ATP: These players don't make enough of their talent
The editors of tennisnet.com have picked out those players who, in our opinion, have not made enough of their potential so far.
by the entire editorial team
last edit: Sep 28, 2021, 10:10 pm
Again and again highly praised and sung about, but in the end they did not quite achieve what they had in themselves - many tennis players cannot meet the expectations of fans, coaches or experts. The reasons for this are often varied, sometimes not really tangible. In addition to physical problems, the psyche and the inner attitude of the great career usually thwart the plan. In the editorial team, we thought about which players, in our opinion, have not been able to fully exploit their potential so far, who has clearly lagged behind our predictions and what reasons could be responsible for this. The list is completely subjective and of course it does not claim to be exhaustive. Here we go:
Grigor Dimitrov : Dimitrov was already number 3 in the world, won the ATP Finals - so it's difficult to say that he didn't achieve enough. You just expected more. And it (partly) still does: Dimitrov has everything it needs to consistently play at the top: a fantastic technique, no real weakness, insane athleticism ... and yet there are “only” three semifinals in Grand Slam tournaments in his success statistics . Dimitrov and his peers around Raonic, Nishikori and Co. are often referred to as "lost generation", they were often overshadowed by the "Big Three". Above all, Dimitrov always had to listen to comparisons with Roger Federer, because his technique is so similar to that of the maestro. In 2017, it seemed, he had cleared himself up, but the years that followed were disappointing again. I would be happy if he attacks again at the top in 2022. (Florian Goosmann)
Philipp Kohlschreiber: Was the best player of the last decade and a half on the ATP tour with an emphasis on "player" (excluding Roger Federer, of course)? N / A? Right: Philipp Kohlschreiber. Kohli can and could do everything. Every variation of the topspin and undercut, the shot along the line, the neat stop, yes, once he even led the ace statistics at Wimbledon up to the quarter-finals. Philipp has won all of the events that are important to him: Munich three times, Kitzbühel on two occasions, and he was also successful in Halle. Well, home wins in Stuttgart and Hamburg would have been welcome too, but with eight tournament wins, the record is actually wonderful. However, it could have been better. Maybe even have to? Because with the 1000s or the majors it was often too early for a man with Kohlschreiber's skills to end. The quarter-finals at Wimbledon 2012 was the only appearance among the last eight. Because, and this is a wild assumption, Kohli often did not believe in even greater things himself. The best example of this: At the US Open 2018, Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Alexander Zverev in the third round with a brilliant performance. In view of his next opponent, Kei Nishikori, Kohli has become defensive. That's how he played against the Japanese. And of course lost. The good news: Philipp Kohlschreiber is absolutely at peace with himself and has been playing tennis again with great pleasure lately. And, of course, he can look back with satisfaction on his gently ending career. (Jens Huiber)
Nick Kyrgios: Very well. It goes without saying that Nick Kyrgios should not be missing from this list. In no other player are genius and madness so close together as in the 26-year-old Australian. It has been clear since his early years on the tour that Kyrgios poses a danger to every opponent in the world on good days. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - even the probably three best tennis players of all time got the short straw in the first comparison with the man from Canberra. Kyrgios knows how to inspire the fans - provided he feels like it - with brutal serves, sensational forehand shots and unique trick shots in an inimitable way. But it is also clear that the Australian has so far made too little of his enormous talent. Kyrgios is still waiting for his first ATP Masters 1000 title as well as a semi-final in a major tournament. Whether Kyrgios will scratch the curve again at the age of 26 can at least be doubted: The Australian has recently played with thoughts of resignation. At least from an entertainment point of view, it would be a huge loss for tennis. (Nikolaus Fink)
Bernard Tomic: This article would go beyond the scope that has already been planned, if we were to deal in detail with Bernard Tomic's apparently more than difficult family situation. Just this much - if your own father (and coach) shoots you with an air pistol or gives you punches in the face, if he is not satisfied with the training performance of the offspring, the assumption is that safety, security and inner balance are no daily career companions of the former child prodigies. Tomic was considered an absolute top talent at the beginning of the 10s, was in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon at the tender age of 18 (his best result in a Grand Slam tournament to this day). As a junior he even won the major events in Australia (2008) and the USA (2009). This was followed by mixed years, which repeatedly produced smaller successes, such as his first three 250cc titles in Sydney and Bogota, but had at least as many embarrassing setbacks for the Australian. Scandals and little scandals predominantly dominated the reporting on the man from "down under" - including extortion, fines, alcohol alcoholism and, last year, also lies about a potential COVID-19 disease. And these will in truth be what will remain of Bernard Tomics' career in the general tennis memory if the now 28-year-old should one day finally staple his racket on the wall. A sad warning of how psychological wounds and scars can tear a once highly praised super talent into the abyss. Tomic is currently in place 261 in the ATP ranking. (Stefan Bergmann)
Denis Shapovalov: A player who would probably not be included in this list, but whose mention is justified. We remember: As early as 2017, when he was 19 years old, the Canadian created a strong exclamation mark, defeated world number one Rafael Nadal at the home tournament in Montreal, and made it into the semifinals out of nowhere. Since then, Shapovalov - equipped with a wonderful forehand, a strong serve and a backhand that puts you in the - admittedly exciting - state of permanent simultaneity of ecstasy and despair - has earned a solid place among the 20 best tennis players in the world. But not anymore. The semifinals of Wimbledon 2021 once again showed what the lively Canadian is capable of. Nonetheless, it showed that Shapovalov is delivering a permanent tightrope act between genius and madness, between glorious winners and terribly over-the-top mistakes. A tightrope act on which the 22-year-old has not yet found a constant balance. And this is what it takes so that the tenth in the world can reach its full potential. (Michael Rothschädl)
So now you are asked: Who do you think are the players who make the least of their talent? Let us know in the comments on facebook. We look forward to exciting discussions!