2014 Crystal Ball

[lacatch]

With less than two months to go before the Australian Open, I've already started wondering about how 2014 is going to take shape. I'll go out on a limb and predict that, based on current form, I would guess that Djokovic is going to come out firing on all cylinders, and will beat Nadal in at least two Slams. I think Murray may be a factor for Wimbledon or the US Open. I think Rafa will pick up 1 slam next year. And I'd like to see DelPo step it up and claim a slam. Other thoughts?

 

[Didi]

Well for starters I hope we get to see a new Slam semi-finalist in 2014 as we did in '13 with Wawrinka and Janowicz. Over the last couple of years with the sole exceptions being 2011 and 2012 there was always at least one new member arriving in the "semis club".
Starting with...

2007: Gasquet, Djokovic, Gonzalez, Ferrer
2008: Tsonga, Murray, Monfils
2009: Verdasco, Delpo, Soderling
2010: Cilic, Melzer, Berdych
2011: nobody
2012: nobody
2013: Janowicz, Wawrinka
2014: ???

Who could it be in 2014?

realistic: Raonic, Kohlschreiber, Dimitrov, Nishikori
maybe: Pospisil, Gulbis, Fognini, Simon, Isner, Almagro
unlikely: Flo Mayer, Robredo, Anderson, Tomic, Paire, Istomin, Dodig, Dolgo
a-man-can-dream: Delbonis, Busta, Smyczek, Haase, Stak, Sijsling

Anyway, would be nice to see one of them having a shock run into the semis blowing up the establishment.

 

[shawnbm]

Hard to say; who could have predicted the year the great Rafael Nadal had after so many months off? Still, Novak was right there and had another superlative year. I believe Novak Djokovic has another fabulous year. The AO is one where he should be favored. I think he will be mighty tough--barring injury--come Paris. Too hard to say as to SW19 and New York--a lot will depend on the first six months of the year.

 

[Moxie]

Well for starters I hope we get to see a new Slam semi-finalist in 2014 as we did in '13 with Wawrinka and Janowicz. Over the last couple of years with the sole exceptions being 2011 and 2012 there was always at least one new member arriving in the "semis club".
Starting with...

2007: Gasquet, Djokovic, Gonzalez, Ferrer
2008: Tsonga, Murray, Monfils
2009: Verdasco, Delpo, Soderling
2010: Cilic, Melzer, Berdych
2011: nobody
2012: nobody
2013: Janowicz, Wawrinka
2014: ???

Who could it be in 2014?

realistic: Raonic, Kohlschreiber, Dimitrov, Nishikori
maybe: Pospisil, Gulbis, Fognini, Simon, Isner, Almagro
unlikely: Flo Mayer, Robredo, Anderson, Tomic, Paire, Istomin, Dodig, Dolgo
a-man-can-dream: Delbonis, Busta, Smyczek, Haase, Stak, Sijsling

Anyway, would be nice to see one of them having a shock run into the semis blowing up the establishment.

Interesting, Didi, just asking for new SFs. And that may be the best you get. I think that Nadal and Djokovic will be duking it out for the Majors, with Murray in there. And Del Potro has got to realize that he has to step it up, or he risks becoming an also-ran, and one-Slam-wonder.
__________

realistic: Raonic, Kohlschreiber, Dimitrov, Nishikori

-- I'm not sure I think that Kohlschreiber will ever be better than a spoiler. The rest have legitimate threat potential, though I'd still agree SFs only.

maybe: Pospisil, Gulbis, Fognini, Simon, Isner, Almagro

-- I think Almagro has reached his highest potential, already. Fognini has this year and the next to produce some goods.

unlikely: Flo Mayer, Robredo, Anderson, Tomic, Paire, Istomin, Dodig, Dolgo

--I don't know why you wouldn't put Tomic and Dolgopolov a little higher, but the rest I see as QF-ists.

a-man-can-dream: Delbonis, Busta, Smyczek, Haase, Stak, Sijsling

--Keep dreaming. I think Busta Carreno has something yet to say for himself. The rest, IMO, have found their level.

