Players to Watch Based on 2011 Australian Open
Remember these names… Alexandr Dolgopolov, a twenty-two year old from the Ukraine, Milos Raonic, a twenty year old from Canada and Bernard Tomic, an eighteen year old from Australia. Dolgopolov was ranked 46th coming into the 2011 Australian Open.
Raonic, who is six feet five inches tall, qualified for the Australian Open, was ranked 152nd before the start of the year’s first Grand Slam and the first Grand Slam in which he’s reached the main draw. Tomic, who received a wildcard from Tennis Australia and is a former Australian Open Junior Boys’ champion, was playing in his third Australian Open, and entered the tournament ranked 199.
Dolgopolov battled Andy Murray through four tight sets including two tie-breakers before he lost in the quarterfinals. Raonic, who used his booming serve to upset two seeded players, i.e. Michael Llodra and Mikhail Youzhny, before he eventually lost in five tight sets to David Ferrer in the round of 16. Tomic, who upset 31st seed, Feliciano Lopez, plays a fluid baseline game and used his natural talent to take a 4-0 lead on Rafael Nadal in the second set of their third round match before losing in three straight sets. Dolgopolov, who has a natural, yet somewhat unorthodox-looking game, reached the third round at Roland Garros last year, upset 13th seeded, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and 4th seeded, Robin Soderling, en route to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. All three of these men handled their “big moments’ impressively. They all have exciting games and their talent could carry them to strong results in the coming years if they also put in the practice and off-court work as well.
Dolgopolov battled Andy Murray through four tight sets including two tie-breakers before he lost in the quarterfinals. Raonic, who used his booming serve to upset two seeded players, i.e. Michael Llodra and Mikhail Youzhny, before he eventually lost in five tight sets to David Ferrer in the round of 16. Tomic, who upset 31st seed, Feliciano Lopez, plays a fluid baseline game and used his natural talent to take a 4-0 lead on Rafael Nadal in the second set of their third round match before losing in three straight sets. Dolgopolov, who has a natural, yet somewhat unorthodox-looking game, reached the third round at Roland Garros last year, upset 13th seeded, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and 4th seeded, Robin Soderling, en route to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. All three of these men handled their “big moments’ impressively. They all have exciting games and their talent could carry them to strong results in the coming years if they also put in the practice and off-court work as well.
|
