Count John McEnroe as a major believer in the potential of Felix Auger-Aliassime.
During the Djokovic vs Kohlschreiber Wimbledon first round match telecast on ESPN, McEnroe stated he believes the 18 year old Canadian to be a “future world no. 1” and that he projects the phenom to crash into the ATP top five within “eighteen months to a year.”
McEnroe noted the successful results and game of Felix and the fact that he has a physically mature body of a 24 year old, similar to two other super champions, specifying Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal.
McEnroe was also asked by baseball great Alex Rodriguez, a guest analyst in the ESPN booth, who was the best player he ever played? McEnroe replied Pete Sampras on faster courts at the end of his career was the most difficult for him, also citing Bjorn Borg as his best rival who provoked the best tennis from him. McEnroe also mentioned Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl.
Felix lost the first set 75 to Vasek Pospisil but lead in the second set 4-1.
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Hartt · July 1, 2019 at 3:53 pm
FAA dis beat Vasek in 4 sets. He got better as the match went on.
Dan Markowitz · July 1, 2019 at 5:38 pm
There were some shocking results today. Osaka losing for the second time this year on grass to Putintseva and then asking the press conference moderator if she could leave because she was about to cry. Osaka’s decline, demise de-add-your-own-adjective, is one of the most amazing stories/happenings I’ve ever witnessed in women’s tennis. It might be right up there with Jen Capriati’s drug spree after she had made her big breakthrough. I mean, this is a two-time slam champion who after dropping her coach, can’t seemingly win matches to say nothing about tournaments.
And then we were talking about the young generation and its promise and on the first day of the Big W, both Zverev and Tstsipsas bomb out to players, one barely in the top 100 (89), Fabbiano, boy, it was the day of the short player as both Putintseva and Fabbiano have a lot of letters in their names, but not much inches in their heights, and the other outside the top 100 (124), in Vesely. Plus, Dimitrov goes down again in his landslide career. to Moutet, and the oldest player in both draws, Karlovic, wins as does the youngest, Gauff. Sabalenka does her best Dimitrov impression
I don’t know, I wasn’t overly-impressed with Gauff. I like Anisimova better although she’s two years older. Kenin has really impressed this year. She played Andreescu earlier in the year and lost, but she’s now made inroads in both the French and the Big W and Andreescu is nowhere to be found.
Scoop Malinowski · July 1, 2019 at 8:38 pm
I believe Tsitsipas is devastated by that loss at Queens to Felix, and there will be long lingering effects. 0-5 now to FAA. Look for Tsitsipas to drop in the rankings now.
Scoop Malinowski · July 1, 2019 at 8:41 pm
How can you not be impressed by what Gauff did Dan? First match in a major and she dominates Venus Williams. This was a sport altering performance. Hopefully the overload of attention on Gauff will not be too much as it clearly is for Osaka. Superstardom is very hard to handle especially for a 15 year old. ESPN is already replaying the match over and over and all they will talk about is Gauff Gauff Gauff. She will lose to Rybarikova.
Dan Markowitz · July 1, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Scoop,
I only saw a few points of the match, but Venus was clearly not sharp. Geez, does anyone give a worse presser than Venus? Her responses were almost gratuitously bad. They asked Venus what she has to do to develop into a great player and she said, she actually said, “Have fun and enjoy life.” I don’t if Venus is being serious with these responses or she’s pulling the legs of the reporters.
Firstly, Gauff isn’t too big. What is she 5-9 and she seems to play that same aggressive baseline game that all these young women play. Yes, she did slice the ball decently, but they weren’t exactly sharp slices. I just don’t see greatness out of what i saw from her today.
Scoop Malinowski · July 1, 2019 at 9:15 pm
Venus is a dreadful bore now, she is the worst interview in tennis. Gauff was sensational, she is why Venus looked off. Venus was ready to play but she ran into a buzzsaw, future great of the game. No excuses, Gauff just was better than her in every way today and rose to the occasion and Venus couldn’t subdue this teen phenom. All credit to Gauff.
catherine · July 2, 2019 at 12:50 am
I know what Dan means about Gauff. I’d like to see her win against a player who can mix it up a bit and drag her from the baseline. And she’s going to get so much adulation – the WTA will push her as saviour of the women’s game. Technically though she’s nothing new. She’s not a FAA. Venus is pretty much finished. She should be hanging up her rackets.
