Promising Young Tennis Players
The promising young tennis players of today aren’t here to replace the great ones, such as Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Gradually, they’re making a new path and leaving their marks on the history of the sport.
No player can be a copy of another, not even by trying. Young players may be inspired by the techniques of the most experienced and thus, have some similarities, to a greater or lesser extent. One way or another, they’ll always end up developing their own style. Experience is something that can’t be copied.
At present, we can highlight three young promising tennis players, who despite their young age, are making their way among the great players of the ATP ranking.
The German tennis player who generates the highest expectations
Firstly, we must introduce Alexander Zverev, one of the most outstanding young athletes in tennis. He’s a German tennis player who is only 20 years old. In 2015, he received the award for the youngest player in the ATP’s Top 100. His highest ranking at an individual level was number three, which he achieved on September 11, 2017.
The same year, he won the Masters 1000 title in Rome. This would allow him to enter the top 10 for the first time in his career, despite his young age.
“Alexaner Zverev is a standard-bearer of the new generation of tennis players. The most complete, the player who is the most focused, and with the fastest evolution of all.”
-Rafael Nadal-
Alexander Zverev isn’t only a competitive player, but also a very self-critical sportsman; as we can see in these statements about his season in 2017:
“2017 was an incredible season. Still, the end of the year was terrible for me. If I had not played all year as I did, I think I wouldn’t have even made the top 50 by the end of the season.”
-Alexander Zverev-
Even with his bad finish in 2017, Zverev plans to start the new season on the right foot:
“Now, my goal is the Grand Slams, it’s something I want to improve on this season. I want to go further in those tournaments. At the moment, I’m doing well, I am only 20 years old so I can’t complain. Unfortunately, you can never have it all.”
-Alexander Zverev-
Promising young tennis players: are talent and rebellion compatible?
Another promising young tennis player is Nick Kyrogios: a 22-year-old Australian who is already the envy of many due to his skill. Hence, he’s emerging as one of the best tennis players.
He won the 2013 Australian Open in the junior singles category. In 2014, he was able to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon by defeating Rafael Nadal in the second round.
Thanks to the tennis he plays with a very fast ball rhythm, he has already achieved 3 ATP titles. This accomplishment led him to the top 50 ranking at 19 years of age. Due to his youth, he can sometimes exceed the limits of what is acceptable. If he’s able to mature and control this, he will become one of the great tennis stars of the future.
Last season, he made some statements that were unbecoming of a player of his level.
“Last year I played 18 tournaments. I let my opponents win in eight of them and I’m still in the Top 20.”
-Nick Kyrgios-
The young man who has beaten Nadal
Borna Coric is the last of these promising young tennis players who must be mentioned. At 21 years of age, he is also in the ATP’s top 50 ranking.
By finishing in 92nd place of the ATP’s ranking in the 2014 season, he was awarded the star of tomorrow by the ATP for being the youngest player in the Top 100. Despite having fewer titles than the previous players, his record holds two victories against Rafael Nadal. This gives us an idea of the quality of his game, as well as his consistency on the court.
After one of his victories against Nadal, Coric made the following statement:
“When I beat Rafa and reached those semi-finals in Basel, I never thought that was my true level. I thought that my level was maybe between 60 and 70 of the best players in the world, but not among the 30 best.”
-Borna Coric-
Only time will tell what the trajectory of these young tennis players will be. For now, we must observe their evolution and hope for the best.