 

[Iona16]

With less than two months to go before the Australian Open, I've already started wondering about how 2014 is going to take shape. I'll go out on a limb and predict that, based on current form, I would guess that Djokovic is going to come out firing on all cylinders, and will beat Nadal in at least two Slams. I think Murray may be a factor for Wimbledon or the US Open. I think Rafa will pick up 1 slam next year. And I'd like to see DelPo step it up and claim a slam. Other thoughts?

I am curious as to what you said about Andy. Is your opinion based on the fact that he's had surgery or it is something else? He has been the best grass court player these past 2 years and he's the defending Queen's and Wimbledon champion. I have to wonder why you think he might not be a factor at Wimbledon.

 

[Kieran]

He said "May be a factor," Iona...

 

[tennisville]

Predictions for 2014

What do think will happen in 2014, who do you think will win the big events next year . Any wild predictions will be appreciated as well . Maybe we can bump the thread in a years time to see how we did in predicting the big ones

For me the

AO: Murray
Rg: Djokovic
W: Nadal
UO: Djokovic
WTF Nadal

(Yes I believe Nadal wont win the french next year )

The masters 1000 events are tough to predict really but here they go

IW Murray
Miami Murray
MC Nadal
Madrid Djokovic
Rome Nadal
Canada Djokovic
Cincinnatti Djokovic
Shanghai Murray
Paris Murray

 

[Front242]

RE: Predictions for 2014

A rather bold prediction for Murray taking the AO and IW and Miami after 3.5 months off and surgery but we'll see how it entails Will have to put in some time to make predictions later.

 

[Moxie]

RE: Predictions for 2014

I'm going to merge this thread with the one that already exists: 2014 Crystal Ball. So look to reply there. Thanks.

 

[Kieran]

What do think will happen in 2014, who do you think will win the big events next year . Any wild predictions will be appreciated as well . Maybe we can bump the thread in a years time to see how we did in predicting the big ones

For me the

AO: Murray
Rg: Djokovic
W: Nadal
UO: Djokovic
WTF Nadal

(Yes I believe Nadal wont win the french next year )

Ah, you've allocated these too neatly! It's like, let's give Nole his missing French and Rafa his missing WTF.

Why would you think Rafa won't win Paris? There's no reason to expect anything other than business as usual there...

 

[Front242]

What do think will happen in 2014, who do you think will win the big events next year . Any wild predictions will be appreciated as well . Maybe we can bump the thread in a years time to see how we did in predicting the big ones

For me the

AO: Murray
Rg: Djokovic
W: Nadal
UO: Djokovic
WTF Nadal

(Yes I believe Nadal wont win the french next year )

Ah, you've allocated these too neatly! It's like, let's give Nole his missing French and Rafa his missing WTF.

Why would you think Rafa won't win Paris? There's no reason to expect anything other than business as usual there...

Probably 'cos 9-7 in the 5th is far from convincing. He's getting closer each time just as Nadal did to Federer at Wimbledon. Inevitable he beats him there at some stage imo.

 

[Kieran]

You can't extrapolate things that way. Rafa isn't Roger, and I thought he did great to win Paris this year, given how long he was out and how poor he was the first week. Took a while to get back into the best of five format. If Rafa is fit and fighting next year at RG, I'd give Novak a set against him, no more...

 

[Front242]

You can't extrapolate things that way. Rafa isn't Roger, and I thought he did great to win Paris this year, given how long he was out and how poor he was the first week. Took a while to get back into the best of five format. If Rafa is fit and fighting next year at RG, I'd give Novak a set against him, no more...

Why can't it be extrapolated that way? It makes sense that with practice Djokovic will perform better against Nadal at RG and as much as Nadal fans will argue he could've won it in 4, he didn't and Djokovic could easily have won if not for that episode touching the net. When a match gets that close it comes down to confidence. Currently Djokovic is riding a huge wave of confidence and if he carries that to next year anything can happen. A lot of said confidence/momentum will be determined at the AO and subsequent events leading up to RG. Personally very much doubt that Novak wins just 1 set but we'll see! Far too early for either fanbase to get cocky.

Re getting back into best of 5, the biggest obstacle he faced was the weather in the first week. You could hardly argue he wasn't 100% back to normal with the beating he gave Ferrer and of course it was sunny that day too. The semi just happened to be against a far superior opponent and was also quite windy which made the first 2 sets a bit of a moonball session till the wind died down.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

murray will probably win Wimbledon again..

who can stop him ?, no one on recent form.

