Tennis Random, Random (On Court)

[ponchi101]

On the ATP, the sole young kid out there that looks promising is Rune. He is below the 100 mark but, I just can't see anybody else. Cerundulo, maybe? If he has a good run on clay? (Juan Manuel).
On the WTA, Juvan? Just because she just took out Aryna, and she is young.

[Suliso]

Rune is a great pick, forgot about him momentarily. For women no obvious favorites. Just to throw up some names - Juvan, Rakhimova, Noskova, McNally, Kasintseva, Jacquemot...

[Deuce]

Rune is a great pick, forgot about him momentarily. For women no obvious favorites. Just to throw up some names - Juvan, Rakhimova, Noskova, McNally, Kasintseva, Jacquemot...

I see McNally as being destined to be a 'doubles specialist'. I've not seen anything from her in singles that got my attention.
I saw Jacquemot in Juniors. In a doubles match, she was vehemently accused of cheating. There was a big stink about it. I didn't see the incident which prompted the accusation - I was nearby and was drawn to the court by the loud commotion. I heard the accusation and Jacquemot's denial. Based on the character of the girl who made the accusation, whom I was rather familiar with, I don't think she would make a false accusation. As the situation played out, I believed the accuser more than I believed the accused. Jacquemot was rather arrogant in her denial. I kept my eye on her for the rest of the tournament, and found her to be overall more arrogant than the other kids at the tournament. So... talented, yes, but I'm not a fan of her demeanour.

[Suliso]

Rune is a great pick, forgot about him momentarily. For women no obvious favorites. Just to throw up some names - Juvan, Rakhimova, Noskova, McNally, Kasintseva, Jacquemot...

I see McNally as being destined to be a 'doubles specialist'. I've not seen anything from her in singles that got my attention.
I saw Jacquemot in Juniors. In a doubles match, she was vehemently accused of cheating. There was a big stink about it. I didn't see the incident which prompted the accusation - I was nearby and was drawn to the court by the loud commotion. I heard the accusation and Jacquemot's denial. Based on the character of the girl who made the accusation, whom I was rather familiar with, I don't think she would make a false accusation. As the situation played out, I believed the accuser more than I believed the accused. Jacquemot was rather arrogant in her denial. I kept my eye on her for the rest of the tournament, and found her to be overall more arrogant than the other kids at the tournament. So... talented, yes, but I'm not a fan of her demeanour.

You know juniors better than the rest of us. Who's your own pick (never mind the character) for a breakthrough year from outside the top 80?

[Deuce]

Firstly, I would not say that I know juniors better than the rest of you. I see a few junior tournaments live here and there, and some players catch my eye, and it's enjoyable to try to predict who among them will succeed at the pro level within the next 5 years or so.
But I don't see as much Junior tennis as I used to (mostly because of the pandemic), and I don't watch Junior tournaments on TV or streaming (mostly because I can't find any to watch). From time to time, I'll see a Junior who has gotten a WildCard into a significant home country tournament that's televised or streamed... but I certainly am not familiar with the majority of Juniors - or even of recent Juniors - at this point.

That said... Breakthrough year and up and coming young player are different things - or at least can be. I've thought for 2 years that Marie Bouzkova had what it takes to play her way into the top 30 or so. Thus far, I've been wrong, as she's currently just barely hanging on to the top 100. I'm still hoping that this year will be a 'breakthrough year' for her - she's obviously older and more experienced than she was 2 years ago... but, other than the potential I see in her, there have been no real signs that that will happen.

One young player that I am and will be keeping my eye on is Oceane Babel from France (Guadeloupe). She's about to turn 18 years old, and is currently ranked #854 (which really means nothing at this stage of her career). I've never seen her play live (or, if I did, I don't recall it)... but I've seen her play on TV a few times, and have seen a few YouTube things. She has a unique game - and that usually attracts my attention. If she has a good head on her shoulders, I wouldn't be surprised to see her entering the top 30 or so within 2 or 3 years.

