Great article.. I watched Tomic play for the first time today and was quite surprised. On a number of occasions, I thought the extra three matches(of qualifying) and the extra sets played had caught up with him but almost instantly he proved me wrong by blasting a winner past Novak. I kind of liked his game and for a long time he had Novak confused whether to play from the baseline(where ND lost a no. of points) or go to the net(Tomic passed brilliantly). So he's certainly one for the future.

What I loved is how....untroubled he looked while in control of the points. There he is hitting the ball "gently" while working Djokovic from one corner of the court to the other. And then WHAM! massive winner. And then he goes back to hitting gently again.

Good stuff.

I watched him for the very first time as well today, and to be honest although I predicted it would go to 4 sets, I expected him to be a bit tired, to miss his shots here and there, and for djokovic to completely overpower him. And after that first service game, I was sure he would just roll over. But once Nole went walkabout, he used that to gain his confidence and then played unbelievably well (except for moments in the third and fourth). He was definitely impressive today, especially his passing shots, they were amazing!


lovely article cheryl! :)

saw him play nadal at aussie open..it got me scared for a while. he leaves his opponent clueless as to his strokes.. he changes the pace unpredictably but effectively.. however, nadal got him panting with the long rallies..but he still scared nadal (and his fans).. this kid has a future.. djokovic looked like the wildcard in the match.. he tried so hard. he was lucky (Again)

I think he's fabulous. He's got this amazing flowing style, making everything look effortless and easy. Also, for someone who apparently doesn't move so well, he's got a remarkable knack of being where the ball is. I noticed this against Nadal at AO.
I think the future might be Atomic :)

I think you might be right, deuce and effortless is just the term I would use.

Yeah, I knew he would give Novak fits! But he is definitely one to watch in the near future.....................and it is not easy to play the way he is playing when most guys are about power hitting! I saw Novak kind of slicing and I was thinking......what.................Novak slicing?!!! It just seemed so funny......lol!!!

But all in all, good stuff from Tomic!!!

Tomic plays pushing style of tennis like Murray, he may as well be improved Murray version, certainly his tennis has a potential to be more interesting.

I really loved to see him play for the 1st time.
All those UEs are normal, he's very young, he was tired and Nole was putting him under a lot of pressure with his cat-like defense.
For sure a potential GS winner and a very pleasant player to watch!

rfzr, oh on your bike! You obviously have not been watching any of Andy's matches lately.
BTW possible definition of a "pusher," someone who gets the ball over the net and back into play....oh right...

PS why use a topic in praise of one player, in order to diss another?

Tomic isn't a pusher - he's just such a natural, reminds me so much of Mecir from the way he hits his forehand and moves. Glad Nole gave it his all and pulled it off, but this guy certainly looks like the future on faster courts. On clay, I'm not so sure.

samprallica - I think at this point he isn't fast enough to be effective on clay...but that's not to say that he can't develop that as he matures. Nadal wasn't any good on grass either...and then he was.

@rfzr

RFZR plays pushing style of posting like pennster, he may as well be a improved pennster version, certainly his postings have a potential to be less interesting.

deuce: not dissing anyone, i just find their games similar. tomic has more fluent serve motion (higher % too i believe) and can really notch it up when he attacks, and he attacks.

@Cheryl, I just don't see Tomic being successful on clay because he doesn't generate a heavy amount of topspin. Athleticism is a quality he can develop, but unless he opts to develop a technique where he can impart a lot more spin on the ball - which will be a major change, even bigger than the adjustments Rafa made on grass.

I also disagree that Rafa has not been good on grass. When he reached his first final, he was just 20, so I feel it was just a matter of inexperience on the surface prior to that - and a few adjustments. And he hasn't looked back since. It would have been a much different story on the old grass pre-2001, but Rafa has very much looked at home on this grass.

poor man's Simon, this Tomic

LOL, Ricky. You do have a way of getting straight to the point.

Disagree, he's 6'4" for a start and still growing into his power. But we'll see.

uh no hes not ricky. Tomic is bigger than Simon, and has access to a lot more power.(of both the serve and the groundstrokes) He also has a lot more variety than Simon.

Tomic not a pusher. The boy plays intelligent tennis, reads the game well and anticipates well so that make up for his lack of mobility. He plays a brand of tennis something like Murray's but more aggressive. He ran Cilic close at the AO 2009, pushing it to five sets. He was giving Rafa problems too at the AO this year but of course a off-colored Rafa still beat him in straight sets(afterall Rafa is Rafa!).

