Predicted Winners in BOLD Tomas Berdych (CZE) [7] vs. David Ferrer (ESP) [3] – These two have split their last four matches (all on hardcourts). This makes it a tough match to call. Berdych obviously needs to dictate play and impose his serve and big shots on Ferrer. David has to make the Big Czech move and play defensive…
Category: Novak Djokovic
Boris Becker and Nole
Becker’s Big Match Play Novak Djokovic hiring Boris Becker is something that has mystified some observers. Becker has never been a coach before and as a player was notorious for being hard to coach. Novak ended 2013 on a massive winning streak including 2 straight set wins over the man who took his #1 ranking….
Lendl vs. Becker vs. Edberg (?) vs. Uncle Toni
The Coaching Arms Race is On Andy Murray has been working with Ivan Lendl for 2 years. This partnership has yielded 1 Wimbledon title, 1 US Open title, 1 Gold Medal, 1 Wimbledon runner-up finish, and 1 Australian Open runner-up finish. Becker is Back Murray’s successes with Lendl plus Nadal’s improbable dominance after knee injuries…
Rafa or Nole, Who had a Better Year? (POLL)
Rafa won 2 slams, 5 Masters 1000 events, won 3 other events, and was runner-up at 4 events. Rafa beat Nole 3 times including matches at Roland Garros and the US Open. The computer has Rafa ranked #1. Nole won 1 slam, was runner-up at 2 others, and a semifinalist at a fourth. Nole won…
World Tour Finals 2013: Semifinal Predictions
Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer Roger Federer has had an interesting year. He reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, the quarterfinals of the French Open, was runner-up in Rome, runner-up in Basel, made a number of final 8 or better showings at Masters 1000 events and won Halle. He now finished second in his…
Power Ranking 2013: Paris to London
Power Ranking 2013 #14 1. Rafael Nadal – I said Rafa had locked up the #1 slot on my Power Ranking for 2013 after the US Open. If Nole wins out, I will have to revise that pronouncement. Rafa has not done anything wrong since the US Open ended, but this time of year has…
Bercy 2013 Championship Prediction: Djokovic v. Ferrer
David Ferrer’s results suggest that he is clearly a top 4 player. He reached the French Open final, the Australian Open semifinal, and the quarterfinal round at the US Open and Wimbledon this year. He went 19-4 in Grand Slam singles matches in 2013. He was runner-up at the Masters 1000 events in Miami and…
Bercy 2013 Semifinal Predictions: Djokovic v. Federer & Nadal v. Ferrer
The Masters 1000 event in Paris is always good, but having all 8 World Tour Finals participants in the quarterfinal round was something. Here are my picks: 2 Novak Djokovic vs. 5 Roger Federer Federer has played well to get to this point. Beating Kevin Anderson, Phillipp Kohlschreiber and Juan Martin del Potro in succession…
Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Shanghai
Power Ranking 2013 #13 1. Rafael Nadal – I said Rafa had locked up the #1 slot on my Power Ranking for 2013 after the US Open. If Nole wins out, I will have to revise that pronouncement. Rafa has not done anything wrong since the US Open ended, but this time of year has…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 