Andreescu is ‘nowhere to be found’ becaue she’s injured and hasn’t played. So there’s nothing to say about her at the moment.
Hartt · July 2, 2019 at 2:41 am
Gauff will play Rybarikova next, who beat Sabalenka 6-2, 6-4. So we will have the chance to see Coco compete against a “crafty” player.
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 9:41 am
When a young player shocks the world like Coco did yesterday, the follow up match is most often a dud, Fed losing after beating Pete, for one example. Rybarikova is a tough cookie and won’t play nice for the kid. But this kid is a world beater. Let’s see how her mind and fighting spirit are. She said she wants to win the tournament. That’s a good sign.
Michael In UK · July 2, 2019 at 11:43 am
Hello friends.
Is this the best place for Wimbledon day 2 chat?
Amid all the excitement about Coco, there were other shocks of course, Osaka, Tsitsipas, Zverev, Dimitrov, and Monfils all out first match.
Scoop, you will have seen “your guy” Corentin Moutet beat Dimitrov. I saw the last few games, he looks very promising. And Monfils beaten by someone new to me, 21 year old Ugo Humbert, also from France.
France and Italy really are showing strength in depth on the men’s side I think.
It is looking like it will be a fantastic Wimbledon!
Michael In UK · July 2, 2019 at 11:56 am
Sam Querry beats Thiem.
Sam is always dangerous on grass, is that the correct view?
Sam must be absolutely delighted!
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 11:57 am
Michaek In UK, Moutet’s win vs Dimitrov/Agassi was completely overshadowed by the other upsets yesterday but Moutet might be the most stunning. He just decimated Dimitrov in the fourth and fifth sets. Just two months ago in Tallahassee and Savannah he was struggling to win Challenger matches. Now he’s slaying dragons in majors. Proving once again, just never give up, keep going, keep fighting.
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 11:59 am
Sam destroyed Dimitrov just two years ago at Wimbledon, or was it three years ago? I think three. Sam is very dangerous at Wimbledon. No one will be happy to see Sam in their draw now that’s for sure.
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Fritz dominates former Wimbledon finalist in three sets and Shapavolov is down to sets to a journeyman. Did someone say Shapovalov is ahead of Fritz?
Dan Markowitz · July 2, 2019 at 3:11 pm
We can actually say it was a pretty good day for the Americans. Fritz, Qball, Tennys and SteveJo all won and Izzie is up too. Taylor Townsend won and so did Serena although going 7-5 vs a Qualifier might be a reason for concern. Noah Rubin lost to a British wild card I presume, Clarke, and Christina McHale continues her un-promising showing after she looked like she might be a top 30 player early in her career.
Not a good day for the Sharapova and Shapovalov twins, both going down. When you retire 5-0 in the third set like Sharapova did, you better be really hurt or that’s just lame. Shapo losing in straight sets on grass to Berankis, oh my, what is going on with poor Denis? Either he cannot play on grass or he’s in a major funk. Berankis is no. 77 and until today, he’d only won two matches in his career at the Big W and never gotten past the second round.
Did anyone say Brad Gilbert or Darren Cahill. Shapo better give one or both of them a call.
Dan Markowitz · July 2, 2019 at 3:35 pm
Fritz routine-ing Berdy is damn impressive. Did anyone see Maria play against Kerber? She was chipping and slicing not only every backhand but her forehands as well. And they weren’t dipping and diving slices like Niculescu’s.
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Tiafoe lost another marathon heartbreaker, 64 in the fifth to Fognini, he’s losing a lot of those close ones lately. Where is Escobedo?
Harold · July 2, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Mac is campaigning to jump on the FAA team..looking for a future superstar.
Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2019 at 6:19 pm
Imagine how McEnroe could impact Felix with a serve and volley game. If Felix listens. Be an interesting union of they ever do join forces.
catherine · July 3, 2019 at 12:41 am
I don’t know which is the W’don stream. Is it this one or the one above ? Or both ?
Dan – yes, I saw Kerber’s match, or a fair bit of it. Maria has always played like that. It’s interesting but hasn’t won her many titles. Last was in Mallorca 2018 on grass.