Shame there's so many Americans cramped up in the bottom of this draw.... but promising signs for tennis in a country that really hasn't been well represented for a number of years
Ben Shelton will make major inroads in the rankings in 2023, beat many a fine player, and is heading for the top 10. Together with Seb Korda, what a prospect for the Americans based on his current form. Tommy will struggle.
Always enjoyed watching Novak or Rafa playing those big serving, and forehand attacking North Americans. They almost always give them a lesson, and show to us against them that tennis is a game not just only about raw power, but finesse, panache, intelligence too... and we always see against those 2 guys how bad are those guys on their backhand side. Usually, they send them back to school...
It's quarterfinals and I am amazed at how things can turnout sometimes. I am not able to believe how these 2 even made it this far. Joker would probably not even practice with these kind of players. It will probably a 3 set bagel in semis irrespective of who's wins here.
NAME, AGE
Taylor Fritz, 25
Frances Tiafoe, 25
Sebastian Korda, 22
Tommy Paul, 25
Jenson Brooksby, 22
John Isner, 37
Ben Shelton, 20
J.J. Wolf, 24
Reilly Opelka, 24
Brandon Nakashima 21
I was pleasantly surprised to see so many US players getting to the business end of a grand slam. Didn't see enough of Shelton, but I'm sure coaches will take a good look at him and quickly figure out tactics how to play against him... There is a reason why Americans can't get far into gs tournaments for so many years. They learn their trade on fast surfaces, and those big boys with big serve-forehand game come on top there... but that's not enough for gs best of 5 sets. To outpower is not enough, without to outsmart, and outlast opponents who learned tennis on clay...
Respect to Ben Shelton too. He is just 20 years old, was the 569th-ranked player last year and had never even left the country before this month. He will be within Top 50 come Monday.
These American dudes are a bit one dimensional,almost all of them have huge flaws in their game...This type of playing style is effective to get you into the QF or SF's but not enough to became a GS winner...Only Korda and Brooksby have some potential to become something special...
From Boris Becker to Yannick Noah via Marat Safin, they all share one thing in common: knowing how to bounce back after the end of their careers. Between coaching, politics, music and podcasts, discover how these former champions have turned their passion into a new life.
Conceived as a bold bet to prepare for the post–Big 3 era, the Next Gen Masters has shaken up the codes of modern tennis. A pioneering, visionary tournament, but now in search of an identity.
Since February 2022 and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Ukrainian sport has been heavily affected by human, structural and economic losses.
Tennis has, of course, not been spared.
While Ukrainian athletes have had to rethink their entire organization, an entire country, behind the scenes, has had to adapt and change its training conditions. This extends all the way to the highest level, where professional players have spoken out, trying as best they can to help their nation.
Latest video
Top 5 Saturday 20
NAME, AGE
Taylor Fritz, 25
Frances Tiafoe, 25
Sebastian Korda, 22
Tommy Paul, 25
Jenson Brooksby, 22
John Isner, 37
Ben Shelton, 20
J.J. Wolf, 24
Reilly Opelka, 24
Brandon Nakashima 21
-- First career Slam SF
-- First US man into the top 4 in Melbourne in 13 years
-- Gonna be Top 20 on Monday