The boys have an excellent top-echelon - we've barely never had so many lads in the top tier of the junior rankings.
However, it then gets very skinny, a sort of reverse pyramid
I've put the top-500 boys (plus Mark Ceban as our one stand-out youngster player)

Boys

Jan 1st 2024

3 - Henry Searle

13 - Oliver Bonding ('07)

25 - Viktor Frydrych

27 - Charlie Robertson

51 - Ben Gusic Wan ('07)

99 - Henry Jefferson


248 - Max Carrier ('07)

258 - Luke Hooper

355 - Jay Johnson-Hauldren

418 - Zech Hamrouni ('07)

550 - Mark Ceban ('09)

You're right, Oscariyan, the profile of the boys' top-100 is very different from the girls and hence Oliver and Ben are right up there

There are no 2009-born boys in the top-100, only 4 2008-born boys, and only one of those is in the top-50 (i.e. ahead of Ben)

There are, however, 32 2007-born lads

Oliver is the 4th player in the world for his age

Ben is the 16th

Others may well know them better. I've never seen Oli Bonding play live, although I've watched quite a lot of his livestream matches. I've seen Ben play live several times.

But with that caveat, the two are extremely different.

Firstly, in physique. Bonding is a relatively tall boy, quite well built, and will be quite an imposing figure on a court later on. Partly because of that, he's got a good serve, comes to the net quite often, an aggressive game.

Ben is really quite short, and (IMO) is unlikely to have a major growth spurt. But quite strong, not a little wisp of nothing sort of lad. His serve has a lot more spin, as do his groundshots, he comes to the net less, but he has excellent ball skills, very dynamic.

Ben also has a joy of playing when he's on the court which is very contagious.

In terms of future potential, Oliver is obviously the more standard candidate - I also am under the impression that his parents are reasonably well-off, which certainly helps (not so sure about the Gusic Wan family) - Oliver was training with Miles Maclagan this year (Andy's old guy)

Ben plays some great tennis, and there's always room for different types in tennis, but you've got to hold a few reservations when you look at a photo like this and realise they're the same age:

www.bracknellnews.co.uk/resources/images/16647112.jpg

How tall are both Oli and and Ben? The photo reminds me of Diego and Isner a bit.

Yes, exactly. Bluebelle, the last time I saw Ben close to was in spring 2023 and I would have said about 5ft 5 max.

His dad was there too, who is about 5 ft 6 or 7 max, again at a guess and apologies to Mr Gusic Wan if I'm slightly off but that's my reckoning. (Although his father is also quite a strong build, square shouldered, broad chest....)

I don't know for sure about Olly Bonding, never having seen him live but he's always struck me as quite a tall kid - about 6ft or a touch over, at a guess.

Blue_Belle wrote:

---

Evo, Diego and Nishikori aren't much taller and have had successful careers (I would say)

---

 Oh yes, definitely possible. They're are a few. That's tennis. 

But they're are far more who are like Dan Cox, who was an excellent junior at 14, but when everyone else grew and he stopped at 5ft 6 or 7, it became an extremely 'tall' ask

(And Dan Cox may also have had a 'successful' career - again, that's a subjective call. But even more may be like Ewen Lumsden who quite openly said several years back that he'd like to go pro but was waiting to see if he grew because if he didn't there wasn't much point. And went to college instead. And is still doing pretty OK in tennis. But, net net, there's a reason that most top tennis players are about 6 foot or more)

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Saturday 6th of January 2024 08:04:48 AM

Top 100 and main upward movers

Boys

Jan 8th 2024

3 - Henry Searle

13 - Oliver Bonding ('07)

25 - Viktor Frydrych

27 - Charlie Robertson

51 - Ben Gusic Wan ('07)

100 (-1) Henry Jefferson


512 (+38) Mark Ceban ('09)

854 (+23) Enrico Franchi ('07)

1186 (+22) Rafi Kiss

1274 (+33) Louis Hull ('07)

2009-born Mark Ceban is now into the top-500

He is currently the 4th best ranked player in the world for his age


Top 100 and main upward movers

Boys

Jan 22nd 2024

3 - Henry Searle

12 (+1) Oliver Bonding ('07)

23 (+1) Viktor Frydrych

28 (-3) Charlie Robertson

54 (-3) Ben Gusic Wan ('07)



248 (+9) Max Carrier ('07)

387 (+37) Zech Hamrouni ('07)

455 (+61) Mark Ceban ('09)


537 (+65) Alfie King ('07)

605 (+38) Lawrie Wilkin ('07)

633 (+133) Sai Gandepalli

694 (+88) Sam Chadwick ('07)

837 (+19) Enrico Franchi ('07)

842 (+33) Rhya Watters

855 (+159) Jesse Clarkson ('08)

989 (+60) Kouros Anssarizadeh


1033 (+71) Rhys Lawlor ('09)

1063 (+114) Harry Lumb

1110 (+97) Harry Abel ('07)

1393 (+125) Murray Watters ('09)

1527 (+887) Alex English