Can Anyone Beat The Big Three To Win US Open?

Scoop, I continue to be an Alexander Zverev fan, despite his recent slump. But I was surprised to see you refer to his “carefree manner.” I think he is anything but carefree. In fact, I think one of his big problems is getting tight during matches, and reverting to staying too far behind the baseline and being too cautious. And the way he can pretty well disappear when he starts to lose, and then get trounced is a very bad sign. For Alexander to fulfil his talent he needs to learn how to play well in big matches.

Because Sascha is in a legal dispute with his former manager he is doing a manager’s job himself. That has to be a huge distraction. I keep wondering why he does not have a family member take on that role if he is prevented from hiring another manager. or maybe it would be worth it to simply pay whatever his old manager is demanding so he can concentrate on his tennis. I wonder if he is losing more in prize $ than what a financial settlement would be.

Zverev has a few problems with his game. He has a very good BH, but not a good FH. He isn’t effective at the net, although he is supposed to have been working on that. And he doesn’t seem to dig down and fight hard when a match starts to go against him.

There is no chance anyone else will win the U.S. Open. Roger will focus on it, he is already skipping Montreal. Rafa needs it to get year-end No. 1. Novak needs it to get closer to Rafa and Roger.

These three will do everything it takes to win and it looks like no Del Potro will be there. You would have to guess that it will take probably until 2022 until another player wins a Slam; maybe then Felix or Casper Ruud can break through.

Its riddiciolus even think how many young talented players feel when they watching continuously 30+ three best players of tennis dominate the tour. In the same time its embarrassing for nextgen and their efforts on Grand Slams. They just need to hope that Bif Three will retire soon enough (obvisoly not soon enough) to reach some big result.I am personally Novak fan he is the greatest butt Rafa and Roger are also amazing and extraordinary. Unbelievable three master of universe…

The jury’s still out on all this stuff. Basically, players are praying the big three retire, and picking up scraps in tournaments such as Atlanta. I’ve been delusional enough to believe that some player playing well or now in the top five is on the verge of something. Reality is they are on the verge of getting destroyed by any top three player that navigates a five set match like a walk in the park.

As amazed as I am by the strokes and talent of the new players, count me as underwhelmed by their mental toughness in best of five set matches, and by their lack of preparation and courage in most of their big matches.

The kid I like most is the one Scoop praised in the past, Felix. He has a lot to work on to even get to a big slam match in a later round. Tsitsipas is a fine player as well and especially promising, but has much to work including his serve.

As for the Americans they are good. I think for some time the U.S. men’s players have been very talented and I think it began with Klan’s run in 2013. It woke everyone up. For the most part Querrey has lived up to his massive potential, which has been awesome. Depending on how other players develop, whether they take the kind of approach Fish and Ginepri and Blake did, or Wawrinka, to improve their games, sure why not. Odds of that?

Zero. They have to prove it. Fritz showing he’s serious, which wasn’t clear for a while. But much as before he’s gotten better at being himself, while most of his game is as ugly as ever. It’s no wonder De Minaur picked up apart in Atlanta. I love Tiafoe – he’s fun to watch. But suffers from the same issues as all other American players. No strategy, modest improvement, just waiting for other players to retire.

Sampras didn’t wait for retirements and Nadal didn’t either. Mayotte didn’t either. Maybe players have it too good these days. Hang around the top hundred, collect

We’re not guaranteed another Citi Open performance from Kyrgios – like you said he has the Rios factor. See him live, hopefully on a good day, and live for the moment because the Kyrgios you see one match is unlikely to be the same player mere days later. That’s Kyrgios. It used to be that was the tour until this toxic combination of luxilon strings, slowish court speed, and other technology improvements turned the equally bad ten second tennis of the Sampras and Ivanisevic serving contests into the marathons and slugfests of today.

But like Scoop said, it’s like Rios. We’re not likely to see a ball hit like this for a while, and we’re equally unlikely to see a motivated Kyrgios for more than a handful of glorious hours. He’s not Mr. Dependable where winning is everything, and if we’re lucky enough to catch him on a good day against an opponent that’s also ready to put on a show like Tsitsipas, we’re not going to care because it will be so deliriously good. Dan’s talked about McEnroe’s brilliance and I think Kyrgios, when he’s at maximum entertainment and flight, elevates the sport.

I’ll limit all talk about the next generation of disappointments – they have much to learn and it will take a miracle for them to figure it out and pull it off. Count me unimpressed. I recognize what I’m saying is scathing. And for sure I’m glad to see a nice Zverev backhand, or some of Tsitsipas old school shots and fine movement. Felix reminds me of Safin without the headcase.

I’m still completely unconvinced, especially as many of them take on the same excuses players had before them. “what can I do when (Novak, Rafa, Roger) is playing like that? Too good.” They don’t get it – the big three guys at an advanced age for tennis are STILL winning matches in the locker room even before they step on a court. U.S. players still haven’t even caught up to Roddick in terms of his achievements at age twenty when playing against an equally formidable set of opponents. These guys still don’t get that every time a big three player practices with them they figure out yet another way to beat them and further their dominance.

