Tennis Abides is back, and that will require a longer post at some point, but I will just say life happens for the time being. 2022 Midyear Report Male Player of the Year to this Point: Rafael Nadal – Rafa won a tune-up in Australia, then improbably won his 2nd Australian Open with the first…
Tag: Rafael Nadal
French Open 2021: The 58th Meeting between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal – Prediction
How often does the world #1 get to enter a match with many people thinking he has no chance to win? If he loses in 3 or 4 sets, no one is going to think much of it because it is Rafa in Rafa’s house.
Australian Open 2021: Day 10 Men’s Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Andrey Rublev (7) vs Daniil Medvedev (4) – This battle of the Russians is pitting two red hot players against one another. I like Medvedev to advance, but wow I also like Rublev’s game and chances. I think Medvedev’s amoeba tennis wins so long as he keeps adapting even if Rublev…
Australian Open 2021: Day 8 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD ROD LAVER ARENA (16) Fabio Fognini (ITA) v (2) Rafael Nadal (ESP) – I am expecting a close match that might even go 5 sets. I will not be shocked if Fognini wins, but I think Rafa prevails in 4 or 5 sets facing down his first big test of the…
Australian Open 2021: Day 6 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Rod Laver Arena (11 a.m. start) [4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [28] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Cameron Norrie (GBR) – Rafa and Daniil ought to advance. Margaret Court Arena [7] Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – Rublev will need to return well and pass when Lopez comes forward. I think he…
Australian Open 2021: Day 4 Men’s Singles Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD Rod Laver Arena (11 a.m. start) [5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. [WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) – I like Tsitsipas to win, but I expect a rowdy crowd as well.[2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. [Q] Michael Mmoh (USA) – Rafa should win, but super fast courts do not bode super well for him overall. Margaret Court…
Australian Open 2021: February 9th Men’s Singles Predictions
Rod Laver Arena [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Laslo Djere (SRB) – Rafa rolls[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Gilles Simon (FRA) – This is a nightmare first round draw. Simon makes people play badly and hangs around. Still, Stefanos should win this match in 2021. Margaret Court Arena [4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) – Daniil will need…
Australian Open 2021: Final Four Predictions
Women’s Singles Final Four #1 Ash Barty vs. #20 Maria Sakkari & #3 Naomi Osaka vs. #10 Serena Williams I have a sneaky feeling that Sakkari will take home the big trophy. Men’s Singles Final Four #1 Novak Djokovic vs. #3 Dominic Thiem & #4 Daniil Medvedev vs. #5 Stefanos Tsitsipas* I like Medvedev if…
Novak Djokovic will Finish a Record Tying 6th Year Ranked #1*
Tennis records have been equalled and falling quite a bit since Pete Sampras won his the record tying 12th major at Wimbledon 1999. Novak Djokovic just equaled Pete Sampras’ record of finishing 6 years ranked #1. Jimmy Connors finished 5 consecutive years at #1, and Pete Sampras bested that by finishing 6 consecutive years ranked…
French Open 2020: Tennismagedon Djokovic vs. Nadal for the Title (Prediction)
This is a BIG Match For Djokovic to win: Djokovic needs to take care of his serve as his return is the best in the business. If he gets multiple routine holds per set, the pressure shifts heavily against Nadal. Djokovic needs to establish patterns in points in which he keeps the ball into Nadal’s…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 