 

[Front242]

murray will probably win Wimbledon again..

who can stop him ?, no one on recent form.

Recent form up until recently was bedridden :s But I agree that if he builds into form before Wimbledon he's right up there at the top. Thing is, even if he's completely pain free, he'll inevitably have rust getting back to the grind of week in week out match play having missed a few months of play.

 

[Riotbeard]

You can't extrapolate things that way. Rafa isn't Roger, and I thought he did great to win Paris this year, given how long he was out and how poor he was the first week. Took a while to get back into the best of five format. If Rafa is fit and fighting next year at RG, I'd give Novak a set against him, no more...

Why can't it be extrapolated that way? It makes sense that with practice Djokovic will perform better against Nadal at RG and as much as Nadal fans will argue he could've won it in 4, he didn't and Djokovic could easily have won if not for that episode touching the net. When a match gets that close it comes down to confidence. Currently Djokovic is riding a huge wave of confidence and if he carries that to next year anything can happen. A lot of said confidence/momentum will be determined at the AO and subsequent events leading up to RG. Personally very much doubt that Novak wins just 1 set but we'll see! Far too early for either fanbase to get cocky.

Re getting back into best of 5, the biggest obstacle he faced was the weather in the first week. You could hardly argue he wasn't 100% back to normal with the beating he gave Ferrer and of course it was sunny that day too. The semi just happened to be against a far superior opponent and was also quite windy which made the first 2 sets a bit of a moonball session till the wind died down.

Also Novak ran all over an inform rafa in 2011 in rome. Doesn't me he will do it at the FO, but to act like it is insane for Front to predict novak could ever beat Rafa at the French is a bit unfair Kieran. He has two wins over Rafa on his preferred slow-type clay, and a five setter at the FO does mean something. It would be like if you said you could not extrapolate any meaning out of rafa taking nole five sets at the AO to predict he wins it this coming year. I think Djokovic defends Australia, this year, but I wouldn't say you can't make that prediction or that it is ridiculous..

 

[Kieran]

Well, Rafa has won Oz. And I'd suggest that Rafa at RG is greater than Nole at Oz - and Rafa at Oz is certainly greater than Nole at RG.

But I'm not saying Front is insane for predicting that - I'm just saying Front is insane.

Period.

:Lolz:

 

[Front242]

Well, Rafa has won Oz. And I'd suggest that Rafa at RG is greater than Nole at Oz - and Rafa at Oz is certainly greater than Nole at RG.

But I'm not saying Front is insane for predicting that - I'm just saying Front is insane.

Period.

:Lolz:

Thanks Confidence is key in any sport but especially tennis given there are no draws and someone has to win and someone has to lose. I seem to recall the bookies having Djokovic bang on even with Nadal in 2011 given how Novak was dominating everywhere, whereas previously he was a clear odds on favourite. I'm merely saying the cockiness is far too premature in assuming Nadal wins RG again given we haven't seen any play yet from 2014. Case in point, Nadal won RG practically every year and the one time I stuck money on him to win as an outright bet he lost So it's far from a given even though past years would lean towards him being the winner again. But should Djokovic meet him in the final I expect the nerves will be much better this time and he certainly won't lose a set 6-1 and should generally be a lot more confident 2nd time round. Last year of course was a semi but if they meet in the final in 2014 it'll be the 2nd final between them there.

 

[Kieran]

Ah, so it's your fault Rafa lost! You jinxed him!

I agree - it's too early for predictions - which is why I asked what it was based upon to predict that Rafa's usual reign wouldn't continue. He did, after all, win the match with Nole this year. I don't mind people predicting whatever, but it's reasonable to ask why...

 

[Front242]

Ah, so it's your fault Rafa lost! You jinxed him!

I agree - it's too early for predictions - which is why I asked what it was based upon to predict that Rafa's usual reign wouldn't continue. He did, after all, win the match with Nole this year. I don't mind people predicting whatever, but it's reasonable to ask why...

Yeah but he won it by the skin of his teeth which is why it's hardly that outlandish to assume Novak beats him there at some stage. After all, he's getting closer and got very close last year. No one besides Le Sod has got that close to beating him there.