Well, it is that time of year again. (Rafa time that is lol) The most predictable Grand Slam of the last 9 years is starting tomorrow once again, and this time it is not as predictable as before. Will Djokovic end Rafa's reign and complete the career slam? Will Nadal win a record extending 9th FO and get closer to Federer's 17 GSs? Will Federer shock everyone and win his 2nd FO? Or will the unthinkable happen and Murray wins it or someone else?
As for the women's side, it is not clear who the favorite is. Sharapova seemed to be the favorite until the draw was made and Serena ended up in her Quarter.
The contenders:
Rafael Nadal
The king of clay is trying to win his 9th FO title and it won't be easy. Nadal has had his worst clay season since 2004. He lost to Ferrer, Almagro earlier this season, and should have lost against Andujar. He then won Madrid by defeating Nishikori, a match which he was very lucky to win since Nishikori injured himself. Then came Rome! Nadal survived a bunch of marathon matches to setup a showdown with Djokovic in the final which he lost in 3 sets. Nadal's confidence isn't all there yet, but he should feel good knowing that the FO is a Bo5 tournament. Ferrer and Almagro are his biggest potential opponents before the final, so it should be interesting if they, or anyone else, have the belief to take him out. (Thiem?)
Djokovic:
There is no doubt that Djokovic is the biggest threat to Nadal at the FO. Has has won their last 4 meeting and has surrendered only 1 set. He really should have won last year's SF, but some costly mistake prevented him from doing so. Djokovic's biggest threat before the final is a potential SF with Federer. We know that Roger likes to spoil the party (2011!!), so we will see how that potential match will play out. Biggest concern is the wrist, which seemed fine in Rome.
Roger Federer
The 2009 champion has had a good year so far. He is playing much better than last year and has reached 4 finals so far, but only winning 1. He seems to have lost a bit of the mental toughness that he showed in 2012, but he is still a force to be reckoned with. He handed Djokovic 2 losses this season, 1 on HC and the other on clay. Djokovic aggravated his wrist injury in that MC match, but credit for Roger for winning a tight 1st set. His draw looks great on paper, but he does have some tricky opponents like Volandri, Berdych and the 2014 Nice Champion Gulbis. If the father of 4 gets some sleep and stays focused, he should make the SF. Then, who knows what will happen. Fedberg are obviously focusing on Wimbledon and the US Open, but if an opportunity arises, then Federer will take it here.
Stanislas Wawrinka:
The AO champ won his first Masters ever at by defeating Federer at MC. Then he looked confused at the next 2 clay court tournaments and lost early. Can he muster up his AO form and win here?
David Ferrer
Last year's finalist has had an ok year so far. He did defeat Nadal earlier this year, and it should be interesting how he would perform against him here. Last year's final was horrible.
Dark Horses:
Nishikori:
The youngster is one of the most promising tennis players, with wins over Federer on HC this year and almost beating Nadal on clay, and he is gaining confidence. The biggest issue with him is that he is prone to injury and the Bo5 format of the GSs will test his endurance. A potential encounter with Djokovic in the QF should be great.
Gulbis:
Hot off today's title win at NICE, Gulbis should be feeling good about doing some damage here. Don't forget that he was almost 1 point away from handing Nadal a bagel at Rome.
Dimitrov:
It is going to be an interesting tournament for Dimitrov. He went out with a whimper against Nadal at Rome, and has a tricky opponent in his first round. (Karlovic) He had a great win against Djokovic last year at Madrid though
Women's Draw:
The defending champ Serena is the big favorite now and there really isn't much else to say. lol Sharapova might win if she somehow can avoid Serena or defeat her.
Credit for LuuKyK for writing the following:
THE CONTENDERS:
Serena Williams:
The clear favorite, as in every tournament she participates. She is the defending champion and comes into the FO having just won Rome. Unstoppable when on, Serena is set to face Sharapova, the second favorite, in her QF, on a rematch of last years final. Thats considering both survive the earlier rounds, of course, which is very likely, especially for Serena. Fun fact: many people consider QF to be Serena's nightmare round given last years FO's, so maybe it will finally be a competitive match?
Maria Sharapova:
Maria had a tough beginning of the year coming back from another shoulder injury that made her lose the second half of 2013, which led to quite a big drop on the rankings. As a consequence, her FO draw this year is much tougher, especially because she is set to meet her nemesis, Serena, on the QF's. It has been more than a decade since the last time she got a win in this match-up, and they met quite a few times. To say its a one-sided meeting is an understatement. Still, everything considered, Maria has won two titles on clay this year (Stuttgart and Madrid) and has a very good record on the surface. Up until her loss to Ivanovic on Rome some weeks ago she never lost to anyone not named Serena since 2012.
Na Li
Li had a very good start of the year winning the Australian Open (her second slam) and has been consistent since then. Although it has to be said that she is known for being a headcase sometimes which leads to some unexpected loses or very ugly matches, so we will see which Madame Na will show up this year. She certainly has the game.