It will be interesting to see Tomic, Raonic, Harrison and Dimitrov in two to three years time, how they'll fare against the older guys and against each other. My order of preference, in terms of game style: Tomic, Harrison, Dimitrov, Raonic. My guess,in terms of their success: Raonic,Tomic, Harrison, Dimitrov.

Rafa is good on grass. He simply moves well on it, just like Fed. In fact he's the only one who can match Fed, in TMF mode, in terms of movement on grass. He has the game to play well on grass too, he just has to adjust his position at the baseline and plays his aggressive game. If you've watched Rafa's first match against Fed in 2004 Miami, when Rafa was only 17, you'll notice that Rafa plays aggressively on the hard courts, coming to the net as often as possible to finish the point. Of course in he process of beating Fed, he has to run a good deal too. So Rafa does have an aggressive game for grass, but it's overshadowed by his more successful defense/offence game on clay.

Hi Cheryl,

How about a blog for the 6'9 Isner vs. 5'6 Rochus final in Newport tomorrow? That must be some sort of record huh?

Maybe a Davis Cup one too?

Go Bernie!

If Raonic succeeds in modelling himself after Sampras, then yes he is the best otherwise I think Harrison or Tomic or Dimitrov have better chance. Both Harrison and Dimitrov need to learn more discipline and Tomic has to learn humility.
Tomic's arrogance reminds me of Anna Kournikova who claimed she would be no. 1 but never even won a WTA tour title. She was immensely talented.
I am sure though that Tomic will win win tour titles maybe even gs after 3-4 years as he does not have the distractions which Kournikova had. But his arrogance can prevent him from realizing his full potential.
That kind of attitude will have him stuck at a lower level of motivation as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Rafa, because of his humility, is at the highest level i.e. self-actualization. He seeks only to improve. That is his motivation.

I don't think Tomic is that arrogant, judging from what he said during his press conferences. He seems a sensible boy. The only problem for him is maybe his father, who seems to have a strong influence over his career, making all the decisions on behalf of his son..

Tomic is obviously very talented, however I see Raonic has a head start as he's older and Raonic's serve will carry him all the way and make life easier for him and difficult for his opponents. Raonic's problem may he injuries, he seems injury prone to me. Harrison seems hot headed and can be overly aggressive at times and goes for too much. It seems to me that Dimitrov can play well on grass but I'm not impressed with his hard court game so far. I think the intelligent boy Tomic can deal with the other three guys but like Murray has to work hard to trap his opponents.

Oh well Tomic is only 18 but somehow, I don't know whether I am prejudiced but none of them fill me with the excitement I felt when I discovered Rafa or Djokovic or Murray. Somehow, I had this feeling they were great. I felt like John Keats when he first read Homer (in translation).
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific ? and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise ?
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

Correction: when he first read Chapman's Homer( free translation)

I remember my first glimpse of AndyM. I don't remember all the details. I think he was 15. I remember him playing and then he vomited and his Mom or somebody came on court.
I don't remember much except that sense of excitement. Maybe he was like a young racehorse not yet ready but full of talent and nervous energy which he would learn to channel properly. Maybe a "superlative horse" as described by J. D. Salinger.
( the superlative horse ? one that raises no dust and leaves no tracks ? is something evanescent and fleeting, elusive as thin air).
But I am still waiting for my superlative horse to discover that he is a superlative horse.

If people are saying that Raonic plays like Sampras, Tomic like Murray and Dimitrov like Fed, who then do Harrison, Dolgo and Berankis resemble in terms of their style of play?

holdserve, amen to that discovery, amen indeed.

luckystar, good question.
Haven't really studied their games properly but Dolgo is unconventional like Rafa but not, probably in my biased eyes, anywhere close to him to merit comparison.
Berankis has been compared with Ferrer . Harrison is focusing on developing an all round game. Not sure whom he resembles.

If people are saying that Raonic plays like Sampras, Tomic like Murray and Dimitrov like Fed, who then do Harrison, Dolgo and Berankis resemble in terms of their style of play?
luckystar, 7/10/11 8:44 PM

It's easy!


Form wise,
Harrison Plays like Chico
Dolgo plays like Harpo
And Beranki is a dead ringer for Groucho!

We've yet to see the REAL next generation I believe, due to the physicality of the the tour at present...

Although for sure Tomic seems like he could (possibly) be the real deal.
To me anyway.

Yes, I think when they start playing full schedule lots of them are going to be out with injuries. In any case I doubt whether any of them will be seen as the real deal for the next three or four years.
So in the meantime I hope they will at least be as entertaining as the Marx brothers.

