Rome 2014: Dimitrov vs. Nadal Prediction

Grigor Dimitrov vs. Rafael Nadal Rafa has had some strange results on clay this year.  Still, title in Madrid and Rio make Rafa the most successful player on dirt to this point in 2014.  Rafa’s dominance is such that losing sets to Simon, Youzhny and Murray appear to many as signs of weakness.  I think…

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Rome 2014: Raonic vs. Djokovic Prediction

Milos Raonic vs. Novak Djokovic  There does appear to be a 25 and under movement on tour in 2014.  Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and Grigor Dimitrov have each had nice moments in the past 52 weeks and especially since January 1.  I don’t see the youth movement continues in this match.  Milos Raonic has made…

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Masters Rome Predictions May 14, 2014

Predicted Winners in BOLD Marcel Granollers (ESP) v [7] Andy Murray (GBR) – Based on other results, this upset I am predicting is not that major. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) v [4] Roger Federer (SUI) – Is Federer in a post-baby fog?  If so, he’ll likely lose.  Still, I think in Monte Carlo he played well enough to get a modest benefit of the doubt. [1] Rafael…

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GOAT Confusion – Say What?

Roger Federer says there is no GOAT because players from different eras had different priorities etc. Pete Sampras says Federer is the GOAT for now, but that his head-to-head vs. Rafa is an issue. Andre Agassi says Rafa is the GOAT even if he once said Federer was the GOAT. John McEnroe says that Rafa…

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Nishikori will wait till the French Open

Originally posted on Talking Tennis Points:
After being forced to retire in the final of the Madrid Masters, Kei Nishikori has opted to withdraw from this week’s final ATP 1000 event to prepare for the French Open. Nishikori became the first Japanese player to break into the top ten following this tournament but will play…

Nishikori vs. Nadal Prediction

Nishikori is in the Top 10 Melbourne, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid prove Kei Nishikori belongs in the top 10.  His talent and recent consistency have Nishikori taking advantage of a year of upheaval in the tennis pecking order.  Michael Chang’s influence as coach has to be lauded as well.  Nishikori could become King of Spain…

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Nishikori vs. Ferrer Should Be Something

Ferrer is Focused David Ferrer did not exactly back up his upset of Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo.  He lost to Wawrinka and then lost early in Barcelona.  Nevertheless, Ferrer is one of the top clay court players of the past decade.  He is fit and fights for everything.  His wins in Madrid have him…

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Nadal vs. Bautista Agut will give us some Data

Nadal vs. Spain in 2014 Rafael Nadal’s clay court losses to David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro along with his near miss vs. Pablo Andujar have raised some questions.  Spaniards had generally wilted in front of Nadal, but in 2014 they have pushed back against their numero uno.  Roberto Bautista Agut has had a bit of…

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Madrid Masters 2014: May 5 ATP Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD First Round Albert Ramos vs. Nicolas Mahut – Surfaces don’t matter as much as they once did, but Mahut’s game is not overly tailored to clay courts.  Ramos should advance. Fernando Verdasco vs. Andreas Seppi – Hot sauce is hard to predict, but in the early rounds in his home country,…

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