Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Post Montreal

Power Ranking 2013 #10 A lot of movement as one would expect following a 1000 Series Event 1.  Rafael Nadal – Rafa already has 4 Masters 1000 titles in 2013!  Add in 2000 points from Roland Garros and Rafa has banked 6000 ranking points in 5 events.  His win versus Nole pushes Rafa back to the…

Masters Canada Championship: Rafa vs. Raonic Prediction

Can Raonic Win? Milos can win this match, but it is a long shot that he does.  Not because he lacks weapons, but because Rafael Nadal is playing as well as I have seen him play since 2010.   Nadal is moving well, he is showing touch at the net, and of course he has…

Tennis Masters Canada: August 8 ATP Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Third Round Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Denis Istomin – If Novak is going to finish 2013 #1 he will need to do well at events such as this one. Andy Murray (2) vs. Ernests Gulbis – Murray should win, but Gulbis does have the firepower to pull the upset if Murray is not playing well. Benoit Paire vs. Marinko…

Tennis Masters Canada: Predictions for August 7

Predicted Winners in BOLD Second Round Andy Murray (2) vs. Marcel Granollers – This is not the easiest first match for Murray.  Still, one has to pick the world #2. Nikolay Davydenko vs. Pablo Andujar – Davydenko played well to beat Simon.  Perhaps he is having a renaissance, but Andujar is a tough customer. Vasek…

Power Ranking 2013: Post DC

Power Ranking 2013 #9 1.  Andy Murray – Murray broke a 77 year slump for men from the UK at All England.  Over the past 52 weeks, Murray has won 2 slams, produced 1 slam runner-up finish and won a gold medal.  His back-to-back titles at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon have him atop my rankings…

Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Wimbledon and Murray’s Ascent

Power Ranking 2013 #8 Wimbledon Shakes up the Power Rankings  #1 vs. #2 and Murray vs. History/Expectations 1.  Andy Murray – Murray broke a 77 year slump for men from the UK at All England.  Over the past 52 weeks, Murray has won 2 slams, produced 1 slam runner-up finish and won a gold medal….

Top 10 Gentlemen’s Championship Matches #4 – #1

As I said, I am only ranking finals that I had a chance to watch.  I did not see the 1980 final.  I am sure it would rank highly if I had seen it. 4.  2007 Roger Federer d. Rafael Nadal 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 In 2006, Rafa and Roger traded 4 set wins…

Roger Federer and a Racquet Change

Honest Assessment Roger Federer has had a few stretches in his career in which decline looked to be steep and imminent.  2008 was the first of these patches.  Novak Djokovic rolled Roger in the Australian Open semifinal round.  Federer was beaten soundly by Mardy Fish in the semifinal round of Indian Wells.  Nadal thrashed Federer…

Wimbledon 2013: Day 1 Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD GENTLEMEN’S SINGLES – FIRST ROUND Victor Hanescu (ROU)  v Roger Federer (SUI) [3] – Federer had a tough first round in 2010 as defending champion.  Still, he advanced. Benjamin Becker (GER) v Andy Murray (GBR) [2] – Murray should win against the man who sent Agassi into retirement in 2006. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [5] v Steve Darcis (BEL) – Rafa like Murray and…