Replacement for retiring Andy Roddick

[djarvik]

Hi guys.

As you may know, Andy Roddick is retiring from the game of tennis. The big serving american was a staple of Top 10 for almost 10 years in a raw. A consistent performer with fiery character and just as fiery serve. Sure he loves to take these suicide volley approaches and sometimes he goes off the wall because of the bad call, but off the court he was a funny character and very popular ATP star.

Its time to replace him in our roster.

We have 6 different players for your consideration. Details below. Now, we know we can't please everyone, so please, keep the discussion on these choices and these only. We are aware that you may have your own favorite players you would like to see, and you may see them in the future but for now, lets concentrate on what we have presented you with. Make your case for the player you want and Vote! Remember, the next voter will have a chance to read your opinion first, so a good argument goes a long way

The player who will receive the most votes in 7 days from now will be named as Andy's replacement on Official ITST Roster.


Here are your nominees:


Jack Sock
This player would be a perfect replacement for Andy in terms of gameplay. Similar game to Roddick but with a bigger upside/talent. Big server, huge forehand with tons of spin, weak backhand. Good mover and decent hands at net. Young up and comer that was a force in Juniors and reached 3rd round in US Open 2012.

Bellucci, Thomaz
Another young guy that has big game. Very talented Lefty. Big power game with good spin. Forehand is his big shot that has tons of top spin on it.

Haase, Robin
A jack of all trades, an all-arounder. Great hands around the court and net. Not a powerful or extremely fast player, but has decent strokes and good court smarts.

Goffin, David
Dolgopolov's clone with a smaller frame. Less power more spin. Weaker serve. Great on the run player.

Phau, Bjorn
Fastest guy on the tour. Not much power, weak serve, strokes are mostly defensive...but good one handed backhand.

Tommy Haas
The veteran that is loved by many. May not be the most unique player to add (see Federer and Dimitrov) but sure is popular. He is also older then other guys and may need to be replaced soon, again.


Thank you!

[Vespa]

I vote for Goffin. Mainly for playstyle, as there aren't any other players that are similar to Dolgopolov at the moment.

I like Haas, but he will be too similar to players we already have. Although it seems like he is going to end up winning the vote.

[iBullet91]

Poor Bjorn...not votes as yet!

[L Sanchez MD]

Since when is Haase not powerful??!?
He's powerful, just a choker.

My vote is for Haas. He's a legend, and also back into the top 20 from like 200 at the start of the year.

[Ugadalou]

Sure Haas deserved my vote but on second thought,what's the point in investing time balancing and finding animations for a player who is 34 years old and probably will retire in a year or so?

[o Sinna o]

Yeah maybe Djarvik should really take Haas out.

You know I votet him cause that is the only Player of this Options I really know.

But to be honest. I was never a Fan of Haas, german back and forth.

He never convinced me really and I never saw a single exciting Match of him or exciting oncourt-Actions and I saw a few of him in his very active Time.

So he wouldn't be really interesting as a Replacement for Roddick.

Maybe a young excellent playable Gun would be a better Option.

And it hasn't to be somebody who fits in the Footsteps of Roddick in Terms of Gameplay, it just has be someone who enriches our Mod Roster.

Cause Haas the pretty Lady-Magnetic is lame as Shit to be honest and I don't mean this offensive.

[o Sinna o]

And just to clear things up, cause people tend to lay my words on a Gold Balance, even if I am trashtalking a lil bit, cause I got my own Sense of humor.

I got nothing against Haas out of human Sight.

What I wanted to make clear is just, that I don't think he ever was really relevant as a Pro Player and this has Reasons which I am sure he knows about.

Cause he had and has Talent, but that's not everything.

Lady-Magnetic. XD

[AmazOuz]

I think Goffin is better

[L Sanchez MD]

Not a big deal if we have to edit the roster again in one year

Goffin can replace him in a year if he continues to play well.

[djarvik]

There is 3 more days till Wednesday. There is still a good chance Haas can come in second.

