2013 Slam Challenge - Wimbledon

[El Dude]

Its that time again - the crown jewel of tennis tournaments: Wimbledon. This means its also getting to be time to post your picks for the Slam challenge. In this post you'll find the rules and the current rankings. Good luck!

2013 SLAM PREDICTION CHALLENGE - RULES

• Pick a Winner, Runner-up, two Semifinalists, one Dark Horse, and one Wildcard candidate for each Slam.
• Points will be awarded as follows: 12 Winner, 7 Runner-up, 3 Semifinalist.
• Dark Horse gets points for whatever their final position is; they cannot be one of the Big Four (Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nadal) - although could be ranked anywhere (e.g. if Nadal drops to #5 and Ferrer is #4, Ferrer can still be the DH although Nadal cannot). A Dark Horse can loosely be defined as "any player who has not won a Slam within the past two years." For the sake of the 2013 Slam Challenge this means the "Big Four." If and when a new Slam champion arrives, this rule is subject to change!
• Wildcard gets points as the Dark Horse, but cannot be ranked in the top 10 at the beginning of the tournament.
• Note that points are not cumulative, but you do get points if a player finishes lower than what you picked (e.g. If you pick Djokovic to win but he's the runner-up, you still get 7 points; if you pick Murray to be the runner-up but he wins, you only get the 7 points you picked him for).
• So the maximum points per Slam is 25 - if you get all four and/or your Dark Horse or Wildcard is correct.
• Tiebreakers after the US Open will be handled by predictions for the World Tour Finals.
• New members who want to join start off with a total number of points equal to the lowest score for each Slam, minus one point per Slam (For instance, the lowest point total for the Australian Open was 13 and for Roland Garros was 9; 13 + 9 = 22 - 2 per Slam = 20 points for those entering the Challenge with Wimbledon)

Examples:
Your Picks: W - Murray, RU - Djokovic, SF - Federer, Ferrer, DH - Berdych, WC - Raonic

Scenario A
Actual Results: W - Raonic, RU - Murray, SF - Djokovic, Berdych
Points: 12 for Raonic, 7 for Murray, 3 for Djokovic and 3 for Berdych for a total of 25 points

Scenario B
Actual Results: W - Federer, RU - Djokovic, SF - Murray, Raonic
Points: 7 for Djokovic, 3 for Murray, 3 for Federer, 3 for Raonic = 16 pts

In other words, there are different ways to get 25 points. Also, it should be relatively easy to get a decent number of points - strategize and pick wisely!

2013 SLAM CHALLENGE RANKINGS (Through Roland Garros)
Key: Total - name (Australian Open, Roland Garros)
*denotes default points awarded due to non-participation

46 - secrettennisjunkie (25, 21)
45 - Moxie629 (20, 25)
43 - crystalfire (25, 18)
43 - Fedfan (25, 18)
42 - kskate2 (20, 22)
38 - El Dude (20, 18)
34 - britbox (21, 13)
34 - Mastoor (18, 16)
33 - Yolita (25, 8*)
31 - riotbeard (22, 9)
30 - Denisovich (18, 12)
30 - Didi (17, 13)
30 - the AntiPusher (12*, 18)
30 - Omair (12*, 18)
29 - DarthFed (21, 8*)
28 - Srini (20, 8*)
28 - Broken_Shoelace (20, 8*)
27 - johnsteinbeck (19, 8*)
25 - Kieran (17, 8*)
24 - Mog (12*, 12)
24 - tenedab (12*, 12)
24 - 1972Murat (12*, 12)
23 - shawnbm (12*, 11)
21 - homertino (13, 8*)
21 - herios (12*, 9)
20 - Ftan (16, 9; - 5 penalty for 2 days late)

 

[Denis]

I might change my mind and jump on the secrettennisjunkie bandwagon, but this is how I think about it now;

W: Djokovic
F: Nadal
S: David 'the future of tennis' Ferrer
S: Murray
DH: Tsonga
WC: Dimitrov

 

[El Dude]

W - Djokovic
F - Nadal
SF - Ferrer, Murray
DH - Tsonga
WC - Haas

Man, it saddens me not to type "Federer" in that mix. I'd also like to include Dimitrov as the wildcard, and I think he can beat del Potro to make the QF, but I don't see him getting by Old Man Ferrer. Subject to change, of course.

 

[Riotbeard]

I think these are my picks (Might Change them). I have been tied up in the archive as of late, so i have sadly been unable to keep up with the boards .

W-Djokovic
F-Nadal
SF David Ferrer, Andy Murray
Dark Horse: Juan Martin Del Potro
Wild Card: Jerzy Janowics

 

[Moxie]

W: Nadal
F: Haas
SF: Murray, Del Potro
Dark Horse: Tsonga
Wildcard: Youzhny

OK, may seem odd. I have the weekend to change it, right? But I'm going with Haas for the upset. He's beated Djoker on grass at Wimbledon before.

 

[El Dude]

Wow, Moxie, bold. I guess your 2nd place ranking makes you cocky. That said, I'd love to see Haas pull it off.

 

[secrettennisjunkie]

I might change my mind and jump on the secrettennisjunkie bandwagon

I have a bandwagon???

This tournament is really tough to pick at the moment.

W - Murray
F - Djokovic
SF - Nadal, Del Potro
DH - Berdych
WC - Kohlschreiber

 

[Moxie]

Wow, Moxie, bold. I guess your 2nd place ranking makes you cocky. That said, I'd love to see Haas pull it off.

