2014 French Open...Roland Garros, Paris, France

[gsheiner]

Raonic is top ten in the world and almost beat Djokovic on clay 2 weeks ago.
He's worked hard on his movement and his volleying has really improved over the past year.


Rusedki reached 4 in the world and the US open final with a great lefty serve, decent volleys, and a good slice backhand. Not a great mover and a terrible forehand.

Krajicek won wimbledon --6'5 with a great serve.

The serve is still the most important shot in tennis -- I wouldn't be so dismissive of his future.

[hockeyscout]

Gail is maybe a 6 or 7 compared to NBA and NFL kids. He's chaotic (gifted), however, staying healthy is a big part of it, and NBA and NFL kids who are getting hit with tons of force per square inch are healthier, better athletes, more versatile, bigger, stronger and consistent.

I think Gail is great, however, he is again chaotic, and so inconsistent with his training, his diet and work habits, its sad.

All that talent is great, however, its not being used and its so raw and unrefined.

I saw a documentary where he was actually consulting with a nutritionist, and the lady was marking this off and that off. I was thinking like, wow, your older than 26, and you're still eating like crap and not knowing what to eat and consulting on camera with some random dietitian who probably doesn't know the difference between hemp hearts, maca and chlorella.

Then at the end of training he's out in the heat farting away playing basketball.

I've seen this type before to many times, they are in, and out and need babysitting.

Being a good pro (a coach or a player) is a serious responsibility, and the good ones make it their business to be great pro.

The rest is just hot air, and its easy to see.

Many, simply don't have the work ethic to make it. Eat, sleep, live and breathe it. You're not going to con a player to number one as a coach, or fool people, catch a lucky break or two, find a magic bullet from a $800 coach and reach number one.

I just kept thinking, get that act together, get some good people around you like Novak and quit trying to be the most likable guy on the tour.

[stotty]

Not so sure about a ton of guys more athletic than Monfils. Monfils problem to me is using his hyper athleticism. His movement to me is simply undisciplined at times. Also, for a guy who appears to be possibly the fittest guy on tour, he is not. He tends to fade in long endurance type matches.

Yes, he's more cheetah than hyena. But for sheer speed he may well be the fastest of them all. Watch the last get of this rally to see what I mean. I think he is the only player I can think of who could get to that ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtuf12Uw1dk

[stroke]

Not so sure about a ton of guys more athletic than Monfils. Monfils problem to me is using his hyper athleticism. His movement to me is simply undisciplined at times. Also, for a guy who appears to be possibly the fittest guy on tour, he is not. He tends to fade in long endurance type matches.

[hockeyscout]

6'1"

Milos Raonic - no.

He's 6'5, and so passive, especially for a Canadian kid. When I first heard of him I figured, watch out, a Canadian hockey players mentality in a hockey players frame playing tennis, and I was shocked to see how easy going, mellow and lacking in explosive hockey player power he was at an age when you should be a frigging ox!

6'1" the ideal height for a tennis player.

That's interesting. We used to believe the same thing in hockey, Gordie Howe and Mark Messier being the perfect specimens at 6'1". That was ideal.

We figured anything bigger would be an issue, as skating is a VERY tough thing to teach a big man. Few big men can move on hockey skates, as it's tough to do. In 1984 a 6'4 kid named Mario Lemieux came along who could skate, and then in 1992 along came Eric Lindros, a 6'5" kid who just took it to the next level.

Kids saw it was possible to be big, and skating like a 6'1" player, and we had a new era of "Yes, we can." And, us coaches bought into the belief that it was possible to develop a big man into a world class skater, something we dogmatically believed was impossible as we viewed our type of movement unique, and different. It wasn't. We just worked harder, and realized the effort would bear fruits at the end of the day.

Tennis just needs a giant to come along, a big HUGE stud who is like a 6'10" Sean Kemp who can RUN and JUMP, or a small guard like Kobe Bryant (6'7) with lateral movement or a 6'5 runner like Usain Bolt with raw speed.

Then you will have your next moment.

All the big guys in tennis remind me so much of the big guys we used to have in hockey. Just a step to slow, and way to sluggish, however, doing good to very good, but not quite stepping into the franchise player, hall of fame type playing role!

In any sport the difference between very good to great is field speed, timing, positioning and getting the exact spot you need to be under control and at the right time. If you can do that, and have size, height, weight and power behind it, well in tennis that would be scary!

Their are tons of guys in the NBA and NFL who are 6'6 plus, and more athletic than Gail Monfils, so it's just a matter of time I think.

