American Donald Young has found himself on the brink of a tennis record. Unfortunately, this record would only be for the most consecutive losses. So far, Donald Young has racked up 16 first round in a row plus one second round loss…sev-uhn-teen in a row! That’s quite a few at this stage.
If you know anything about the relationship that Donald Young has with the USTA, then you know that the MacEnroe brothers coined Young as the “golden boy” of tennis. Patrick said he was the next top American to grace the tennis courts of the world.
His junior years were stellar, winning the Orange Bowl and the US Junior National Championships, all the while being the world #1 junior. That was basically the end of the road of being a decorated tennis star.
Donald Young turned pro and started playing with the big kids. A harsh realization I figure. No more loose points, now everything is under a microscope and analyzed to death. A heavier schedule and more money, another facet of pressure in an already pressure filled environment.
Donald Young’s 2012 tennis season, a total loss?
Young started the 2012 tennis season with only a few second round appearances, reaching the second round of the 2012 Australian Open. It didn’t get any better after the Aussie Open, finding himself in the second round of one more tournament in Memphis. Donald Young was handed a second round loss to Grigor Dimitrov.
It was after that second round match in Memphis where Donald Young began his run for the most consecutive losses in a row. There have been plenty of matches that he could have easily won, even some that he should have been close, but were a total blow out.
Here’s a list of Donald Young’s 17 consecutive losses:
Delray Beach – Loss to Sweeting 1-6, 1-6
Indian Wells – Loss to Darcis 2-6, 6-3, 6-7(5)
Miami – Loss to Goffin 5-7, 4-6
Casablanca – Loss to Paire 6-4, 6-7(5), 2-6
Monte Carlo – Loss to Mathieu (ranked 352!) 0-6, 1-6
Madrid – Loss to Troicki 1-6, 6-4, 1-6
Rome – Loss to Simon 2-6, 5-7
Nice – Loss to Bellucci 7-6(5), 0-6, 3-6
French Open – Loss to Dimitrov 6-7(3), 1-6, 1-6
Eastbourne – Loss to Baker 1-6, 4-6
Wimbledon – Loss to Youzhny 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 3-6
Newport – Loss to Russell 6-1, 1-6, 4-6
Atlanta – Loss to Johnson (ranked 402!) 3-6, 6-3, 3-6
Olympics (London) – Loss to Seppi 4-6, 4-6
Toronto – Loss to Chardy 6-3, 6-7(4), 0-6
Cincinnati – Loss to Levine 4-6, 6-7
Consecutive losses are a shame. In Young’s case, he clearly takes very little accountability for this “slump.”
In this post match video, Donald Young puts plenty of emphasis on his tennis racquet. He says that switching from his Prince to the Dunlop frames could have been a big mistake. He started with Head tennis racquets then made the switch with a racquet contract. He certainly was winning more matches with his Prince frame, so I can only figure that he jumped frames for the contract…the money perhaps?
Donald Young has also had coaching woes over the years, many not wanting to work with him and having his parents as the only coaching that either party will tolerate. Not a lot of good there though. Ms. Young is obviously not getting it done, I’m not sure if it’s her coaching methods or just that working with family can be very difficult.
The Young camp has recently hired Coach Roger Smith. Smith hailing from the Bahamas, has plenty of experience in tennis, though he doesn’t have notable wins on the ATP tour, only reaching a career high of 96 in 1988. Hopefully, for the sake of total embarrassment, Smith will find something to snap this almost entertaining loosing streak that Donald Young is producing. Heck, Young might even challenge Vincent Spadea’s loosing streak of 21 consecutive losses (1999 – 2000).
This loosing streak that Young is on begs the question, “Is Donald Young really committed to tennis anymore?” I mean, he has not won an ATP level title, he’s got more losses than wins (80 losses to 34 wins), he’s got a crummy attitude, and he’s got the “entitlement” factor. It is as if he believe he should have things handed to him, instead of putting in the work. Young is, well, still young enough to turn his career around, but he has to want it and do what he has to do to get there.
Donald Young will head to the Winston Salem Open in North Carolina. This is the last tournament before the 2012 US Open, where if he looses early here and at the USO, he will most certainly drop out of the top 100. Though, more importantly, will be losses 18 and 19.
If Donald Young continues this loosing streak, then I hope he considers finding his way back to the Challengers Tour. Where not only can he pick up some points, he can somehow figure out remembering how to close out matches that he should win. If that doesn’t work, then I hope that tournament directors refuse to give him main draw wildcards and make him work for a spot in the main draw…make him go through qualifying. Gotta earn your keep buddy.
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