By Scoop Malinowski
Tennys Sandgren has set ablaze the tennis world with his astounding heroics in the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinal round with his sensational victories against Chardy, Wawrinka, Marterer, Thiem.
There is no doubt there are a lot of ATP and Challenger players who will draw inspiration and extra incentive from what Sandgren has accomplished this month in Melbourne. And especially motivated will be all the players who actually defeated Sandgren last year.
Let’s take a look at the list:
Smyczek in Champaign
JP Smith in Knoxville
Smyczek in Charlottesville
Kozlov in Las Vegas
McDonald in Fairfield
Cameron Norrie in Stockton, Tiburon and Cary (three straight weeks)
Cilic at US Open
Fritz in Vancouver, Aptos (two weeks in a row)
Zverev in Washington DC
Dancevic in Newport
Bachinger in Winnetka
Millot at Wimbledon
Albot in Italy
Vesely in Prostejov
Kukushkin at Roland Garros
Laaksonen in Savannah
Tiafoe in Sarasota
Jarry in Mexico
Janowicz in Mexico
Sakharov in Quebec
Mmoh in San Francisco
Wu in Dallas
Laaksonen in Hawaii
Coppejans at Australian Open
Though Tennys did win two Challengers last year in Tempe and Sarasota, in the first quarter of the year, this list of losses to some name and some little known players does not serve as much of an indicator that Sandgren would be able to suddenly vault his game to reach the quarterfinal of a major. Which only goes to show that nobody should ever give up or count themselves out. You have to keep trying and keep believing.
Sandgren is no doubt a major inspiration for American tennis – and also all struggling players who may feel down and out and ready to hang it up.
Ernesto Escobedo in Houston
" Tennys Sandgren · AO · Mizuno Tennis · USA
Leif Wellington Haase · January 23, 2018 at 12:24 pm
And compared to the players Tennys lost to in 2016 and 2015, most of these look like Joe DiMaggio, so to speak. In all fairness, he was fighting injuries much of that time.
A few months ago I was wondering how he could reverse his fortunes against Cam Norrie and now I’m pondering how he might navigate his way into a Grand Slam final.
It is a minor thing compared to his accomplishments, but in beating Thiem he has shortened the old “degrees of separation” game between you and the world #1 by at least two steps, probably for tens of thousands of players.
Kidding aside, and in the spirit of your seeing Tennys win his first ATP tour-level match, and his joy in it, I recall seeing him failing to qualify for a Futures event in 2008 when I believe he was still enrolled at Tennessee. The gap between then and now is vast (though there were flashes of brilliance then) and it speaks to the dedication he and his team have sustained in the face of many setbacks. A great story however it plays out.
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 1:39 pm
The exception is you should give up if you are facing Fed.
Federberg · January 23, 2018 at 1:51 pm
^Wait.. I'm confused. You say he won in Sarasota, but you have him losing to Tiafoe. Was it some sort of ATP Tour finals round robin set up?
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 2:02 pm
So now Sandgren is deleting his social media because he is being criticized for it. This is what I don’t respect about athletes. He should stand his ground and not kowtow to what others expect out of him. It’s a cowardly move – he obviously supports supremacists and whatnot and now he wants to backtrack because he can’t take the heat? I’ve got no problem with his views and wouldn’t affect whether or not I watch but he should have stuck with them since now he looks like a coward.
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 2:07 pm
US davis cup has been announced. Jack Sock is out, good riddance.
This should be Courier’s last stand. No way losing to Serbia w/o Djokovic, Troicki and Krajinovic is acceptable. When will Stevie Johnson get his shot at singles glory? And why not pick Sandgren? He should be rewarded for his run in Melbourne.
Doogie · January 23, 2018 at 3:14 pm
@all:
You cannot imagine what is going on here in (tennis) europe about Sandgren: Yes the medias write about his great match against Thiem BUT the MAIN focus is his political view and who he is following.
