From sports activities to music to movie, there have been lofty expectations set on younger stars for generations. Whereas some can face up to the pressures positioned upon them, others have fallen in need of the lofty stage that followers, the media, coaches, and even themselves have greater than seemingly unfairly set for them.
Though the next checklist of people have made it to the next stage within the tennis world than most people who find themselves studying this piece, and have doubtlessly reached the highest ten or received a few titles, the actual fact is that as a society we have a tendency to evaluate success within the sports activities world primarily based on wins and championships greater than anything, particularly on the subject of a person sport like tennis.
Donald Younger
As soon as dubbed as the following American tennis prodigy, Donald Younger was ranked the primary junior on this planet in 2005, nonetheless after shifting on to the skilled circuit his profession has been marked by inconsistency and unmet potential. With zero profession titles and his finest displaying coming within the 2011 US Open, Younger’s high rating would max out at #39.
Bernard Tomic
Bursting onto the scene with a flamboyant model and spectacular shot-making, Australia’s Bernard Tomic’s profession was hindered by angle issues and off-court controversies. Though he would win a pair of junior Grand Slam titles, the Australian and U.S. Open, he couldn’t match the identical outcomes as knowledgeable. And simply as accountable playing requires one to make knowledgeable selections, keep in management, and concentrate on potential pitfalls, Tomic’s selections on and off the court docket contributed to his downfall and failure to fulfill the expectations.
Andrea Jaeger
As soon as the youngest participant to achieve a Grand Slam closing, Andrea Jaeger’s profession was minimize quick by accidents and burnout. At simply fourteen years previous, Jaeger had the tennis world speaking as she competed and received each junior and pro-level tennis tournaments. Two years later the Chicago-born tennis star was the world’s second-ranked feminine tennis participant. Regardless of early success, she failed to meet her potential, admitting that she by no means needed to turn out to be a top-ranked tennis star and would throw some matches on objective. Simply 5 years after beginning her profession, Jaeger would retire on the age of 19, leaving followers questioning what may have been.
Nicolas Almagro
Heralded as the following nice Spanish tennis participant, Almagro’s profession was hampered by inconsistency and an absence of psychological fortitude in essential moments. Regardless of possessing a strong recreation, particularly his 210km serve backhand groundstroke, alongside along with his athleticism he by no means managed to interrupt via to the higher echelons of the game on a constant foundation.
Ryan Harrison
Touted as a rising star in American tennis because the age of two, Ryan Harrison struggled to keep up consistency and didn’t make important strides in his profession. Earlier than he was capable of legally get his driver’s license, Harrison was ranked as a high ten junior and had received an ATP match in opposition to the then-ranked a hundred and thirtieth participant on this planet on the 2008 U.S. Males’s Clay Courtroom Championships. Regardless of flashes of brilliance, he by no means managed to interrupt into the higher ranks of the ATP tour, reaching as excessive as fortieth in 2017.
Sloane Stephens
It’s exhausting to name a participant who defeated the feminine tennis G.O.A.T. Serena Williams within the 2013 Australian Open and a U.S. Open champion somebody who failed to fulfill expectations. Nevertheless, after her breakthrough victory in 2017, Stephens’ profession failed to achieve the heights many anticipated. Inconsistency, strain from media and followers along with struggles with accidents has hindered her progress, stopping her from establishing herself as a dominant drive in girls’s tennis.
Jelena Dokic
As soon as ranked as excessive as World No. 4, Yugoslavia’s Jelena Dokic’s profession was suffering from private points and struggles along with her psychological well being. Along with her expertise evident at an early age, Dokic shortly rose to prominence and have become the youngest Australian semi-finalist in 2000 on the age of 17. Whereas she would attain as excessive as fourth on this planet rankings, Dokic’s profession was derailed primarily by her abusive relationship along with her father and dangerous recommendation from her coach.
Grigor Dimitrov
Generally known as “Child Federer” early in his profession resulting from his elegant taking part in model, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov didn’t stay as much as the unfair comparability, which set the bar excessive for a number of Grand Slam titles and high rating. Because the top-ranked junior on this planet due to a pair of 2008 titles on the Wimbledon Championships and US Open, Dimitrov has not been capable of mirror that success as knowledgeable. Regardless of periodic flashes of brilliance, he struggled with consistency and didn’t make a big impression on the Grand Slam stage, leaving many disillusioned along with his profession trajectory.
Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios possesses immense expertise and shot-making capability, however his profession has been marred by controversies, lack of self-discipline, and inconsistency. Regardless of defeating a number of the high gamers on this planet together with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, Kyrgios has didn’t make a deep run in Grand Slam tournaments and fulfill the expectations positioned upon him. Whereas his flamboyant method and outbursts have made him a spotlight reel favourite, it’s all for the flawed causes.
Eugenie Bouchard
Eugenie Bouchard’s profession peaked in 2014 when she grew to become the primary Canadian-born participant to advance to a Grand Slam singles championship match, reaching the Wimbledon closing and turning into the World No. 5. Nevertheless, since then, her kind has declined considerably resulting from numerous elements, together with accidents, teaching adjustments, and lack of confidence. Bouchard has struggled to regain her momentum and stay as much as the expectations set early in her profession.