic Djokovic was shaking her head in awe after, as if to say, I can’t believe what I just saw.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Mat4, well said. These two juggernauts have played many incredible matches but there was something a little different this time, like I said, Rafa was grunting with fury from the very first points of the match! And it was neck and neck the whole way. Nobody hit a bad patch, neither player had a lapse. Neither ever had a two break lead in a set, if I remember correctly. This match was like Hearns vs Leonard for five sets.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:43 pm
Chazz, Might have to tab Djokovic as the favorite for the next three majors, I can see him regaining that dominant form, he even said after the match today that he feels better now than he did at his previous best form.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:43 pm
Dan, Paire has been very good the last couple of months, no shame to lose to Paire the way he’s played this summer.
Scoop Malinowski · July 15, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Dan the strange thing was the match picked up right where it left off, both playing unreal out of this world tennis. The overnight pause did not have any impact on this match, strange as that sounds. You really need to see this match, hope you have it DVRed.
Gans · July 16, 2018 at 12:07 am
Scoop, I agree with you. This match was exceptional in many ways and even though this was a semifinal match, it was essentially the final as the winner of this match was expected to beat Kevin Anderson considering the circumstances. In that way, this was similar to the Nadal-Djokovic 2013 French Open semis because the winner of that match was also expected to beat David Ferrer and it played out the exact same way as predicted- a straight set victory for Nadal.
What makes this match and many other Djokovic-Nadal matches so compelling is that both don’t have any glaring weaknesses unlike say, Federer’s backhand which was clearly exploited by both these players until 2017! The fact that this match can be compared to some others such as Nadal-Federer 2008 Wimbledon final, Borg-McEnroe 1980 Wimbledon Final or other such classics simply elevates their statuses not diminish their value! Such was the level of this match in every sense.
Off topic: I am sorry if I sound rude, but compared to women’s, we get to see much more variety in men’s. Right from big serves to delicate touch at the net, we can see a whole array of shots even though the classic serve & volley vs. baseline has disappeared. But the fact is men’s tennis especially at the hands of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal compensates quite adequately for that. This match saw a resurgent Novak, “return”!
Again off topic: I made some observations during and after the Women’s final, which I wish I had the time to express as an article. We often hear complaints that WTA doesn’t get the respect they deserve. I think it is the other way around. Men’s tennis don’t get the respect they deserve from women (stars). The reaction from both the finalists- Serena and Kerber were downright disgusting! Anyway, it is a different subject altogether that doesn’t fit in here. Like I said, Scoop, if I had the time, I would like to express my opinion as an article like I used to in the past.
I was once a sensitive Federer fan who couldn’t digest anyone attempting to dethrone him. Well, I have changed a bit. Even though, I still love to see Federer win, I have come to accept that Nadal has less weakness overall and from 2011-2016, Djokovic was the best player regardless of the surface. Think of this: as great as Nadal and Federer were and still are, even they didn’t know how and where to attack Novak in those 5 years. Djokovic should have won at least 3 French opens during that time- such was his domination over every one. That alone, in my opinion puts him at the GOAT discussion level with the other two greats.
Having said that, 2017 saw a resurgent Federer who beat Nadal 4 times in a row including reversing the losing trend he had against Nadal in the slams. Since all three are still playing at a high level, we need to wait for a few more years to assess their careers if that is possible.
I admire all of them and thank Nadal and Djokovic for putting up such a high quality match. We could say, for the first time, a Wimbledon final was played on a Friday and ended on a Saturday. I bet Wimbledon will continue its tradition of not forcing a tie-breaker in the 5th set. Fools hardly learn from their lessons!
Maybe one day, a semifinal match would just keep going for 3 days or worse- the finalists end up crawling to the center court and one makes it and the other dies. They will give the trophy to the guy who made it to the court and give the loser’s to the dead body. Then maybe, maybe…they will consider changing the rules a bit….a tie-break after 100 games in the 5th set! 🙂
Sorry, if I hurt anybody’s feelings. Just couldn’t resist acknowledging Scoop’s take on the match and my own frustrations on other affairs related to tennis!
Cheers,
Gans
Duke Carnoustie · July 16, 2018 at 12:59 am
Dan, Nadal was not merely “on his worst surface.” He was playing even better than the classic Fed final. He could easily have won and I have never seen him better in many ways off the clay. Certainly better than last year’s USO which he won.