And how on hell could he vote Trump?? (in medias word)
I am a tennis fan and about Sandgren a journalist can write hundrets of stories about him (his legend matches last year against Norrie for example aso..)
but there only story is his political point.
I say u: This world becomes crazy!!
Doogie · January 23, 2018 at 3:14 pm
who he is following on twitter
Doogie · January 23, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Forgot to mention a headline from a big german newspaper:
“Service from the right!”
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Sandgren should 100 percent be on the U.S. Davis Cup team.
That would send Europe into a greater panic.
Chazz · January 23, 2018 at 3:40 pm
I don’t care how crappy the people are that he likes or follows, it’s BS that he is getting ripped by the media for it. It’s not like he’s making a political statement when he steps on the court. A lot of athletes do that and ask for the backlash. He actually sounds like a really good dude in his interviews. Unfortunately, this is looking like it’s a distraction for him at the worst possible time.
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Nishikori down a break in first set vs. Novikov in Newport.
This reminds me of that movie Freaky Friday in which they body switch – Nishikori in Newport and Sandgren in AO QFs.
Sandgren’s new European nickname is Tennys the Menace!
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 4:25 pm
The media keeps asking dumb questions – Sandgren about his social media, Fed about his pasta commercial, the female players about their dressed. The tennis media is just horrible overall. And you wonder why tennis is a niche sport?
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 4:29 pm
Deiton Baughman is the U.S. young player at the Davis Cup. I never heard of him; does he have any kind of future?
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Right Leif, Sandgren is a book in the making. And I would be honored to write it with him. Will discuss when I see him next. He's got years of experience in the minor leagues and now suddenly he's a major star who has done heavy damage in a Grand Slam. He's an interesting person who is not afraid to tell it like it is or speak his opinions whether it's politically correct or not. I had a long conversation with him in Sarasota and I know he's good quality people with a strong, intelligent personality. I saw him sign tons of autographs after he beat Kyrgios hugging white, black, asian, all kinds of kids for selfies. He's paid his dues and suffered and deserves to be where he is and he certainly appreciates this glorious success.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
My bad. Sandgren lost F in Sarasota and won either Tallahassee or Savannah.
Leif Wellington Haase · January 23, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Duke:
Deighton was a very promising junior who was heavily promoted by his father and who turned pro young…didn’t make an impact and predictably soured on tennis briefly but returned to tennis as a college-age assistant coach at USC, one of the many schools I believe who recruited him. As this link suggests, he’s grown up a lot (had, and from my very second-hand observation deserved, a reputation as a “free spirit”) and is back at the level of qualifying for Challengers in singles (around #350 in the world). He’s the same age or a little older than the heralded upcoming generation and good friends with many of them.
https://www.crackedracquets.com/cracked-interviews-deiton-baughman/
As for his game, it is promising but inconsistent– his forehand is strong but erratic, his backhand an issue (as with so many of his peers), his serve powerful but second serve needs improvement, on the good side he is a natural volleyer which shows up in his doubles play, and he’s a tall player which helps in my book…so far he’s had much more success in doubles. His mental toughness was always suspect but improving: I’ve seen him play six or seven times in person and he’s headed in the right direction– how far really depends on his work ethic as he has, or is developing, most of the fundamental tools he needs to succeed.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:45 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duke, Sandgren probably just doesn't want to deal with the distractions of arguing politics and religion with a bunch of intolerant anti Christian anti Trump haters. I can understand why he's backing off, he doesn't need these distractions of a bunch of idiots misinterpreting his tweets and other people tweets that he liked or responded to. He is not a racist or a bigot but he is not afraid to criticize anyone, black, jew, asian or whatever. It's not racist to criticize or say not nice things about non whites. Everyone can attack whites and it's okay but when whites attack back or reply back, it's smeared as racist or bigot. It's ridiculous. White people who believe and support Jesus Christ and God are tired of being attacked and called racist because 1.5% of whites and jews owned slaves 200 yrs ago. I absolutely have Sandgren's back on this issue so please don't push on it or hell will break lose. Sandgren is not a racist. Jarmere Jenkins defended him on twitter. I saw and took pictures of Sandgren hugging black kids for selfies after beating Kyrgios at Citi Open.