Ana Ivanovic
Ana comes to the FO with a very positive vibe. She won two titles this year already (although not on clay) and has been playing really well on her favorite surface (she won her first and only slam on clay). Its interesting to note that she is the only one that has beaten both Serena and Maria this year already (still, she did lose to both this year too). Just as Li, though, Ana has struggled quite a few times to close matches and win important points, so she can be really up and down at times. Its up to her mentality and will to win. And it will be put to good use because she will have to face a dark horse in her first round (Caroline Garcia).
THE DARK HORSES:
Simona Halep:
Simona is still young (22) but already won several titles and has a very solid game that is able to challenge anyone on the tour. She won the most improved player of 2013 title and that explains her sudden rise on the rankings and into the top 5. Her grand slam results so far are the only thing holding her back from being a serious title contender, but don't be surprised if you see her in the final stages of the FO.
Agnieszka Radwanska
[IMGhttp://img.livetennis.com/NewsImages/2014May24102714_490335993.jpg[/IMG]
Aga is knows as a magician for her crafty tactics, incredible dropshots/slices and mobility. While she does have a very resourceful game, she lacks the power to challenge the big hitters, which is worsened by the clay surface since the ball travels slower. She can still go quite further here considering her draw, but she would definitely be the underdog in the later stages. Its also worth noting that even when the top players are out, clearing the way for an easier win, Aga has managed to waste golden opportunities for a first grand slam, like last years Wimbledon and this years Australian Open.
Petra Kvitova
Even though Petra has struggled since her Wimbledon win and has had a really bad year so far (losing to players ranked way lower than her), she is always a contender. She has been criticized for being out of form and has suffered in long matches because of asthma, but if she finds a way to deal with these problems she can certainly challenge the top players/favorites.
Jelena Jankovic
JJ is a veteran on tour and has serious problems with her brain. No but seriously if she worried less about being a show woman and complained less about silly things like her staff say things or some random person moving on the crowd she would be way more successful. Kidding aside she has a very solid game and moves really well, especially on clay. So watch out for her.
Eugenie Bouchard
Genie is a 19 years old canadian girl that was named the newcomer of the year in 2013 and already started 2014 shocking the world by making the semi finals of the Australian Open in her first main draw participation in that tournament (losing to the eventual champion Na Li). Even if clay is not her best surface and she had problems adapting to the surface, she just won her first title on Nuremberg. She is still adapting and improving certain areas of her game, but she is already a very serious threat when on. She is the only youngster on the dark horse section because her draw is easier compared to the others.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH:
The veterans Sara Errani, Samantha Stosur, Carla Suarez Navarro, Andrea Petkovic, Angelique Kerber, Alize Cornet, Flavia Pennetta, Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova, and the youngsters Caroline Garcia, Maria Teresa Torro Flor, Monica Puig and Camila Giorgi.
As for the women's side, it is not clear who the favorite is. Sharapova seemed to be the favorite until the draw was made and Serena ended up in her Quarter.
The contenders:
Rafael Nadal
The king of clay is trying to win his 9th FO title and it won't be easy. Nadal has had his worst clay season since 2004. He lost to Ferrer, Almagro earlier this season, and should have lost against Andujar. He then won Madrid by defeating Nishikori, a match which he was very lucky to win since Nishikori injured himself. Then came Rome! Nadal survived a bunch of marathon matches to setup a showdown with Djokovic in the final which he lost in 3 sets. Nadal's confidence isn't all there yet, but he should feel good knowing that the FO is a Bo5 tournament. Ferrer and Almagro are his biggest potential opponents before the final, so it should be interesting if they, or anyone else, have the belief to take him out. (Thiem?)
Djokovic:
There is no doubt that Djokovic is the biggest threat to Nadal at the FO. Has has won their last 4 meeting and has surrendered only 1 set. He really should have won last year's SF, but some costly mistake prevented him from doing so. Djokovic's biggest threat before the final is a potential SF with Federer. We know that Roger likes to spoil the party (2011!!), so we will see how that potential match will play out. Biggest concern is the wrist, which seemed fine in Rome.
Roger Federer
The 2009 champion has had a good year so far. He is playing much better than last year and has reached 4 finals so far, but only winning 1. He seems to have lost a bit of the mental toughness that he showed in 2012, but he is still a force to be reckoned with. He handed Djokovic 2 losses this season, 1 on HC and the other on clay. Djokovic aggravated his wrist injury in that MC match, but credit for Roger for winning a tight 1st set. His draw looks great on paper, but he does have some tricky opponents like Volandri, Berdych and the 2014 Nice Champion Gulbis. If the father of 4 gets some sleep and stays focused, he should make the SF. Then, who knows what will happen. Fedberg are obviously focusing on Wimbledon and the US Open, but if an opportunity arises, then Federer will take it here.
Stanislas Wawrinka:
The AO champ won his first Masters ever at by defeating Federer at MC. Then he looked confused at the next 2 clay court tournaments and lost early. Can he muster up his AO form and win here?
David Ferrer
Last year's finalist has had an ok year so far. He did defeat Nadal earlier this year, and it should be interesting how he would perform against him here. Last year's final was horrible.
