posted Nov 29, 2008

"You can't blast winners all the time"

I would challenge you to watch his match with Nadal in Madrid and think the same thing afterwards. On a more serious note, no, you're right, he didn't quite come through in terms of ranking, but a slam quarter is not to be sniffed at. We have to hope that a couple of big smaller tournys from the Latvian will give his seeding a boost, earning him an easier run in slams...

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posted Nov 29, 2008

Anybody know any good junior British players?

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posted Nov 29, 2008

"Anybody know any good junior British players?"

Daniel Evans, who is 18 now and is going to have start cutting on the challenger tour.

Anyway, players to watch out for in 2009 (that haven't been mentioned here yet):
Kei Nishikori
Marcel Granollers
Andrey Golubev
Thomaz Bellucci (on clay)
Adrian Mannarino
Jeremy Chardy

Not saying any of these will break the top 10 or anything, but then again Simon and Tsonga did surprise us in 2008. Anyway all these guys should make some noise on the main tour at some stage next year. Also got a few I will keep an eye on in Challengers.

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posted Nov 29, 2008

Add Eduardo Schwank to that list as well actually.

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posted Nov 29, 2008

What about the much touted Dimitrov and Kontinen? Do you think they will do anything much on the main tour next year?

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posted Nov 29, 2008

re. Gulbis. I think the jury is still out. Yes, he has reached a GS semi this year and that is an impressive achievement. However, his ranking this year has meant direct entry into a number of high profile tournis and his only other notable result is one MS QF. Without the FO run he would be outside the top 100.

He is undoubtably a promising player but he hasn't shown as much development this year as I expected. Hopefully, he will come through as he plays an exciting style. However, any suggestions he will be top 10/20 aren't yet backed up by any real results.

Re. British players - possibly Marcus Willis and Dan Cox may be worth watching for improvement next year. No real possible world beaters though.

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posted Nov 29, 2008

Not convinced Kontinen is really one to watch. He is 18 now I think and has just been solid in the juniors (bar his run to the Wimbledon final).

Dimitrov is obviously quality but I think next year may still be too early to see him have much success in the seniors. See his results this year when he has played "up".

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posted Nov 30, 2008

I've seen Gulbis compared to two players. Safin's style with a Blake like forehand. while this is undoubtedly makes a potent combination on a good day. on a bad day blakes forehand is very hit and miss, it's a low margin of error shot and safins style of play is very much the same.

I think that will set the pattern for gulbis, capable of beating anyone on a given day but less likely to string together results that will see him consistently challenge.

Nishikori is the best of the young players. Dynamic style, all court game. (incidently I can see a move away from the offensive baseline game to a more all court style of play, net play is coming back, but not like serve volley, it will become a more tactical game. We've already seen simon and murray make break throughs playing this sort of game)

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posted Nov 30, 2008

I'm hopeful that Guillaume Rufin and Filip Krajinovic can make greater strides in the junior game and then progress into some of the senior events. Maybe Bellucci/Schwank-esque runs in challengers, that would be nice but unlikely.

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posted Nov 30, 2008

"What about the much touted Dimitrov and Kontinen? Do you think they will do anything much on the main tour next year?"

Dimitrov is probably too young to break through on the main tour next year, but we will hear a lot more about him, should learn his trade in Challengers and get good results there. Byt he will get WCs here and there into some main tour events too, maybe even at Wimbledon as he is defending junior champ.
Kontinen has a nice game but not one that is really suited to this current era, whether or not he will ever make it to the top 100 is uncertain but I hope so.

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