Global Domination

With the top 4 players in the  world sweeping all 4 Grand Slam titles and all 9 Masters 1000 events, it is clear that a gap exists between the top 4 and the rest of the tour.  In fact, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer were the only 2 players outside of the big 4 to even reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 2011.  So what would a Risk board look like between these 4 players?  Would this be a better way to end the season?

Ground Rules

 I have not played Risk since I was a child so I am not exactly sure what the rules are.  So here are my rules:

1. Grand Slam title = 6 armies in the corresponding region (i.e. Djokovic has 6 armies in Australia)
2. Grand Slam runner-up = 3 armies in the corresponding region
3. Masters 1000 Title = 3 armies in the corresponding region
4. Masters 1000 runner-up or 500 or 250 title = 1 army in the corresponding region

The Regions

1. Australia – Novak Djokovic 6 armies, Andy Murray  3 armies
2. Asia-Pacific – Murray 5 armies
3. The Middle East – Djokovic 1 army, Roger Federer 1 army
4. Continental Europe – Rafael Nadal 12 armies, Djokovic 7 armies,   Federer 7 armies
5. Britain -Djokovic 6 armies, Nadal 3 armies, Murray 1 army
6. North America – Djokovic 16 armies, Nadal 5 armies, Murray 3 armies
7. South America – Null set

The Likely Outcome

In Risk, dice rolling can lead to a lot of odd results, but it seems like Djokovic’s domination of North America (US Open title, 3 Masters 1000 titles and 1 Masters 1000 runner-up) would lead to Djokovic quickly eliminating Murray and Nadal from the North American map.  That would give Nole a lot of resources for shoring up his numerical advantages in Britain and Australia.  Eventually, those armies would join Novak’s armies in continental Europe and end the game for Nadal.  This  would likely leave Novak as the winner at Risk for 2011.

A Funny Scene 

I can see Murray looking fatalistic when rolling the dice and berating the dice when the rolls do not go his way.   Rafa would likely do a lot of fist pumping after good rolls and even do sprints to warm up for the game. Federer likely would have the ability to call up some good rolls while sending an imperious vibe across the table, but would he be consistent enough to grind out the full game of Risk?  Finally, Djokovic would likely make a lot of jokes and do some self-assured poses after winning a battle based on the dice.

Post Script – Breakdown of the Overall Totals

1.  Novak Djokovic – 36 armies (3 slams, 5 Masters 1000 titles, 1 Masters 1000 runner-up, 2 other titles)
2. Rafael Nadal – 20 armies (1 slam, 2 slam runner-up finishes, 1 Masters 1000 title, 4 masters 1000 runner-up finishes, 1 other title)
3. Andy Murray – 12 armies (1 slam runner-up, 2 Masters 1000 titles, 3 other titles)
4. Roger Federer – 8 armies (1 slam runner-up, 1 Masters 1000 title, 2 other tournaments)

If I missed something, please let me know and I will fix it.

Updated 11-29-2011

Federer’s win at the Year End Championships in London would give him a presence in England, but I think the likely results would be unchanged.