I am not a huge fan of the Sunday start for the French Open, but it gives the tournament 15 days with a surface that can absorb moisture to get through all of the draws. Maybe the US Open should add a Sunday start to the Monday finish. My Predicted Winners are in BOLD Lukas…
Tag: Tennis Predictions
Roland Garros 2014 Draw Analysis and Predictions
Rafa’s Quarter Rafael Nadal‘s quarter is not ideal. Still, he has to be considered the favorite. Nicolas Almagro beat him in Barcelona and looms as a possible round of 16 opponent. Grigor Dimitrov is on the cusp of the top 10 and is another possible quarterfinal opponent. If Dimitrov plays closer to his Australian Open…
Roman Gladiators: Nadal vs. Djokovic XLI Prediction
Anytime #1 and #2 meet to decide a big tournament things are special. This one has the potential to be even bigger than special. Novak Djokovic is #2 in the world and has beaten #1 Nadal 3 consecutive times winning 6 consecutive sets. A win on clay over Nadal would propel Djokovic into Paris with…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
March Madness: Nadal vs. Djokovic Preview and Prediction
Rafael Nadal (1) vs. Novak Djokovic (2) After Nole ended 2013 with a huge winning streak, dreams of Djokovic winning his 5th Australian Open title setting up a battle with Rafael Nadal in Paris seemed tantalizingly close. Instead, Stan Wawrinka beat both Nole and Rafa in Melbourne and 2014 has been a year without a…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 