My Starting Point I will put my bias out there and state that Roger Federer has been all-time my favorite tennis player to watch since 2003. I like his game, his balance, his shot making etc. I also will bluntly say that Roger is not playing near his career best 2006 level, or his 2004-2007…
Category: Rafael Nadal
Madrid Masters 2013 Final Prediction Nadal vs. Wawrinka
Rafael Nadal vs. Stanislas Wawrinka This match is pretty straight forward to predict. If things go according to form, Nadal should win. Wawrinka is riding a big winning streak and playing the best tennis of his life. Here are 3 keys to Wawrinka pulling an upset. Stan must serve well. The altitude in Madrid benefits…
Madrid Masters Predictions May 10, 2013
Predicted winners in BOLD Quarterfinals Kei Nishikori (14) vs. Pablo Andujar – A great match for tennis lovers, but I think Andujar will be more fresh and as I said earlier I love Pablo’s game. Andy Murray (3) vs. Tomas Berdych (6) – I think clay helps Berdych here. He can hit through the court whereas Murray’s shots may sit up…
Madrid Masters Predictions May 9, 2013
Predicted Winners in BOLD Roger Federer vs. Kei Nishikori – Federer has had a mediocre 2013 by his standards. He also has points to defend. I expect Roger to advance, but a loss would not be shocking. Andy Murray vs. Gilles Simon – In 2008, Simon looked like Murray’s mini-me. This could go either way on clay. I still think Murray…
Nadal and Clay Court Invincibility
My second to most recent column revolved around Nadal’s seeming invulnerability on clay. All of the sudden, Nadal is pushed hard by Grigor Dimitrov, struggled holding a lead and closing out a match vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Now, his solid wins over Ferrer and Almagro in Latin America…
Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Post Monte Carlo
Dan Martin’s 2013 Power Ranking #6 1. Novak Djokovic – Nole ends a nearly 9 year winning streak by Nadal in Monte Carlo and in straight sets no less. He’s #1. 2. Rafael Nadal – Rafa has played 5 events in 2013. His results: 3 titles and 2 runner-up finishes. Did someone really knock over his water…
Nadal’s Reign: Unrelenting Supremacy
King Rafa 2005 – ? Can anyone stop a prepared Nadal on clay? That is a question that has been hounding professional tennis since 2005. There are a few scenarios for how Nadal might lose a match on clay, but these scenarios become even less likely when a match moves to a best of five…
Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Post-Miami and Davis Cup
Dan Martin’s 2013 Power Ranking #5 1. Novak Djokovic – Nole is number one, but he needs to rest his ankle if he is going to make an assault on Roland Garros. 2. Rafael Nadal (Tie) – 3 consecutive tournament titles, including his first hard court title in over 2 years, have Rafa geared up for another…
The State of US Men’s Tennis
The Big Four Help The US Open is obviously a Grand Slam event. One third of the ATP’s Masters 1000 events reside inside of the United States. The Wimbledon and French Open championship start times are designed to get access to some of the television market in the US. Yet, the US does not currently…
Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Indian Wells
Dan Martin’s 2013 Power Ranking #4 1. Novak Djokovic – Nole is number one, but he can hear footsteps behind him right now. 2. Rafael Nadal – 3 consecutive tournament titles, including his first hard court title in over 2 years, have Rafa rising. Change since last Ranking +1 3. Andy Murray – This Indian Wells was…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 