Dark Horses:
Nishikori:
The youngster is one of the most promising tennis players, with wins over Federer on HC this year and almost beating Nadal on clay, and he is gaining confidence. The biggest issue with him is that he is prone to injury and the Bo5 format of the GSs will test his endurance. A potential encounter with Djokovic in the QF should be great.
Gulbis:
Hot off today's title win at NICE, Gulbis should be feeling good about doing some damage here. Don't forget that he was almost 1 point away from handing Nadal a bagel at Rome.
Dimitrov:
It is going to be an interesting tournament for Dimitrov. He went out with a whimper against Nadal at Rome, and has a tricky opponent in his first round. (Karlovic) He had a great win against Djokovic last year at Madrid though
Women's Draw:
The defending champ Serena is the big favorite now and there really isn't much else to say. lol Sharapova might win if she somehow can avoid Serena or defeat her.
Credit for LuuKyK for writing the following:
THE CONTENDERS:
Serena Williams:
The clear favorite, as in every tournament she participates. She is the defending champion and comes into the FO having just won Rome. Unstoppable when on, Serena is set to face Sharapova, the second favorite, in her QF, on a rematch of last years final. Thats considering both survive the earlier rounds, of course, which is very likely, especially for Serena. Fun fact: many people consider QF to be Serena's nightmare round given last years FO's, so maybe it will finally be a competitive match?
Maria Sharapova:
Maria had a tough beginning of the year coming back from another shoulder injury that made her lose the second half of 2013, which led to quite a big drop on the rankings. As a consequence, her FO draw this year is much tougher, especially because she is set to meet her nemesis, Serena, on the QF's. It has been more than a decade since the last time she got a win in this match-up, and they met quite a few times. To say its a one-sided meeting is an understatement. Still, everything considered, Maria has won two titles on clay this year (Stuttgart and Madrid) and has a very good record on the surface. Up until her loss to Ivanovic on Rome some weeks ago she never lost to anyone not named Serena since 2012.
Na Li
Li had a very good start of the year winning the Australian Open (her second slam) and has been consistent since then. Although it has to be said that she is known for being a headcase sometimes which leads to some unexpected loses or very ugly matches, so we will see which Madame Na will show up this year. She certainly has the game.
Ana Ivanovic
Ana comes to the FO with a very positive vibe. She won two titles this year already (although not on clay) and has been playing really well on her favorite surface (she won her first and only slam on clay). Its interesting to note that she is the only one that has beaten both Serena and Maria this year already (still, she did lose to both this year too). Just as Li, though, Ana has struggled quite a few times to close matches and win important points, so she can be really up and down at times. Its up to her mentality and will to win. And it will be put to good use because she will have to face a dark horse in her first round (Caroline Garcia).
THE DARK HORSES:
Simona Halep:
Simona is still young (22) but already won several titles and has a very solid game that is able to challenge anyone on the tour. She won the most improved player of 2013 title and that explains her sudden rise on the rankings and into the top 5. Her grand slam results so far are the only thing holding her back from being a serious title contender, but don't be surprised if you see her in the final stages of the FO.
Agnieszka Radwanska
[IMGhttp://img.livetennis.com/NewsImages/2014May24102714_490335993.jpg[/IMG]
Aga is knows as a magician for her crafty tactics, incredible dropshots/slices and mobility. While she does have a very resourceful game, she lacks the power to challenge the big hitters, which is worsened by the clay surface since the ball travels slower. She can still go quite further here considering her draw, but she would definitely be the underdog in the later stages. Its also worth noting that even when the top players are out, clearing the way for an easier win, Aga has managed to waste golden opportunities for a first grand slam, like last years Wimbledon and this years Australian Open.
Petra Kvitova
Even though Petra has struggled since her Wimbledon win and has had a really bad year so far (losing to players ranked way lower than her), she is always a contender. She has been criticized for being out of form and has suffered in long matches because of asthma, but if she finds a way to deal with these problems she can certainly challenge the top players/favorites.
Jelena Jankovic
JJ is a veteran on tour and has serious problems with her brain. No but seriously if she worried less about being a show woman and complained less about silly things like her staff say things or some random person moving on the crowd she would be way more successful. Kidding aside she has a very solid game and moves really well, especially on clay. So watch out for her.
Eugenie Bouchard
Genie is a 19 years old canadian girl that was named the newcomer of the year in 2013 and already started 2014 shocking the world by making the semi finals of the Australian Open in her first main draw participation in that tournament (losing to the eventual champion Na Li). Even if clay is not her best surface and she had problems adapting to the surface, she just won her first title on Nuremberg. She is still adapting and improving certain areas of her game, but she is already a very serious threat when on. She is the only youngster on the dark horse section because her draw is easier compared to the others.
OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH:
The veterans Sara Errani, Samantha Stosur, Carla Suarez Navarro, Andrea Petkovic, Angelique Kerber, Alize Cornet, Flavia Pennetta, Venus Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova, and the youngsters Caroline Garcia, Maria Teresa Torro Flor, Monica Puig and Camila Giorgi.