I know, I know...maybe I'll lose my nerve and change it. But I do think Haas could pull it off. And why be boring? Everyone else is going to pick Djokovic. Go big, or go home, right?

 

[Denis]

I might change my mind and jump on the secrettennisjunkie bandwagon

I have a bandwagon???

This tournament is really tough to pick at the moment.

W - Murray
F - Djokovic
SF - Nadal, Del Potro
DH - Berdych
WC - Kohlschreiber

I might create one and jump on it since you are leading. I doubt Del Potro can beat Ferrer though. For now I staying with my picks.

---

Wow, Moxie, bold. I guess your 2nd place ranking makes you cocky. That said, I'd love to see Haas pull it off.

I know, I know...maybe I'll lose my nerve and change it. But I do think Haas could pull it off. And why be boring? Everyone else is going to pick Djokovic. Go big, or go home, right?

Yes, Haas is an outsider, but can't really see it happening though. The RG match was not that close (total points won 116 -84) actually, so even if he does a bit better on grass I think Novak will win. If I were you though, I'd pick Haas as your WC, you'll still get all the points if he makes the final.

 

[Didi]

Winner: Murray
Finalist: Djokovic
Semis: Federer, Ferrer
Dark Horse: Tsonga
Wild Card: Haas

Jez, this one was tough. I had to leave out Nadal, Berdych, Delpo, Gasquet, Wawrinka, Youzhny, Cilic, Kohls and all the young guns. Whoever gets 25 points this time, should get the title of Nostradamus under his user name.

 

[Mog]

It is tough this time.
But this is how I see it happening..

Winnner-- Roger Fedeerer
Finalist-- Djokovic
SF--- Ferrer, Tsonga
DH--- Raonic
WC-- Berrdych

For now until-

 

[herios]

W Djokovic
F Murray
SF Ferrer, Federer
DH Tsonga
WC Wawrinka

 

[secrettennisjunkie]

I might change my mind and jump on the secrettennisjunkie bandwagon

I have a bandwagon???

This tournament is really tough to pick at the moment.

W - Murray
F - Djokovic
SF - Nadal, Del Potro
DH - Berdych
WC - Kohlschreiber

I might create one and jump on it since you are leading. I doubt Del Potro can beat Ferrer though. For now I staying with my picks.

Haha. I see. I'm counting on Ferrer not getting to Del Potro, seeing that he lost to Malisse this week. But the indefatigable David has proved me wrong before.

 

[Mastoor]

I have to change my opinion, for some reason Murray seemed the best bet from the other half, but now I think I better stick with old good bee's knees

W: No1e
RUP: Nadal
S: Dimitrov & Tsonga

WC: Murray
DH: Paire

 

[Moxie]

I might change my mind and jump on the secrettennisjunkie bandwagon

I have a bandwagon???

This tournament is really tough to pick at the moment.

W - Murray
F - Djokovic
SF - Nadal, Del Potro
DH - Berdych
WC - Kohlschreiber

I might create one and jump on it since you are leading. I doubt Del Potro can beat Ferrer though. For now I staying with my picks.

---

Wow, Moxie, bold. I guess your 2nd place ranking makes you cocky. That said, I'd love to see Haas pull it off.

I know, I know...maybe I'll lose my nerve and change it. But I do think Haas could pull it off. And why be boring? Everyone else is going to pick Djokovic. Go big, or go home, right?

Yes, Haas is an outsider, but can't really see it happening though. The RG match was not that close (total points won 116 -84) actually, so even if he does a bit better on grass I think Novak will win. If I were you though, I'd pick Haas as your WC, you'll still get all the points if he makes the final.

---

OK, that's probably wise, and I'll think about it. But think about this: while the RG match wasn't that close, Tommy creamed Novak in Miami. And Tommy's not a clay guy, but he IS a grass guy, which Djokovic really isn't. (Let's be honest, it's his least good surface.) TBH, though, I think Haas would have a better chance at the upset if he were still a dangerous floater. Since they won't meet until QFs, I like Haas's chances less.

 

[Moxie]

Ok, I'm chickening out and playing the odds:

W: Nadal
F: Djokovic
SF: Murray, Del Potro
Dark Horse: Tsonga
Wildcard: Haas

...but I'm not proud of myself. Unless I get a bunch of points. LOL!

 

[Omair]

W : Federer
F : Djokovic
SF : Murray, Ferrer
Dark Horse : Haas
Wild Card : Kohlschreiber

I would have loved to pick Haas as the finalist, but the problem is I can't pick Djokovic as a dark horse, so yeah!!!!!!
Nobody is giving Federer a chance, may be I am wrong in picking him as winner, but again, nobody saw him taking the title last year as well. Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[El Dude]

Keep 'em coming, folks - we've only got a few hours left. Remember that you can still submit your picks after the R128 has started, but it is a -3 penalty. Day 2 brings a -5 penalty, and perhaps -2 per day after. I'll post a separate reminder thread just in case people are avoiding this thread

 

[rafanoy1992]

W: Murray
F: Djokovic
SF: Nadal, Ferrer
Dark Horse: Berdych
Wild Card: Dimitrov

I pick Murray (even though I'm a huge Nadal fan and Andy hasn't beaten Nadal in Wimbledon) because I think Murray will be ready this year to take the home title.

 

[askh]

I usually enjoy reading predictions, not making them; but there seem to be so few this time around... so, here I go:

W: Nadal
RU: Djokovic
SF: Del Potro, Murray
DH: Tsonga
WC: Youzhny