Scoop, the fan was totally out of line to yell at Djoker set point down and Djoker is the classless one? I hate the snobs who root for the “well-mannered” Fed who eat caviar and watch the opera. Tennis, as many have noted, is a gladiator sport and Djoker is that. It’s why people like Diddy and Mike Tyson are Djoker supporters.
Catherine made a good point on the other thread about Serena’s imbecilic comments that her tournament was for the mothers out there. As if she is the only mother ever to play a slam final. It’s typical that the only experiences she values are her own. Really sad.
It is true that Jack Sock is the greatest doubles player in the world. Full credit to him for staying in town and winning a title rather than leaving with his tail between his legs. I respect that.
catherine · July 16, 2018 at 3:01 am
Gans –
I have to say I never noticed any comments or reaction from either Serena Williams or Angie Kerber which could be considered ‘downright disgusting’ – as I’ve said elsewhere I think Serena said a couple of things which were a bit silly but ‘disgusting’ ? I think you’ve got the wrong word. And I’ve never heard Angie say anything in the least offensive on any topic, in English or in German. She’s too polite.
Both players had to wait to play the final this year, unavoidable, but you can understand their frustration.
The whole men/women argument should go with politics and religion into the banned bin on this site. Just sets up ill-feeling and resentment. These are not superficial issues or even specifically related to tennis.
No more from me.
Joe Blow · July 16, 2018 at 4:31 pm
For Hartt
https://www.facebook.com/andymurrayofficial/videos/10155631778686966/
Hartt · July 16, 2018 at 5:32 pm
Joe, thanks for the link. That video is promoting the roast they are having for Daniel Nestor just before the Rogers Cup. I think Danny is already worrying about what the players are going to say at it!
Scoop Malinowski · July 16, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Hand, superb comments and welcome back. Would love to read your article and hope you share it. Sounds like the rumbling of a volcano that must erupt and express a needed point of view.
Duke Carnoustie · July 17, 2018 at 1:07 am
Some interesting notes about the aftermath of Novak winning SW19. Anyone notice the video with Roger walking past Novak and Jelena? It was really awkward. Why was Roger still at the tournament? Also why was he wearing Nike? Isn’t that a breach of contract? Boris Becker said to the press that Roger can’t stand Novak still too. Here is the video…
https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/289F027CB41232068919964098560_3f2418bd8f4.1.5.1781734027198467854.mp4?versionId=8vLFPktxj5OczM2lO67BEO0qupO_G1FA
Duke Carnoustie · July 17, 2018 at 1:12 am
Kerber said that she is without a boyfriend to the German press. Credit to her for focusing on her Hall of Fame careeer.
catherine · July 17, 2018 at 2:04 am
Scoop – who’s ‘Hand’ ? Do you mean Gans ? If so, I stand by my comment in response to his that neither Serena nor Angie said anything ‘disgusting’ at Wimbledon. – that’s a strong word in English. (We know Serena has a past record in this area, but Angie, never.)
Some volcanos are best left dormant IMO, in the hope that one far off day they will become extinct.
You’ll be looking forward to the Joshua/Povetkin fight at Wembley I assume – and it seems you’re absolutely right about Wilder.
catherine · July 17, 2018 at 2:16 am
Duke – glad to see your gossip column is up and running again 🙂
I didn’t know there was bad feeling between Federer and Djokovic, beyond the simply competitive. Any reason ? I would’ve thought both of them would be above that stuff considering their positions in the game.
Congratulations to Kerber for shooting down that nosey question. She’s not a complete fool. And she probably believes her private life is private. How unusual.
catherine · July 17, 2018 at 11:36 am
0.9 ESPN overnight rating for Anderson/Djokovic – new low for men’s tennis 🙂
Duke Carnoustie · July 17, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Catherine, it was Becker who said that Fed doesn’t care for Djoker so don’t know what to make of it.
Also that video I lined to is very odd indeed as to why Fed was there Sunday.
catherine · July 17, 2018 at 1:54 pm
Duke – my computer wouldn’t allow the link so I couldn’t see it, but maybe Federer had some commitments at W’don, and, as a member of the AEC he can go there anytime. What I find most odd is that he was wearing Nike – could that be true ?