I’ll stick with my prediction: if one or more big three retire, and assuming Murray is done and Wawrinka is considering the exits, then this next generation will find themselves stumbling around in slam finals. They won’t care how they got there or that they couldn’t break through a group of super champions that will in turn be handing them the trophies and rubbing it in – as if to say, “hey kid, glad you finally got one of these…only took our retirement!!! Sorry you were never good enough to knock the racquet out of our hands…”

Props to Edmund for the win over Kyrgios. Edmund got to quarters at Citi Open and ran out of steam on a hot day vs Gojo. He probably felt he had a shot at the title, and didn’t mind proving that by knocking out Kyrgios.

Scoop, it’s the kiss of death for a player to believe what the big three say about them or to take any compliment seriously.

Many players we know as fans have crumbled when faced with the opportunity to win crucial matches against these big guys or even the matches in front of them as expectations of great performances soon give way to the reality of early exits against hungry opponents.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Djokovic, Nadal, Federer are ruthless. Ruthless. They praise the next generation while beating them silly. Even when they lose a big match like Federer did at the Australian, did he really care that much – he beat Tsitsipas soundly next time they played and then made the Wimbledon final. The big three, while praising young guys like Felix publicly, have no problem wiping the court with them.

People forget this. They forget Nadal is relentless every second of every match in every month and year, even when he’s hurting. They forget his friends don’t even want to play golf with him, as Nadal said in his book, because Nadal focuses only on winning the golf game and doesn’t even talk to anyone. Worst guy to play in ping pong, wifi tennis, checkers, you name it.

That’s who players are dealing with. They forget this.

Scoop, as you know I make the worst predictions on the next tennis champs. I didn’t even think Federer would be as earth shattering as he has been, or Nadal as dominant a force, or Djokovic as arguably the best player of all time (arguably, this trio is the reason that that topic is a thing).

I thought Juan Carlos Ferrero was our next great champion back in 2002, knocking off Agassi on his way to a losing battle with Albert Costa, one of the many, many Spaniards who made winning the French Open his reason for playing the sport, and as time goes no one thinks of either guy. Cruel sport. I thought Ferrero would handle Hewitt and keep the promising Federer at Bay. Then Federer won Wimbledon and the Houston ATP finals, absolutely obliterating Agassi both times they played – barely in a best of three setter then without mercy in a best of five set match.

So, I don’t have a good eye for this stuff. My only comment is that it will take some seriously good luck for any of these guys, Felix included, to wrench away a title from the big fellas. I couldn’t tell you who could do it – none of them seem as purpose driven even as Del Potro was in finding his way to a US Open crown.

I’ll agree with you, they don’t have the I’m Lleyton Hewitt and you’re going to need to beat me to win this match, or the I’m Sampras and I don’t care if you don’t know who I am I just beat Lendl and I’m sure as heck not going to lose to you out here.

They’d have to show that. Win points pretty quickly, stop waiting for the cows to come home. Smash the opponent then say good job. Show your more talented opponents something they didn’t expect out there, such as a ferocious return of serve.

Scoop, Nadal believes what he says and expresses he likes Felix and believes he has the demeanor, game. If only it were so easy.

Nadal said all that and obliterated Felix when they played on the dirt. Obviously the gap betwern Felix and Nadal can’t even be talked about, it’s an ocean.

If Felix wants in on the winner’s circle he’ll have to play like Soderling in a QF. Merciless. Unrelenting. We’re friends off court and I enjoy beating you I smithereens on court. It was savage but I’m pleased etc etc

There’s some weird thing where today a player can’t acknowledge that this is a gladiator sport. The only one, the only one I’ve seen that even expresses something like this is Kyrgios through his transgressive tactics such as asking the crowd where to serve, hitting drop shot serves, etc. He gets it that you use the whole court and your talent to win. Get the crowd on your side by earning it (hopefully in a positive way – I’ve seen players get the crowd sympathy, not on purpose, only because they are an underdog and it works!).

Tennis is a gladiator sport. It’s boxing on the court. After match fine, be friends, make peace, talk about how great your opponent is etc etc. But on the court? No. Take your game to the opponent and soak it up out there.

Soderling is the right model for Felix. He reminds me of Safin, but he should study Soderling for his no guts no glory style.

Andrew, welcome back! I just read your posts and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I don’t think Félix will be influenced by Rafa’s praise. He is pleased, of course, but he is level-headed and knows he has to continue to work very hard to achieve the success he dreams of. FAA has no trouble trying to beat his good buddy Shapo, and he will be just as determined when he meets Rafa.

Hi Hartt, glad to see you and everyone keep bringing excellent insight to this tough but fun sport.

As for Felix’s rise to stardom…again, I can’t tell. He has a good attitude and a nice game. That’s worked for Thiem, so at least Felix can take something from that.

The rest is up to him, up to them. I don’t see much because a player has to show they can win big titles BY WINNING THEM. There’s no other way. Some players melt after such victories (see Ostapenko). Some come out of nowhere to claim what they think is theirs (see Kerber or Sloane Stephens, Sloane is so good when she wants to be). Some have to get decked a few times (Halep, similar to Ivanisevic). The WTA is more like ATP ca 1990 and ca 2002.

Another good example of a breakthrough is Pat Rafter. He had such a good volley and overhead, and was such a good athlete. He improved his forehand and game from the back of the court, and suddenly found his mark. I’d still say Rafter is a lot better than every non big three guy today, but the point is he added to what he already did so well.