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Part 2 : Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career? Cilic, etc etc)

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#1 · (Edited)
Like the previous thread where deivid and myself had the convo about the 8 players and divided them into groups of 2 and seeing who had the more potential for success from Gasquet, Murray, Baghdatis, Berdych, Verdasco, Djokovic, Monfils and del Potro.

This time we have 8 players, but there will be no groups. It will be like how I run the Liked/Disliked players thread, rate from then to 1 to 8. One being the best and 8 the worst. Give reasons if possible, it will make it more interesting to read.

Yes, their GS results will be updated as they compete in them and follow the progression of them into top players for some and others maybe not. For the most part I tried to get them in the same age, but Tsonga is here mainly because 2007 was his 1st full season without injury problems.

Success, well that would mean best potential or which one of them will win GS titles and TMC/TMS titles in the future.

The list of 8 are

- Gulbis
- Korolev
- Tsonga
- Cilic
- Young
- Querrey
- Zverev
- Bolelli

There is some variety among these players. Tsonga and big Sam with the huge shots, Zverev with the serve/volley, Korolev huge groundies, Gulbis has good variation. Young plays differently as he isn't all about the power. Cilic has very good work ethic and Bolelli could do well in some clay events.
 
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#2 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

I think Simone is also good indoors.

I wish I'd say Mischa will have the best career, but I doubt it. He's definitely got the nicest game to watch, though.

Tsonga and Querrey are good, but too inconsistent to be a real threat all year long. Ditto for Cilic.

I think Evgeny has the most potential to have a great, solid career.
 
#3 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?



Very good thread mate...really struggling to choose one out of that list. I'll eliminate Tsonga first as I don't see him making much noise on the slower surfaces.

Only seen 2 minutes of Korolev on Youtube, so I can't really comment.

I'm expecting Cilic to be top 20 eventually, but he might lack consistency to threaten for many title wins, especially the bigger events.

Bolelli should do well, but, again, I'm not sure about his chances in the bigger tournaments.

Gulbis has the power to beat most players, so if he can learn how to control his aggression, he is capable of doing a lot of damage imo.

Querrey has top 20 potential imo; same with Young (maybe top 10).

Zverev is lacking in a few areas, and I'd put him in the same boat as Tsonga...top 50 at best imo.

Overall, I'd go with Gulbis, Korolev or Cilic.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Gulbis has such a messy game, terrible to watch. He may be able to emulate Ljubicic like results, but it's doubtful. People always see these youngsters rise into the top 100 and 50 and immediately epithet them as the next big thing. The reality is that at this point, many of these players will plateau and remain a mediocre entity with the occasional good result.

A large percentage of our legends did not become top 10 material overnight, so those with rapid development aren't always the best to bet on for the future. I'm more inclined to believe that Bolelli, who has so many weapons in his arsenal, will one day tame his strokes and garner some consistency. He has a forehand to rival the best in the game and his backhand is also a well-constructed, fluid stroke. Under the right guidance, he has a chance to develop into something special.

Out of those you listed, Young, Zverev and Tsonga are the other potential standouts.
 
#7 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Korolev for me has the most potential, but this means shit really and once he learns he doesn't need to murder the ball, then can do well on all surfaces except grass.
 
#24 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Korolev for me has the most potential, but this means shit really and once he learns he doesn't need to murder the ball, then can do well on all surfaces except grass.
Ditto, a to some extent, the same goes for Gulbis. I think those two are the ones with most potential, though I don't know who I'd put ahead of the other.
 
#8 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Whenever i watch Gulbis and DY, i always feel as if I am watching potentially great players. DY isnt the typical American big serve big forehand shit backhand crap movement clownish volleys guy. He has alot of variety, a nice breath of air from the "bolietieri-izing" baseline smashers w/ big serves.

Gulbis as well, great kid, still needs some more years under his belt, but he got into the top 50 this year and slid back a bit, but he is also an all-surface threat
 
#12 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Much prefer the individual approach to the 2 group approach.