So in the meantime I hope they will at least be as entertaining as the Marx brothers....

Have you gone MAD holdie!!?
Nothing in this GALAXY is more entertaining than 'Duck Soup' darling.
Least of all a bunch of spotty underachieving tennis wannabees
The Fed is denigrated by many on this site but, my word, we are ALL going to miss him when he Finally puts away his rackets (I don't even want to THINK about Nadal retiring).
We've been spoiled for quite some time holdie honey.

Ha ha, I like that name holdie.
True, I already kind of miss those Fedal finals. Rafa-Djoko isn't that entertaining although of course it is out of the world tennis.
But Fed and Rafa somehow brought out the best in each other. And there was the drama, the excitement, the Fedal fan wars.
Besides as they were five years apart, there was the thrill of a challenger trying to unseat the king.
Now Rafa and Djoko are just one year apart so it is just a fight for the crown.
No passing of the baton here, just wresting the crown.

I think Tsonga, Monfils and Dolgo play very entertaining tennis? Wuld you like to reconsider your statement that nothing in the GALAXY is as entertaining as "Duck Soup" ? .

You miss the Fedal finals because you're fan on one of Fedal, I'm not sure non fans of Fedal really miss them. Some fans of other players can't wait for the Fedal era to be over and are happy that Nole has now taken over. To me Rafa taking over from Fed or Nole from Rafa are both wrestling for the crown, don't see this passing of baton thing going on, as Fed is time and again trying to wrestle back the crown, sometimes with success, sometimes doesn't. Fed is still in contention for the crown and will capitalize if Rafa or Nole has a dip in form. Remember 2009? Fed is not done yet. Murray and Delpo have to step up and make tennis more interesting when Fedal really retire.

The likes of Raonic or Tomic still need a few more years before they can be considered a threat to the existing top guys. Anyway, I feel the best of Delpo and Murray is yet to come, so let us have a few more years to enjoy them before the next batch takes over. I also wish for Rafa to extend his all court game from the hard courts to the other surfaces which I think it's essential for his own survival at the top of the game.

You know luckystar I am wondering why I was so full of excitement when Rafa, Djoko and AndyM arrived. Was it because Fed was monopolizing and these shining young men looked ready to challenge?
I am not so excited by the new crop of Harrison, Tomic, Dimitrov, Raonic because there are already four (or five great players, if you include Delpo) dominating the scene so one isn't really waiting for challengers or is the "next" crop just not as good?

"I think Tsonga, Monfils and Dolgo play very entertaining tennis? Wuld you like to reconsider your statement that nothing in the GALAXY is as entertaining as "Duck Soup" ? .
holdserve, 7/11/11 12:35 AM"

Well a night at the opera comes close for sure.
Agreed, I love Tsonga, monfils and actually I'm intrigued by dolgoplov (try saying that with a mouth full of spaghetti!).
As to luckystars point.
I would say YES Muzzy bear really needs to f"!?king step it up for the sake of ........
EVERYTHING! (Including world peace and the return of the baby Jesus to this world).
So, no pressure added really.....

Btw I mean 'A Night at the Opera' by the Marx brothers...
NOT a night at the opera....
Because that would suuuuccckkkk!

The longer Muzza waits, the more the pressure. Maybe if he wins a slam there will be an apocalypse. Four horsemen getting a fourth of the earth?

"The longer Muzza waits, the more the pressure. Maybe if he wins a slam there will be an apocalypse. Four horsemen getting a fourth of the earth?
holdserve, 7/11/11 1:43 AM

I'm not afraid, because I think he's still getting better,
And better.
The grim puzzle of inevitability folds and locks itself into place a la hellraiser ( if you remember).
I am a Muzzy Fan through and through, for some reason not worked out yet, I'm hypnotised by his play and pied piper ways
Damn him! As he likes to torture his fans so .
He doesn't love us at all it seems!
And I just keep coming back for more!
Because I know that well, if he does break through, well get ready for something that will be quite wonderful & shake the earth to it's CORE!
Apocalypse indeed....

Oh well, I am better off as I am a fan equally of Rafa and Muzza.
Of late with Djoko dominating, life has not been good. I thought by backing two horses, I had a good chance of at least one of my favorites romping home but sadly Muzza has failed to deliver so far. I am waiting for apocalypse.

By the way Sosueme and deuce, after Muzza starts winning don't become anti-Rafa like some of the Djoko fans have become. And don't let Fed fans anywhere near you. Shun them.

