Tennis: All Purpose Tennis Thread X

[discostu]

So no matter what happens today Shapovalov will be playing in Vancouver and not Cincy. He was already committed to playing in Vancouver, so he can't pull out of Vancouver to then play in Cincy.

Bit of a shame, but a chance to get more experience at the Challenger level isn't a bad thing. I think he'll be a fixture at the bigger events soon enough.

 

[Tuggy]

This match going about how I expected.

Hopefully Denis can raise his level.

 

[Belial]

Mannarino has such a weird style, I think Denis lacks the experience to figure him out.

 

[Tuggy]

Much better in the second set.

We have a 3rd set.

 

[kanuck87]

Mannarino looks like he's wearing down. As long as Denis can avoid making too many errors, he's clearly the better talent here.

 

[GoodKiwi]

I'm so darn nervous!

 

[Tuggy]

Denis gets the break in the 3rd. 2-1

 

[kanuck87]

Mannarino looks done. There's nothing in his serve or his shots right now. He hasn't hit a winner this set yet.

 

[Belial]

Mannarino is not 100% IMO. Let's go, Denis, you can beat this guy!

 

[Tuggy]

Gives the break right back. Awful at the net again.

 

[Belial]

Gives the break right back. Awful at the net again.

Definitely something he needs to work on, so many easy points lost at the net...

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Wow what an unreal shot.

 

[Tuggy]

Break and a chance to serve for the match!

 

[Novak Djokovic]

This is good stuff.

 

[Tuggy]

Denis does it!

Zverev or Anderson in the SF.

 

[Belial]

Unbelievable! What a freaking story!!!

 

[discostu]

What a story. Moves up to the high 60s in the live ranking, overtaking Pospisil as Canada's second highest ranked player.

Unreal for an 18 year old. It's amazing the fight the kid has. He seems to have a knack for dropping the first set but still pulling it out. That's a great quality for any athlete to have.

 

[MsMeow]

I love how he figured out what to change during the match

 

[Hadoop]

I wanna be cautious about predicting stardom for Shapovalov. But he is winning these matches despite the inconsistency and lack of a volley game typical of a teenager.

 

[kihei]

I was having a great time in Toronto, once the drizzle stopped, watching two exciting three-set matches and the word from Montreal was that Denis got blown out 6-2 in the first. I thought, well, that was that. Then I got home. I do not believe this kid.

 

[kanuck87]

I wanna be cautious about predicting stardom for Shapovalov. But he is winning these matches despite the inconsistency and lack of a volley game typical of a teenager.

I agree. When Eugenie Bouchard went on her run (a couple of years back), she looked a lot better than how Denis is playing right now. I think we all thought for sure that Bouchard was destined to be a superstar and look how that turned out.

 

[Cole Caulifield]

I agree. When Eugenie Bouchard went on her run (a couple of years back), she looked a lot better than how Denis is playing right now. I think we all thought for sure that Bouchard was destined to be a superstar and look how that turned out.

I disagree that Eugenie looked better. She was older and didn't have all the tools Shapovalov has (relatively speaking of course). Shapovalov has everything (forehand, backhand, movement on court, composure, strong serve), well.. everything but a volley game. Eugenie never had a good serve, never could build her points. When she had success it was all about hitting the ball early as hard as possible and crossing fingers. Doesn't work against elite players.

Shapovalov beating Nadal this year when Nadal was ultra focused on trying to become #1 again (if he had won that game he was going to be #1 again) in a masters tournament is a greater feat than anything Eugenie has done IMO. He's the youngest player ever to get that far in a master tournament. And he had to beat Del Potro and Nadal to do it. It's pretty incredible what he has done.

Us canadians have been blessed with some amazing Tennis players compared to previous years.

 

[Belial]

I agree. When Eugenie Bouchard went on her run (a couple of years back), she looked a lot better than how Denis is playing right now. I think we all thought for sure that Bouchard was destined to be a superstar and look how that turned out.

It happens a lot more often on the WTA circuit that a really young player impresses.

On the ATP circuit, it's rare, what Shapovalov is doing is really something incredible.

He's the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal in the history of this sport!

 

[kanuck87]

I disagree that Eugenie looked better. She was older and didn't have all the tools Shapovalov has (relatively speaking of course). Shapovalov has everything (forehand, backhand, movement on court, composure, strong serve), well.. everything but a volley game. Eugenie never had a good serve, never could build her points. When she had success it was all about hitting the ball early as hard as possible and crossing fingers. Doesn't work against elite players.

Eugenie was ranked as high as #5 in the world and made at least the SF in 3 different grand slams in 2014. Saying that it was "all about hitting the ball early as hard as possible and crossing fingers" is being a bit disingenuous. She clearly had a lot of talent.

Shapovalov should be so lucky if he ever gets a top-5 ranking in his lifetime. Not saying that he doesn't have the talent to do it, but when you're talking top-5 or even top-10, it takes more than just talent to get there and right now, it's too soon to tell if Denis has it or not.

 

[Loosie]

Shapovalov vs. Zverev for a spot in the finals tomorrow. What an amazing run he's on.