With the 2 groups there were players in each I rated and players I did not rate.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

1. Korolev
2. Gulbis
3. Young
4. Cilic
5. Bolelli
6. Zverev
7. Querrey
8. Tsonga

just random thinking, I havent seen enough of them to judge.
Korolev and Gulbis have the more complete game IMO and can play well in various surfaces. Also they played quite enough tournaments on the main tour already. Cilic might need another year for his full potential but I can see him in top 20 in 2-3 years. Simone closed the season in style winning the rich Bratislava Challenger and showed that he's not just a clay courter. He's older than the other guys (bar Tsonga) so i dont see him so well in this list to be honest. Young did well to finish season in top 100 but we all know his record in ATP matches. Let's see how he matches with the top 50s next season but he's young and has game so I see him winning plenty of titles.
The other 3 are a bit limited in certain surfaces. Zverev and Tsonga are far from being consistent and Querrey hasnt convinced me much. I like Zverev's style though but he needs quite fast courts to do well and courts are getting slower and slower
 
#166 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

1. Korolev
2. Gulbis
3. Young
4. Cilic
5. Bolelli
6. Zverev
7. Querrey
8. Tsonga

just random thinking, I havent seen enough of them to judge.
Korolev and Gulbis have the more complete game IMO and can play well in various surfaces. Also they played quite enough tournaments on the main tour already. Cilic might need another year for his full potential but I can see him in top 20 in 2-3 years. Simone closed the season in style winning the rich Bratislava Challenger and showed that he's not just a clay courter. He's older than the other guys (bar Tsonga) so i dont see him so well in this list to be honest. Young did well to finish season in top 100 but we all know his record in ATP matches. Let's see how he matches with the top 50s next season but he's young and has game so I see him winning plenty of titles.
The other 3 are a bit limited in certain surfaces. Zverev and Tsonga are far from being consistent and Querrey hasnt convinced me much. I like Zverev's style though but he needs quite fast courts to do well and courts are getting slower and slower
Great prediction... :p :lol: ;)
 
#14 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

if gulbis gets some consistency next year and tries to stay focussed a little more during matches, i thing he has a good chance to break into the top 20.

i'll always remember that match vs. robredo. man, he crushed him, good lord...
 
#15 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

1.Gulbis
2.Young
3.Korolev
4.Tsonga
5.Zverev
6.Cilic
7.Querrey
8.Bolelli
 
#17 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

I think Zverev or Bolelli will have the best career!
 
#18 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

I haven't seen much of these players but I have trouble seeing them being elite players and I only see Young doing anything real and that will take much time and effort and better attitude. I am not sure about Gulbis as I never saw him but did see his name around so he could be dangerous. Once more, like that other poll where you put Verdasco, Tsonga here is not young and is 4 years older than D. Young.
 
#21 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

I haven't seen much of these players but I have trouble seeing them being elite players and I only see Young doing anything real and that will take much time and effort and better attitude. I am not sure about Gulbis as I never saw him but did see his name around so he could be dangerous. Once more, like that other poll where you put Verdasco, Tsonga here is not young and is 4 years older than D. Young.

You seem incapable of seeing beyond Djokovic.:devil:
 
#19 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

My prediction is that Gulbis and Cilic will be the ones who will have the best career
 
#23 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Gulbis and Cilic.
 