BTW holdserve loved your "stout Cortez" description on first seeing Andy. My most abiding memory of young Andy, is him swearing at Brad on court. Tee hee, not from middle England then. Have you watched his post match Davis Cup interview, guaranteed to make all Andy fans everywhere burst into tears? Very indicative of the stress and pressure he usually keeps bottled up inside.
Not sure I'm "excited" by Tomic, but I do love watching him play, that effortless style is very sweet.

deuce, thanks. That poem exactly describes the excitement of discovery of a new talent. I am wondering why I don't feel it with the new crop. Are they not that talented?
I haven't watched his post match Davis Cup interview. Will try to see a video or transcript.

I read a couple of articles covering his interview and even though I was just reading, I was moved to tears.
His match against Gilles Muller was particularly impressive.
I think this guy can beat Djokovic the next time they meet provided he can keep up this level of motivation for the US Open. I hope he is on the opposite side of the draw from Rafa.

holdie..;) it's http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/10072011/58/murray-breaks-tv.html

perhaps you're not too excited because Andy and Rafa hopefully have got a long way yet to go.
Of course I won't become "anti-Rafa" not in my nature and it's obvious Sosueme, while being a bit of a tease, really admires Rafa.

Ok, I saw the video and yes, you are right, it will have any Muzza fan in tears. Judy was also trying hard to blink back tears. It was a seriously moving interview.
Thanks!

Well I believe Rafa's batch, which consist of Nole, Murray, Delpo and even Cilic, are all more outstanding than the current batch of 18-20 years old, judging from their (Rafa's batch) rankings at age 19-20. Rafa, Nole and Delpo had already won slams at age 19-20. At sge 21, Murray had at least reached a slam final and Cilic a semifinal. I'll see in two to three years time, whether Raonic's batch can at least reach a SF in a slam; at least Tomic at 18 has now reached the QF of Wimbledon, so in that sense he's better than Raonic, Harrison and Dimitrov.

I've not check on Fed's batch of players but I do believe Safin, Hewitt and Roddick all were doing well too in their teens and also around the age of 20-21; Fed was a late developer and had won his first slam at almost age 22; Davy was also late and reached the top ten only in 2005, I think.

I think how good a player is can be decided when he has at least reached age 25.
Winning depends sometimes on a ball just falling within the baseline or a net-cord ball falling on the other side. So one or two slams don't decide greatness. And two people with equal potential, one may win at 19 or 20 and another at 22 because of the slight difference which luck of the draw or ball falling within lines could make. But after they have played for a few years their results will more accurately reflect their prowess.
Sampras won at 19 but he really wasn't ready.
He too really developed that "great" level around 22. So did Federer and so did Nadal.
If somebody enters top 10 after 25 or wins his first slam after 25, you can call him a late developer, not otherwise.

holdserve - certain players peak late. Agassi's best years were after age 25, as were Patrick Rafter's. But generally, age 23-26 are the peak playing years physiologically speaking.

Cheryl, what you say does not contradict what I am saying.
Re: Patrick
Patrick won one GS title at age 24 and another at age 25. This disputes your statement that his best years were after 25 but it does not alter the main argument:
The best years are between 21 and 29. This can be called the players' prime. Within the prime there is a peak and it is generally around 24-25.
Most players who are ever going to be top 10 or win at least one gs title, do so by 25.

Cheryl. People who have not seen Stefan Edberg play tend to claim their knowledge (or so called) from looking at results on Wikipedia. Probably they have not got a clue what Agassi past his prime did to win 3 out of 4 slam at AU Open after reaching 30.
If you actually did not follow tennis closely and you tend to make comments about an era you are obviously not capable of. Agassi actually defined his carreer in those years. Without those 30 years he would have not been added in hall of fame.

But wow rocket science is in use claiming a players prime is between 21 - 29 . That surely must be backed with scientifical proof.

What does Bernie's rank need to be to automatically qualify for the Masters events i.e. avoid qualifying rounds? Anybody know?

The list of players accepted direct into the main draw is already up on the official sites of Montreal and Cincinnati.
http://www.rogerscup.com/men/english/playerList.php
http://www.cinc ytennis.com/Players/Entry_List/

Bernie to make top 20 by end of year.

Top 20? Highly doubtful.

When is Bernie coming for the USO Series? He needs to be getting acclimated to this heat wave.

numero - the last thing on his official schedule is Davis Cup. He surely will have to be here for Montreal. he isn't in the line-up for Washington DC as far as I can tell.

What on Earth happened to Bernie with this latest loss? Can't he play indoors?