From sports to music to film, there have been lofty expectations set on young stars for generations. While some can withstand the pressures placed upon them, others have fallen short of the lofty level that fans, the media, coaches, and even themselves have more than likely unfairly set for them.
Although the following list of individuals have made it to a higher level in the tennis world than most people who are reading this piece, and have potentially reached the top ten or won a couple of titles, the fact is that as a society we tend to judge success in the sports world based on wins and championships more than anything else, especially when it comes to an individual sport like tennis.
Donald Young
Once dubbed as the next American tennis prodigy, Donald Young was ranked the number one junior in the world in 2005, however after moving on to the professional circuit his career has been marked by inconsistency and unmet potential. With zero career titles and his best showing coming in the 2011 US Open, Young’s top ranking would max out at #39.
Bernard Tomic
Bursting onto the scene with a flamboyant style and impressive shot-making, Australia’s Bernard Tomic’s career was hindered by attitude problems and off-court controversies. Although he would win a pair of junior Grand Slam titles, the Australian and U.S. Open, he could not match the same results as a professional. And just as responsible gambling requires one to make informed decisions, stay in control, and be aware of potential pitfalls, Tomic’s choices on and off the court contributed to his downfall and failure to meet the expectations.
Andrea Jaeger
Once the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam final, Andrea Jaeger’s career was cut short by injuries and burnout. At just fourteen years old, Jaeger had the tennis world talking as she competed and won both junior and pro-level tennis tournaments. Two years later the Chicago-born tennis star was the world’s second-ranked female tennis player. Despite early success, she failed to fulfill her potential, admitting that she never wanted to become a top-ranked tennis star and would throw some matches on purpose. Just five years after starting her career, Jaeger would retire at the age of 19, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
Nicolas Almagro
Heralded as the next great Spanish tennis player, Almagro’s career was hampered by inconsistency and a lack of mental fortitude in crucial moments. Despite possessing a powerful game, specifically his 210km serve backhand groundstroke, along with his athleticism he never managed to break through to the upper echelons of the sport on a consistent basis.
Ryan Harrison
Touted as a rising star in American tennis since the age of two, Ryan Harrison struggled to maintain consistency and failed to make significant strides in his career. Before he was able to legally get his driver’s license, Harrison was ranked as a top ten junior and had won an ATP match against the then-ranked 130th player in the world at the 2008 U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships. Despite flashes of brilliance, he never managed to break into the upper ranks of the ATP tour, reaching as high as 40th in 2017.
Sloane Stephens
It’s hard to call a player who defeated the female tennis G.O.A.T. Serena Williams in the 2013 Australian Open and a U.S. Open champion someone who failed to meet expectations. However, after her breakthrough victory in 2017, Stephens’ career failed to reach the heights many expected. Inconsistency, pressure from media and fans in addition to struggles with injuries has hindered her progress, preventing her from establishing herself as a dominant force in women’s tennis.
Jelena Dokic
Once ranked as high as World No. 4, Yugoslavia’s Jelena Dokic’s career was plagued by personal issues and struggles with her mental health. With her talent evident at an early age, Dokic quickly rose to prominence and became the youngest Australian semi-finalist in 2000 at the age of 17. While she would reach as high as fourth in the world rankings, Dokic’s career was derailed primarily by her abusive relationship with her father and bad advice from her coach.
Grigor Dimitrov
Known as “Baby Federer” early in his career due to his elegant playing style, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov failed to live up to the unfair comparison, which set the bar high for multiple Grand Slam titles and top ranking. As the top-ranked junior in the world thanks to a pair of 2008 titles at the Wimbledon Championships and US Open, Dimitrov has not been able to mirror that success as a professional. Despite periodic flashes of brilliance, he struggled with consistency and failed to make a significant impact at the Grand Slam level, leaving many disappointed with his career trajectory.
Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios possesses immense talent and shot-making ability, but his career has been marred by controversies, lack of discipline, and inconsistency. Despite defeating some of the top players in the world including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, Kyrgios has failed to make a deep run in Grand Slam tournaments and fulfill the expectations placed upon him. While his flamboyant approach and outbursts have made him a highlight reel favorite, it is all for the wrong reasons.
Eugenie Bouchard
Eugenie Bouchard’s career peaked in 2014 when she became the first Canadian-born player to advance to a Grand Slam singles championship match, reaching the Wimbledon final and becoming the World No. 5. However, since then, her form has declined significantly due to various factors, including injuries, coaching changes, and loss of confidence. Bouchard has struggled to regain her momentum and live up to the expectations set early in her career.