Can you imagine what Joakim Noah would have done on the tennis court. Wow! He moves better than his dad, and he is what, 6'9"

[stroke]

I hadn't heard of him.

Here is a name for you...Dominic "Dominator" Theim. Only 20 years old. He can blister the backhand down the line like I have never seen...at least he did it against Stan Wawrinka in Madrid.

6' 1" tall. Ideal height for a tennis player. For a champion...for a multi year number one in the world. Rock solid training from some nut in the woods. If he pins the tail on Nadal...he's a lock. Unlikely at this stage...on this stage. Nadal's playground. But if he gets it into his noggin that he has the game and can keep Nadal out there under pressure. It's a preview of things to come. Then you will see the next player to dominate tennis in the future...possibly. There are so many variables anything can happen...but he is giving off signs.

I agree with DB about Theim. Clearly the underdog vs Nadal, but he looks to me to be the sternest test for Nadal for several rounds. One never knows, Kuertan came out of nowhere for his 1st French Open title.

[klacr]

I hadn't heard of him.

Here is a name for you...Dominic "Dominator" Theim. Only 20 years old. He can blister the backhand down the line like I have never seen...at least he did it against Stan Wawrinka in Madrid.

6' 1" tall. Ideal height for a tennis player. For a champion...for a multi year number one in the world. Rock solid training from some nut in the woods. If he pins the tail on Nadal...he's a lock. Unlikely at this stage...on this stage. Nadal's playground. But if he gets it into his noggin that he has the game and can keep Nadal out there under pressure. It's a preview of things to come. Then you will see the next player to dominate tennis in the future...possibly. There are so many variables anything can happen...but he giving off signs.

Great pick as well. Thiem should certainly be a name to watch. Like your thinking Don Budge.

As for Pierre-Hugues Herbert...Kind of half joking. He is French/German so that may be problem enough but he is pretty young and has an interesting game. Enjoys the serve and volley. He played John Isner in first round of French this year. Here's some video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-__VMQROjnk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPFzLYbIfHw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_ffVobEyi0


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Long shot klacr...try the "Dominator"

Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

I hadn't heard of him.

Here is a name for you...Dominic "Dominator" Theim. Only 20 years old. He can blister the backhand down the line like I have never seen...at least he did it against Stan Wawrinka in Madrid.

6' 1" tall. Ideal height for a tennis player. For a champion...for a multi year number one in the world. Rock solid training from some nut in the woods. If he pins the tail on Nadal...he's a lock. Unlikely at this stage...on this stage. Nadal's playground. But if he gets it into his noggin that he has the game and can keep Nadal out there under pressure. It's a preview of things to come. Then you will see the next player to dominate tennis in the future...possibly. There are so many variables anything can happen...but he is giving off signs.

[klacr]

Already it's hard to see a player on the horizon...no one coming through to usurp the top four. Nishikori, Wawrinka, Dimitrov...all gone.

Can anyone see a young player coming through out of the pack, a player with a future who can threaten? I sure can't see one.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gsheiner]

Raonic.

[stotty]

No one on the horizon..

Already it's hard to see a player on the horizon...no one coming through to usurp the top four. Nishikori, Wawrinka, Dimitrov...all gone.

Can anyone see a young player coming through out of the pack, a player with a future who can threaten? I sure can't see one.

[klacr]

With Stan wawrinka losing yesterday, he became the first reigning Aussie Open champ to lose 1st round of french Open since Petr Korda in 1998.
Another tidbit is that Li Na also lost earlier today which means its the first time in the Open Era that both reigning men's and womens singles champs at Aussie Open lost 1st round of French in same year.

How about Karlovic taking out Dimitrov in straight sets. Very impressive from the big man. His game was on today and caused Dimitrov loads of problems. Karlovic's slice stayed very low on the slow red stuff.

Big blow to Dimitrov. Maybe gives him more time to prep for the grass court season...or spend time with Sharapova. I'd cherish either one.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

And unfortunately, Nisihikori is also out...

[hockeyscout]

Debated with the young one all day over who was better, Kvitova or Bouchard at 20 with the young one all day. Man, is woman's tennis ever in bad shape! Do any young player excite any of you? I don't see a King, Everett, Graf, Navratolova or Williams on the horizon at all.

[hockeyscout]

Good news for USA Tennis , or Tennis Canada, not sure, Eugene Bouchard (developed in the USA from 12 to 15) won.