#26 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

It is a difficult call at this point, as these guys are still developing but they are at the point where they can play at the ATP circuit. By the way, Tsonga belongs to this group since he had injuries earlier on so he couldn't play a full schedule until this year. Here we go:

1. Korolev
2. Cilic
3. Gulbis
4. Young
5. Querrey
6. Bolelli
7. Tsonga
8. Zverev

Korolev for me has the most serious potential but he still has got some learning to do, he has some serious power from both wings and he is a good returner. His serve, while unconventional can be enough for the job. Hopefully he will stay healthy next year.
Cilic is very much like Ancic but with worse serve and better movement. He might still need the next year to develop but he has an excellent work ethic and I see him in the top-20 eventually.
Gulbis has some serious power and he also possesses surprising touch, he will need some time to mature mentally. I see him as having more potential than Cilic eventually but he seems to be seriously averse to clay.
Young is a very original player and can do very well but it remains to be seen what possible trauma was left from his early ATP matches and the record he carries.
Sam will need to develop a much better net game given his movement, and he will also need to close out matches successfully. He had a horrible end of the year but he will bounce back. One thing that people didn't notice was that he entered Barcelona and Estoril qualifiers early, it will be interesting to see whether he will follow the same policy next year.
I am not convinced about Bolelli, he certainly has the potential but needs to deliver. Tsonga is sadly fragile, otherwise his power could put him in the top-30. Zverev is great to watch but sadly he was born 15 years too late. Hopefully he can adjust his style a bit.
 
#46 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

One thing that people didn't notice was that he entered Barcelona and Estoril qualifiers early, it will be interesting to see whether he will follow the same policy next year.
He should do it. He has a poor record this year on clay but I witnessed some of those sharp losses and was reported as well about his match against Pico in Estoril and he is definetely not as hopeless as many people think.
 
#31 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

Gulbis and Zverev.

I am pretty much upset saying this as Korolev's #1 fan and a "stepmother", and I don't even doubt he has the biggest potential, but it is just sad what is going on with Russians in tennis. You know what I mean.

I chose Gulbis because he does have the strong shots and is not afraid of the best. He happened to win back after losing a set already as a teen; his head is okay so far. Yes, he has "horrible mistakes" says, but even Federer does.

Zverev is very underappreciated here, while he is a s&v player, who can also deal on a claycourt (!). All up for the damage, as long as his injuries won't bother him too much.

I put Zverev there instead of Tsonga, because Mischa is better on clay IMO. Tsonga is another one who suffers of injuries.

Cilic, yes he can be another Ancic/Ljuba and surely will achieve something. But a gut feeling tells me to be not fully convinced (or maybe that I will never be a fan of him).

Young is James Blake in a making (head cracks) but already far more legendary. I wish the best to The Don.

Querrey and Bolelli won't be ever anything big. Querrey can be Mardy Fish #2 and Bolelli the Massu#2 at best. Simone isn't even at 0,0001 as annoying though. Simone likes to party and his head cracks. Never good for a sportsman. I wish him all the best anyway (such a great guy :angel: )
 
#32 ·
Re: Part 2. Which one of these 8 youngsters will have the best career?

OK, if you want them in order, I'd put them as follows:

1. Korolev
2. Gulbis
3. Cilic
4. Tsonga
5. Young
6. Bolelli
7. Zverev
8. Querrey

With the sidenote that I really hope Mischa proves me wrong and gains in consistency. While I do agree with Nathaliia that he can play on clay better than Tsonga, he is still extremely vulnerable, and I see this vulnerability as an inbuilt tendency in his game. But, as I said before, the most interesting style out of all players.

I am hoping Gulbis, Cilic and Tsonga will not do as well as I predict. They rely so much on power :yawn: If this is tennis' next generation, it will be a snoozefest for me. :zzz: Cilic especially is extremely boring to me. Tsonga at least has the showmanship to fire up a crowd.

Young is really a wild card here. He could either develop and go far, or could completely flunk. So I just ranked him in the middle of the pack because I simply don't know.

Bolelli is a really nice player to watch, and I think he can play on all surfaces including grass. He's got quite a good net game too and I don't agree with people who said he is mostly a claycourter. However, I think he just is not good enough to reach the Top 20, while I can, unfortunately, see the likes of Cilic get there relatively easily.

Querrey for me is just bland. He has completely failed to impress me, but could have some outstanding results with his all-power-and-no-intelligence game.
 
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