Boys: US Open Juniors - Grade A (Week 36)

Spectator · All-time great

RE: Boys: US Open Juniors - Grade A (Week 36)

DavidC · Tennis legend

Relief as Cameron and partner convert their fourth matchpoint to oust the third seeds, and prevent a complete whitewash in the boys' events

Doubles R1

Nakagawa/Norrie (JPN/GBR) d. (3) Khachanov/Medvedev (RUS) 1-6 6-3 [11-9]

indiana · Tennis legend

Good stuff.

That's the top 3 seeds in the boys' doubles lost in R1 after MTBs.

Reeltime · Satellite level

I'm thinking a Coric-Quinzi final could be spectacular!

DavidC · Tennis legend

Doubles R2

Nakagawa/Norrie (JPN/GBR) v Hong/Kim (KOR)

They are on court 10 after the current match (which is at 7-5 5-6)

DavidC · Tennis legend

7-6(2) 4-6 so match tiebreak to decide

DavidC · Tennis legend

Doubles R2

Hong/Kim (KOR) d. Nakagawa/Norrie (JPN/GBR) 6-7(2) 6-4 [10-8]

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Now, Korri, you know that you're setting yourself up to be blitzed by all the 'Tim Henman followers' who believe that junior tennis has nothing to do with adult tennis - do it at your peril ! You're a brave man . . .

However, on balance, I tend to side with Tim slightly - there is SO much to be taken into account that I really don't think our juniors' success (or lack of it) has much to do with future success (maybe at the absolute tip-top end but not elsewhere).

But maybe I'm feeling all chipper today because I just watched a beauty of a match from Enrique Vidal, our 16 year-old national champion. I'm usually pretty cynical about youngsters, not easily impressed (it's experience form what I've been involved in) but he was a joy (and Isaac Stoute, age 17, his opponent, was no slouch either).

I'm going to post about it (and the other youngsters) in the junior nationals thread because I think it fits best there. But I wouldn't count out some of our also-runs - they may well surprise people . . .

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Thursday 5th of September 2013 05:46:26 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

With the cupboard looking to me a bit bare for the boys' juniors coming through ( the absent Kyle very much excepted ) I wonder who anyone sees as currently looking like real prospects among the 1995 to 1998 born ?

korriban · Challenger level

indiana wrote:
With the cupboard looking to me a bit bare for the boys' juniors coming through ( the absent Kyle very much excepted ) I wonder who anyone sees as currently looking like real prospects among the 1995 to 1998 born ?

95 no obvious stars really.

96 no obvious stars, Julian Cash if he pushes on rapidly, but look at Coric, Quinzi, Zverev, Koslov (who may be 97!) etc.

97 no obvious stars.

98 perhaps Jay Clarke, but as other kids have caught him up on the physical side his results have plateaued.

99 Max Stewart - now he has consistently been whooping the opposition at home and overseas, with 1 or 2 exceptions. But it 99, so frankly anything could happen. He'd be my pick in terms of "real prospects"

The cupboard looks bare......

DavidC · Tennis legend

Unlike in the girls there is a big gap between juniors and pros, so as CD says you can only be confident of translation into pro success for the very cream (1 or 2 per year on average). We have had a number of players, including Bambridge, Hoyt, Ashley, Sapwell and Clarke in the 95-98 range who could have been regarded as in or near to the world top 10 for their year at some point. None of these 5 are at present, but might do so again in a few years time or equally may disappear without trace, such is the nature of development in the boys' game, unlike the girls, where the top juniors usually make it at least to Tour level. Equally there is scope for players like JWH to come through later - so there is plenty of hope for future Tour or Challenger level players from this group but little confidence in predicting which individuals will make it.

indiana · Tennis legend

Interesting viewpoints.

While undoubtably some players will come through later and ( particularly early ) junior success is no sort of guarantee to future success, the current boys overall position is disappointing.

And to say this has no bearing on the future would be an exagerration.

DavidC · Tennis legend

Only one of the top 4 seeds failed to reach the semis: Wimbledon champ Quinzi losing to the Aussie Open runner-up Kokkinakis (the Aussie maintaining a fine tradition, with at least 1 Grand Slam finalist or world number 1 in each year group since 1992, which bodes well for them having a few players at ATP level eventually ). Borna Coric is showing good form in advance of the Davis Cup and is the only player yet to lose a set

SF

(1) Zverev v (4) Coric
(3) Garin v Kokkinakis

DavidC · Tennis legend

There will be a fourth different grand slam champion this year to join Kyrgios, Garin and Quinzi, with both Coric and Kokkinakis recovering from losing the opening set 6-4 to take the second 6-3 and then the third (6-0 in the case of Coric). The last 2 slams of the year will therefore go to 96 boys.

RJA · Hall of fame

Coric will also go to Jnr No1 if he wins the final. He has however said that this will be his last junior event.