Week 29 - USA F20 ($10,000) - Tulsa, OK (Hard)

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Week 29 - USA F20 ($10,000) - Tulsa, OK (Hard)

TMH · Futures qualifying

It's interesting how some players don't pull up many trees at junior level but then go on to shine far more than their junior peers at the professional level.

Kyle for instance had a weaker record than both Oli and Liam at junior level (although he did make the USO SFs at 16) and was never higher than junior CR 8 but has clearly far outshone them on the main tour.

Spectator · All-time great

The thing with Thiem, as I recall it, as that he suddenly put things together at the end of his junior career: (checks ITF record: yes, not much before that, but then RG final, won the Gerry Weber, L16 Wimbledon, not so great US hardcourt season, and then won back-to-back Yucatan, Eddie Herr and the Orange Bowl. And at the same time, in doubles, won the Gerry Weber, the Canadian Open, SF US Open and Eddie Herr, and final of the Orange Bowl. It was something of a clue that he might go somewhere ...) It all goes back to the point of people maturing at different stages ....

And as people always note, there are things that will help you do well in juniors but not seniors, too...

-- Edited by Spectator on Monday 21st of July 2014 04:22:38 PM

murray_2k9 · Challenger qualifying

Juniors seems to be a better indicator in the womens game (although not always of course) which is probably because physicality can be such a bigger variable in the mens. A girl ranked in the top 25 in juniors are normally good enough to be WR500 or better, whereas with the boys they have to get stronger and more mature to start reaching that level, so a lot of them drop off and disappear.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Physicality is, of course, another reason for some of our 18 yo men to consider college. Many are just not strong enough to go much beyond Futures until 21 or 22. It is expensive and can be soul destroying staying in the bottom rung too long without making clear identifiable process. It can also be hard to get enough matches to improve. Take Toby Martin 21yo rank 749. He now appears to be moving on. However, since he played his first few professional matches in 2010 as a 17yo, he has lost 39 times in the first rd, 32 times in the 2nd, 7 times in QF, once in the SF and recently lost in his 1st final. given the costs and rewards involved, each of those matches has worked out quite expensive. Toby's progress is fairly typical of young men until their early 20s.

I agree with murray2k9 that physicality is not such an issue in the women and because of this I feel the case for women going to college is a little bit weaker.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I agree, Opti.

I put up the British Medical Association's (I think it was) page a while ago about growth rates/ages in teenagers.

It said that the average teenage girl finishes growing at 15 (I think it was) with a year either side as the normal curve.

The average boy, though, finishes at 17.5 (again from memory) with 2 years either side as the norm.

i.e. nearly all girls at age 18 will have finished growing some time back and have adapted to their bodies.

But the average 18-year old boy will only have just stopped growing, and many will still be doing so for the next year or two.

So they may still be a little gawky and un-coordinated (especially those who grow in a sudden spurt). Some will still be 'little boys'. They won't really have started to fill out because of all that growing.

It's very hard (and arguably pointless) to put the majority of those 18 year-olds up against hardened, fit 28 year-olds. (Doesn't apply to everyone obviously).