There are four players who all have a realistic chance of claiming the final grand slam of the year, so it makes my job of predicting a winner extremely difficult.
It has been a fantastic year for tennis with the last three grand slams all being won by different players. Novak Djokovic claimed his fourth Australian Open title in January defeating Andy Murray in the final. Rafael Nadal returned to grand slam tennis at the French Open for the first time since Wimbledon 2012, recording an unrivaled eighth French Open title demolishing first time slam finalist David Ferrer. But it was Wimbledon that truly opened up the proceedings with Andy Murray clinching only his second grand slam title with a hard fought victory over Novak Djokovic. So the question is, will one of these players claim there second slam of the year? Or will an 'outsider' upset the odds?
I use the 'outsider' term loosely, lets be honest, Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych are hardly 'outsiders', with Federer a 17-time grand slam champion, Del Potro's one slam win has come at the US Open in 2009 and both Ferrer and Berdych have been one time slam finalists. I believe one of these players will indeed upset the odds in this years tournament with Juan Martin Del Potro being the likely candidate. His progress back from the wrist injury that he occurred in 2010 has took a while, but his performances over the last year has seen him reach the dizzying heights of his US Open win back in 2009. So it will interesting to see how the Argentine negotiates his way through the competition. Looking at the draw closely I can't see anyone troubling Del Potro until the likelihood quarter final against Djokovic. This would be a repeat of the titanic semi-final match at Wimbledon this year that saw Djokovic narrowly cross the finishing line in what was in my opinion the match of the tournament. This time however, things could turn out differently, and I wouldn't be surprised if Del Potro takes the initiative and comes through. But with Murray and Nadal possibly waiting, nothing comes easy, so for Del Potro to win three extremely tough matches may be to much to ask and I definitely expect Murray to pull through the semis against Del Potro. Murray is the man to beat. He is the defending US Open champion and this tournament will mark the first time that the Scot has had to defend at a grand slam event. Murray is sure to offer a lot of resistance throughout the tournament and be hungry for more success and the No.1 ranking. But could the machine of Rafael Nadal stop him?
Nadal has won all hard court events he has participated in this year and although he suffered a massive blip in the first round of Wimbledon this year, I actually think it has made him more determined than ever to win a grand slam title outside of the French Open. In my honest and humble opinion I think Nadal will make the final. I do think he will struggle in the opening few rounds, but once he finds his feet and gets accustomed to the five set tennis on the hard courts, I think only Murray is capable of taking him down. Both Djokovic and Federer have fallen to the Spaniard on hard courts this year and although both players were close to defeating him, Nadal just had that little more winning formula that worked against them, and I can see it working again. If Federer were to make the final, he would potentially have to overcome Nadal, Ferrer and Murray/Djokovic to claim his sixth US Open. I think the first obstacle will be too much for Federer which is a shame because I would love to see him in a slam final again. At this stage in his career Federer's finesse style of play cannot cope with Nadal's vicious attacking methods, so the end of the line for Federer seems likely in the quarters.
A Del Potro and Murray semi final followed by a Nadal and Ferrer semi final seems the likely bet for me. I rate David Ferrer as an extreme dark horse because were Nadal to slip up during the early stages, Ferrer could make the final, otherwise he won't have a chance against the World No.2. Murray should overcome Del Potro especially considering the Argentine will surely be a little fatigued with the match against Djokovic. Which leaves us with a Murray and Nadal final. Either way this could be the best final of the year, two players who have not met this year in what would be a dream final. The Winner? Murray in four. Murray's ability to return almost every ball thrown at him, his serve and return of serve and his fitness have all majorly improved since his last meeting with the Spaniard. This is a different Murray and Nadal will not see it coming.
In the women's side of the draw, it will be interesting to see how the young starlets progress. Keep a keen eye on Laura Robson, Sloane Stephens, Jamie Hampton, Heather Watson and Madison Keys all likely to cause at least one major upset between them. Having looked at the draw though and making predictions, I have a strong feeling that the semi-final line-up will look like this: Serena Williams v Li Na and Svetlana Kuznetsova v Victoria Azarenka. This is a strong cast but its inevitable that Serena and Victoria will meet in the final with my bet going on Azarenka lifting the trophy. Her narrow loss to Serena in last years tournament and the win over Serena at Cincinnati will give the boost she will need against the American.
Mens Champion: Andy Murray
Womens Champion: Victoria Azarenka
No comments:
Post a Comment