That is why I said we should have all explained our votes, as you can see, a proper explanation can influence further voting


Whoever still going to vote, please consider Haas's age and the fact that we already have VERY similar but more powerful players, so he is likely not going to get picked a lot.

That is why I offered Sock. Granted, not many know who this 19 year old American is, but he is the most proper replacement for Andy. His strength now are exactly the same and he has a MUCH bigger upside, meaning potential. If he adapts Andy's working ethics - look out! This is can be a grand slam winner no less. Here some video examples of the 18-19 years old Sock:

Andy Roddick VS Jack Sock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4IurlmSMRk

Nicolas Almagro VS Jack Sock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djhaInyuEKU

Florian Mayer VS Jack Sock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fry7qbup1FM


Vote for Sock!

[Ugadalou]

I think Sock has a lot to prove in order to make it in the tour,plus it's too soon to include him in an ATP elite 32-player roster.He was big in juniors,made a great run in the 2011 USO winning the mixed doubles but then disappeared again.What I saw from him on this USO is Top30 potential but will he keep it up?He has to show a higher level of consistency if he wants my vote.

Bellucci is too mentally unstable to make it big (he's not young either,already 24) and his style if implemented in the game would be similar to Verdasco's.

One other very interesting case we haven't yet considered is Brian Baker.I think he'd be a nice addition character-wise.
He's got a very nice and moving story behind his career,if you want check it out: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-US-Open-2012/Brian-Baker.aspx

djarvik if possible please delete my Haas vote.

[L Sanchez MD]

Haas, even if not the most powerful, gets my vote for being a good all round player.
He has a fabulous backhand, topspin and slice, and he makes good use of the court, defending when he needs to, coming to the net when he can.
He's got a bit more variety than most in the top 30.

Plus he's just a badass. We should include him before he retires and we don't have the chance. He's 21 in the world at age 34, and seemingly on the rise.
What more could you ask for.

[inseedious]

I voted for Haas. I think that he can be a particular player. It's not comparable to Federer and Dimitrov. It would be a varied/offensive player. A sort of Federer with inverted swings stats, a little less top spin and a bit more consistency on the weak side (of course with lower average stats). Or a sort of Gasquet with less top spin and a better serve. We don't have a very offensive/varied player with a powerful and flat backhand. Wawrinka is mostly a baseliner.
However I know that creating a player requires a lot of time, so it's not the best choice to create a player who will probably retire soon. But I also think that, before he'll retire, a new creation of all the roster will be needed, because of future big patches (with important graphic and gamestyle innovations) or because of the next Tennis Elbow.

[L Sanchez MD]

I voted for Haas. I think that he can be a particular player. It's not comparable to Federer and Dimitrov. It would be a varied/offensive player. A sort of Federer with inverted swings stats, a little less top spin and a bit more consistency on the weak side (of course with lower average stats). Or a sort of Gasquet with less top spin and a better serve. We don't have a very offensive/varied player with a powerful and flat backhand. Wawrinka is mostly a baseliner.
However I know that creating a player requires a lot of time, so it's not the best choice to create a player who will probably retire soon. But I also think that, before he'll retire, a new creation of all the roster will be needed, because of future big patches (with important graphic and gamestyle innovations) or because of the next Tennis Elbow.

Haas usually uses more topspin than Federer.

[djarvik]

Haas's BH is weaker then both, Waw and Gasq, even weaker then Almagro. Spin-wise is the same as Waw.
Haas's FH weaker then the ones above as well and weaker then Fed.
Haas's Serve is weaker then Fed, Waw, Almagro.
Return is on par with most.
Volley is weaker then Fed and Waw.


I really cannot see how Haas is unique, at all. Remember also, we are creating payers as they are NOW, not in past, at their prime. We also take into account the "upside" for younger players. With Haas, there is no upside, lets face it, at 33 and losing to Gulbis, he is going down and out in less then a year. He may hover around for another year o so around top 100, maybe even play a few challengers....but at some point, after losing to a 17 year old with a body of 13 year old in a challenger, his pride will take a last blow and he will disappear.