Hyped Young Players Still Far from Being on Level with Future Tennis HOFers

The highly anticipated match between Roger Federer and Borna Coric revealed how big the gap remains between promising young players and future Hall of Famers. 

Federer defeated Coric, 6-2, 6-1, in the Dubai Championship semifinals.

Coric, 18, produced flashes of brilliance, showcasing why many consider him destined for stardom. However, he also displayed characteristics common among teen males—impatience, volatility and insecurity. 

Meanwhile, Federer remained steady, picking apart the youngster who one day might be special.

Matches like these, between established superstars and those who show promise, demonstrate how much work talented young players must do to grow into greatness. 

After Coric defeated Andy Murray in the quarterfinals, reporters asked him how he measures up against the top players. 

"

I'm still a little bit struggling with the best players when they are playing really good obviously, and Andy didn't play his best tennis today, but it's not easy to play against him.  I always need to be on the 100%, and when I'm on the 100%, also mentally also tennis‑wise, then I think I can play with them in let's say good match, competitive match, no? But if I'm 95% I think I can't play.  It's actually quite tough, because all the time I need to be 100%.

"

Coric, the youngest player in the Top 100, has also defeated Rafael Nadal.

Pulling off the occasional upset will garner attention. Grigor Dimitrov, another young player touted for greatness, upset Murray at Wimbledon in 2014. Yet Dimitrov is struggling to maintain momentum. Dimitrov lost to American Ryan Harrison in Acapulco. Harrison, 23, had become the poster-boy for over-hyped players. 

It's easier to draw comparisons to superstars than it is to be one. Dimitrov briefly carried the burden of the nickname "Baby Federer." Some call Coric "Baby Djokovic."

There are hundreds of tweens in tennis programs around the world being called or calling themselves, the next Nadal. They've copied his forehand. Probably even wear similar headbands. They may even rise to dominate the junior ranks.

Still, even for those like Coric, who crack the Top 100 as teens, the road to sustained relevance is rough. The path from promise to prosperity begins with consistency. Winning consistently, puts them on an upward trajectory. Then comes mental and physical mastery. Titles accumulate with mastery. Then, finally, dominance and longevity.  

Until a player consistently beats Top 10 talent, they remain in the valley of the also-rans. Those who climb out from the pack and establish themselves among the best, show steady progress. They develop their game, minimize the errors while perfecting their gifts. Those players are more likely to move from hopeful to future Hall of Famer. 

Getting inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame appears much easier than finding a home in Cooperstown or Canton.

The ITHF lists criteria for recent players simply as having had a "distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship and character."

Nominees need 75 percent of "favorable" vote for enshrinement. Two Slam wins seems to be the unofficial minimum. If that's the case, Lleyton Hewitt, Murray, Novak Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are the only active singles players who qualify.

When you consider how many great players have taken to the courts over the years, including those on tour now, and failed to win a Slam, two titles is quite an accomplishment.

Young talented players are graded on Slam-winning potential. How often do you hear phrases such as "he'll win two or three Slams for sure?" 

So many hyped. So few Hall of Famers. Time and talent will tell if Coric can live up to the hype. Against Federer, Coric got a glimpse at the gap between the two. 

After Coric's loss to Federer, the teen talked with reporters about what it was like to finally face off against a legend. 

“When you come on the court and when you actually feel the ball and feel the pressure which he's making, it's actually tougher than when you're watching it on the sofa in front of the TV."