Chazz · July 17, 2018 at 4:41 pm
I don’t think him walking by like that was odd or showed any resentment. If I was walking past a couple I know and they were having a close moment like that I would probably slip by and not interrupt.
Gans · July 17, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Hi Duke,
That was perhaps an old video. I bet it was either 2014 or most likely, 2015 after Federer lost to Djokovic. That also explains why he is wearing Nike.
Cathrine, I respect your sentiments. You are correct- disgusting wad a strong word and does not fit. I saw the response from Serena about the delayed start (at the press) and got irritated as she showed no appreciation of a brilliantly fought Nadal-Djokovic semifinal or the other great semifinal match between Anderson and Isner. I thought I heard Chris Fowler mention that even Kerber complained about the delay. I also saw the women commentators and the anchor focused more on strawberries, their attires and ‘Serena’ without taking any time to celebrate Men’s tennis especially after such record-breaking back-to-back brilliant matches. So their attitude got to me. Adoing to that was such a low quality final between Serena amd Kerber.
Anyway, my opinion does not matter. It is what it is.
Once again, I am at peace. Sorry if I came across rude.
Cheers,
Gans
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Old video. I remember seeing it live, very interesting to see Fed snub Nolena like that, it inadvertantly showed perhaps the true, behind closed doors nature of their intriguingly cold relations. I would guess despite all the nice talk they detest each other. Perhaps to the McEnroe Lendl degree.
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Re the final ratings…Anderson is a class act and excellent competitor but a poor ticket seller. South Africans get minimal respect in America for some reason.
Joe Blow · July 17, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Tennis tv ratings? Surely you jest…ESPN blows off tennis to show 12 year olds playing baseball.
catherine · July 18, 2018 at 3:02 am
Gans –
I understand your feelings – but I wouldn’t take any notice of commentators or anchorpersons – a lot of the time they’re told what to discuss by the producers. Any old rubbish.
And of course pro players are players first and not spectators. For various reasons neither Serena nor Angie may not have actually seen much of the men’s matches and understandably their whole attention would have been focussed on their own Final. The post match pc had to concentrate on that.
Some of the women do watch men’s matches though, and sometimes mention favourite players etc.
Yes, the women’s final wasn’t the highest quality, mainly because Kerber didn’t allow Serena to play her game so it was over quickly. You need two players at their best to get a great match. The men’s final wasn’t anything to write home about either – but happens like that sometimes.
Hartt · July 18, 2018 at 9:34 am
Re TV ratings. Despite all the talk about the men being a bigger draw than the women, in the States the determining factor is whether an American is playing, not whether it is men or women. For the men this year the ESPN rating for the men’s final was .9, compared to 2.1 for the women, quite a difference! But the women’s final last year had a higher rating than the men’s as well – 1.7 compared to 1.5.
catherine · July 18, 2018 at 9:52 am
Hartt- be interesting to know whether this is true for other countries – the home advantage I mean. Did TV ratings in Germany and Serbia go through the roof this year? And what’s going to happen when Serena retires? Pressure on Sloane Stephens getting past the first round 🙂
Hartt · July 18, 2018 at 11:49 am
During the final, a poster in Germany said 2 main TV channels were carrying it, something that has not happened for decades. So presumably the ratings were very good in Germany.
I think the ATP is very concerned, with reason, about what the ratings for the men’s tourneys will be like after Roger and Rafa retire. There has been criticism about the way the ATP is heavily promoting the young players, but I think they are right to try to increase interest in players other than Rafa and Roger.
catherine · July 18, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Hartt – I think people are complaining that the Nextgen (so called – I hate that) are not coming through in the way you’d expect but my feeling is that this situation will evolve as it’s always done in the past and when Rafa and Fed are gone they’ll be replacements.
The WTA seems to me in a bit more of a bind, what with the top 10 out by the Monday at W’don, some women far from fulfilling their potential and the endless publicity machine grinding on and on with little to show for it. But plus ca change maybe, I don’t know. (sorry, no accent)
Hartt · July 18, 2018 at 2:50 pm
I pay a lot of attention to the youngsters and I think when their time comes they will do just fine. A few of the very young ones like Shapovalov, Tsitsipas, and Tiafoe, are talented and have the necessary charisma to attract fans. Those who think they should be top players already are being unrealistic. And of course Sascha Zverev and Thiem are headed for big things as well.