I know this is slightly aside from the topic, but looking further down the future line, others that I see potential in - mostly because they're Canadian, so I get to see and follow them more - are Victoria Mboko (15 year old girl), and Jaden Weekes (17 year old boy). Lefty. Jaden has all of the elements necessary to be a pro - from his game to his comportment. I watched him win a tournament with an injury which prevented him from hitting his 2 handed topspin backhand... so he sliced a lot of backhands, but once in a while would pull the trigger on a one-handed topspin that looked very natural. The ability to do that, and the intelligence to figure out how to adjust his game and strategy throughout the tournament to compensate for not being able to hit the two-hander was impressive. Extremely and genuinely nice kid, siblings also play high level tennis, dad loves the game. Being coached by Marty Laurendeau (ex Canada Davis Cup Captain and Shapovalov coach). He could step into a pro locker room tomorrow and not be out of place (although he would, of course, initially feel shy and awkward, he would be accepted very quickly because he carries himself like a professional). I really hope he makes it.

Mboko I've never met - but from what I've seen of her, she impresses me more than the other female Juniors in Canada, although she's younger than most at her level of play. I'm looking forward to seeing her evolution.

On yet another tangent (if I may), I know you're high on Clara Tauson. Just want to let you know, if you're not aware, that she retired from her match today in Melbourne after losing the 1st set vs. Sasnovich. One of her thighs was taped - I'm assuming that was the reason for the retirement.
She and Leylah had a bit of a rivalry in Juniors. Hoping that happens at the pro level, too...

[Suliso]

Yes, I noticed about Clara being injured. Hopefully nothing too serious. She's a well known name among fans already, hopefully some bigger results come this year and at least a top 30 ranking.

Pandemic has messed up junior GS's making it more difficult to notice young promising players. Jimenez Kasintseva (only 16) is the one standing out a bit and has done well recently on lower pro circuit (up to #224 in live ranking and playing Vandeveghe tonight), but I haven't had a chance to actually see her play.

[meganfernandez]

Yes, I noticed about Clara being injured. Hopefully nothing too serious. She's a well known name among fans already, hopefully some bigger results come this year and at least a top 30 ranking.

Pandemic has messed up junior GS's making it more difficult to notice young promising players. Jimenez Kasintseva (only 16) is the one standing out a bit and has done well recently on lower pro circuit (up to #224 in live ranking and playing Vandeveghe tonight), but I haven't had a chance to actually see her play.

The Fruhvirtova sisters, Linda and Brenda, are highly touted juniors.


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[ponchi101]

Anybody willing to put any money down on Vittoria and Carola, the two girls in the Barilla video with Roger, playing from the rooftops? They are training at Rafa's academy, after all. Somebody must have seen something in them (other than the commercial potential).
(Half cockamamie question, I know).

[meganfernandez]

Anybody willing to put any money down on Vittoria and Carola, the two girls in the Barilla video with Roger, playing from the rooftops? They are training at Rafa's academy, after all. Somebody must have seen something in them (other than the commercial potential).
(Half cockamamie question, I know).

At the very least, they'll go to college in the US on scholarships. I wonder if certain academies focus more on training for college vs going pro early.

[JazzNU]

Who do you think will be this year's newcomers of the year? Please pick someone with a career high ranking no higher than #80 and no ATP/WTA titles.

I think for the ATP I'll go with Sebastian Baez. Also keeping an eye on Ruusuvuori, though not sure what his career high ranking is, and Maxime Cressy.

For the WTA, I like Gasanova. Also keeping an eye on Gracheva, Harmony Tan and Qinwen Zheng. And I really like Linda Fruhvirtova, but fairly certain her age means she's on more restrictions with her schedule.

[ti-amie]

Qinwen Zheng caught my eye last year. She is tall, her footwork is exquisite, and she is poised and mature on court.

Baez finished the year with a flourish as they say. I'm anxious to see how he fares this year now that those ranked higher than him are aware of his abilities.

[ponchi101]

Baez, yes. He played well at the Next Gen. I would say he can make some noise on clay, at least in smaller tournaments.

[Suliso]

Baez not bad, but I think Rune is a bigger talent. I do like the pick of Zheng, definitely a possibility.

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

From article:

"He would not follow the same organisational arrangements as those who are vaccinated," Maracineanu told FranceInfo radio. "But he will nonetheless be able to compete [at Roland Garros] because the protocols, the health bubble, allows it."

https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/ ... s-minister