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duke, I agree, Johnson has been a flop this year, Sandgren deserves the call. But Johnson is close with Isner and Querrey, so that clique will stay intact.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Doogie; Sandgren supports and believes in Jesus Christ and God and he has conservative views. It's not racist or hate, it's a wacky world out there and it's not a crime to be a conservative person who accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and lives his life according to the Holy Bible.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:53 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Chazz, The media attacks on Sandgren are another attack on Christianity and conservative politics. He's not being offensive about his views or opinions but the media wants to pick a fight over it and rake Sandgren over the coals because he has political and religious views different than 99% of the media. The media can't tolerate Sandgren is a free thinker who does not follow the leftist agenda. More power to him for not being afraid to be a non conformist which is rare in the world these days.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:55 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Duke, the media is 99% leftist liberal and anti Trump. It's a big cultural war now in America. But that's what the divide and conquer deep state wants. It's easier to rule over chaos. Forcing mass third world immigration on America is not natural and it's a clever, devious way to divide and conquer. I have very similar views to Sandgren, which we discussed at length in Sarasota after he beat Opelka.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Baughman had some big wins as a teenager – can't remember what exactly – but he ended up going to college. Now he's still grinding it out to be a pro. Wish I could remember what he did in juniors, maybe it was a final at a junior major or Kalamazoo.
Scoop Malinowski · January 23, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Tucker Carlson discusses about how the media is hugely anti-white and blatantly and publicly so. This is why people like Sandgren, myself and many others are sick of the hypocrisy and blaming whites for everything…
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 11:51 pm
Scoop I am going to disagree and agree with you on some things.
First, I said that Steve Johnson should play singles for the U.S. I don’t think he is a flop as much as still getting over his father’s death. But I believe you put him in a Davis Cup match in front of hostile Serbians and he will rise to the challenge; remember he had one of the great NCAA careers in history and thrives on the team atmosphere.
Second, I agree 100 percent on Sandgren. You are right that there is a vast left-wing conspiracy against white men in the U.S. That’s part of what the recent sexual harrassment furor is about too. As for Sandgren, he believes in Jesus Christ. That makes him racist? I know that you Scoop nor I owned slaves; if we did, then we would be racist for sure but that is not the case. It is OK for Sandgren to say he hates gay people; who made gays the arbiters of everything right anyway? Gay people are always the victim? It doesn’t make sense. If Sandgren is scared to go to a black neighborhood, who cares? Is that a crime? Is that wrong? He signed autographs for everyone like Scoop says and Jarmere Jenkins, Serena’s black hitting partner, defended him. The Aussies gave Sandgren a standing ovation as he left the court tonight so they know he is right. Scoop you should publish a real interview with him to get his side of the story since the mainstream media is so bad. The shame is Sandgren could have brought tennis a fresh audience in conservative fans; I hope it still happens. He had a helluva run.
Third, Courier is spineless not to include Sandgren on Davis Cup. You better believe he bowed to political pressure on this one. The first DC team should be who performs best in Melbourne. Sandgren passed the test. Courier and the UST should be ashamed of themselves.
Taylor Fritz with a solid win. Showdown with Kwiatkowski tomorrow. I’ll be watching that.
Duke Carnoustie · January 23, 2018 at 11:53 pm
Leif and Scoop,
Good information on Baughman. Seems like he was under pressure to have quit and come back and be only 21. The father must have rode him hard. Tennis parents can be something else.
Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2018 at 8:55 am
Scoop Malinowski writes:
Amen Duke.
Joe Blow · January 24, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Bad loss for The Koz