Does this young American with a bit of confidence have enough to postpone the Tower of Tandil’s hopeful comeback? This match starts in about an hour and a half. There is a bunch of tennis to get caught-up on.

How about the 20 year-old French “kid,” Ugo Humbert, who knocked Coric around in Marseille? Very interesting stuff from this lanky lefty who can serve, move and looks quite fluent with that FH, even coming to net to pressure and put-away his opponent. Nice little résumé, as well, for a 20 year-old who’s been grinding-out an existence in Challengers. Still, he’s beaten names and had a few cups of coffee on the ATP, showing his class in some matches here and there against more legitimate competition.

Is he our 2019 Tsitsipas?

In 2018, Coric (had been on the tour for a few years), made some more serious waves right about this time last year, his first peak coming in Indian Wells. We started calling Coric “Djokovic Jr.” early-on, which the “experts” picked-up by the time the boys were in the IW SF, which I heard first-hand sitting court-side.

ESPN’s own Peter Bodo recently wrote an article saying we need to start taking Medvedev seriously.  Are you serious, Bodo? Read Mcshow.

We jumped on Tsitsipas early, too, reminding everyone early-on that a win over Thiem wasn’t even an upset.

Everyone’s favorite, Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime took-out Fognini in Rio and won his next match, as well, setting-up a QF with Spaniard Munar. This may be my favorite development on the tour. We need this kid to go big now; so much juice in FAA’s game.

But, as you know, Stan’s progress means the most to me. I didn’t even pen a word in that last post. His win over Nishikori, the way he finished the match, his lovely power tennis reared it’s Stanimal head.

We saw glimpses back in Toronto 2018 when he scared the crap out of a rampant Nadal. He’s gotten some tough draws here and there, but he’s here, along with Magnus. Indeed, the boys are back in town. The Rotterdam final vs a volatile Monfils wasn’t surprising. Monfils can beat anyone and shit the bed in the blink of an eye. Good for the 30+ Frenchman for taking care of his tough draw. Getting payback on Medvedev there in Rotterdam on his way to the title meant Stan was more of a consolidation, especially after the Swiss win over No. 1 seed Kei. Stan has plenty to take from that go-around.

Ah, yes: Reilly Opelka’s first title in New York. He’s a better Isner, basically.

More to come, but as I suggest in the title: perhaps a must-watch in this Del Potro vs Opelka Delray Beach 2R.

Remind me to comment on Evans, Nishikori, Thiem and others tomorrow (I promise).

Happy thirsty Thursday!

Enjoy the tennis!