2015 - What Can We Expect?

[Kieran]

A fully fit Rafa? Hopefully. He's only played 3 out of 4 slams in the last three seasons. He's still won more slams than anyone else in that period. Wouldn't it be great for the guy to have a clean bill of health and play a full season?

Novak to settle in married bliss and have a solid year? This year he lulled a little, what with wedlock and the bairn.

Roger to sustain what he's doing, and hopefully have no repercussions with the back?

What about the rest? Do we expect Cilic, Nishi and Stan to have similar seasons - or have they hit the wall?

Any youngsters going to be part of the hit parade?

What are you looking for next season? And who'll win the majors?

I'll definitely give Rafa one off clay if he's fully active. Nole will get his usual single. Will Murray come out smelling of French perfume - or Scottish independence?

What's gonna happen, folks?

 

[DarthFed]

Roger's winning at least 1 GS next year. The one good thing about this year is he finished top 2 and though he didn't win any of the 5 huge resume enhancing events I think the fact he played consistent and oftentimes great will be something of a building block for him. If he gets to Wimby final again and plays like he did this year I will take that and like his chances vs. anyone. Nole isn't always going to play like that. And call me nuts by now but I feel he has one more decent run (at least final) at the USO. That place has turned into a house of horrors for him since "the tweener" and he is long overdue to make noise there.

I think Nishi will continue to improve a bit but the health is a concern. Cilic and Wawrinka are probably never winning another major but they probably won't tail off from where they are now. Murray is the big question mark, tough to see him not being better in 2015 but how much better is the question. He will need to improve a lot to become anywhere near what he was.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think Djokovic, Nadal and Federer will dominate. I'm interested in Murray. I think the sport needs him more than most realize, as unlike many, I genuinely don't think the best of the rest are anything special. I'm curious about Dimitrov though. Hopefully he starts being consistent.

 

[Riotbeard]

I think Fed will have a shot at a major, but I find it unlikely that he wins one though. I think Novak and Rafa will account for three, and we will have another newish slam winner.

 

[Billie]

If Nadal comes back fully healthy, I think he an Nole have the ability to split the majors among them. But if one of them is not fully fit, then somebody else might squeeze a major win.

 

[El Dude]

Gawd, who knows. The first thing that came to mind when thinking about the Slams was "Novak 2, Rafa 1, Roger 1." Novak looks unbeatable right now and I could see him going on a run of dominance, including stealing the French Open from Rafa. But there's a narrative where I could see Novak and Rafa switch, with the Spanish Bull making one more charge for the top - perhaps taking the Channel Slam. I feel better about Roger's chances at #18 going into 2015 than I did going into 2014, which given his age tells you something. But will he win another? He remains the third best player in the game, so I don't see why it isn't possible, if unlikely. Anyhow, I'd be really surprised if those three don't win at least three Slams between them, probably four.

Cilic? No way. You don't catch lightning in a bottle twice. Stan? Doubtful, but I like his chances better than Marin's. Andy? I just don't know - he's a wild card. I wouldn't bet on him, though.

Kei, Grigor, and Milos are the top dark horses to win a Slam, maybe Tsonga if he catches fire at the right time. I think Kei will win a Masters, maybe Grigor too.

I'll be watching the continued rise of Vesely and Thiem, as well as Kyrgios, Coric and Zverev. I think good progress for the five would be: top 20 for Thiem, top 40 for Kyrgios and Vesely, top 60 for Coric, top 100 for Zverev. I'll also be watching for other young players to start edging onto the radar: Christian Garin, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Jared Donaldson, etc.

Other players to watch: No one gives Diego Schwartzman love because he's tiny, but he's #77 and pretty young. Damir Dzumhur is a slow riser but could be a future top 40 type. Can Jack Sock and David Goffin become regulars on the top 20? Is Roberto Bautista Agut maxed out at #15 or can he flirt with the top 10? Was it a lone gun-man on the grass knoll or was there a second shooter? Were the pyramids built using psychic technology or by aliens? Etc.

 

[herios]

You guys make me laugh. Betting again on the status quo. Nobody but Fadalovic. You will all be surprised yet again, like in 2014!! Expect the unexpected.

 

[Balta]

Interestingly, no one mentioned Del Potro and his chances? Btw is he bound to return in 2015?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well I am a huge fan of Del Potro I will be interested to see what impact he can have in 2015.
In regards to Rafa,well he is my No 1 favorite player,hopefully in 2015 he can remain injury free,never write Rafa off,do that at your own peril.I am hoping to attend Roland Garos in 2015,I was there in 2005 when Rafa won his first title at Roland Garos,as a Rafa fan I am hoping he can win his 10th title at Roland Garos next year.( I have also attended RG other years as well when Rafa won) it is my favorite Grand Slam and watching Rafa in his back yard live is a experience I will never forget.You really have to see him live to appreciate his amazing top spin,also he can put 2 types of different spin on one ball,my husband calls him a Alien

I expect Novak to be dominate again,Federer well to me he always have a great chance at Wimbledon.
I am hoping Murray will have a good year in 2015,I kind of gave him a pass this year,due to his back surgery,I didnt really expect him to get back to his playing level.

I will be interested to see if Kei Nishikori can build on his 2014 form in 2015,I love his game,I still have fears of his body breaking down,I feel it is made of glass,still I think Chang has been a great coach for Kei.

 

[El Dude]

You guys make me laugh. Betting again on the status quo. Nobody but Fadalovic. You will all be surprised yet again, like in 2014!! Expect the unexpected.

Well what are your predictions? Go for it, herios!

OK, but for the sake of fun - here's an alternate universe.

Novak is inundated in diapers and marriage and gains 50 lbs. One of Rafa's legs falls off while he's getting out of the shower. Mirka becomes pregnant with triplets and Roger quietly retires. Andy thrashes about in monumental rage-pout for most of the year. The Big Four are no more.

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios is blessed by Aboriginal shamans with Dreamtime mojo and blazes through the Australian Open, winning it all. Kei Nishikori is cybernetically enhanced by Japanese technology, preventing his body from breaking down and defeating a one-legged Rafa Nadal in the French Open final (yes, Rafa made it to the final even with just one leg). Grigor Dimitrov vows off Maria and women altogether, joining a secret monastic order of warrior-athletes and storms through the rankings, winning Wimbledon. Borna Coric, at the tender age of 18, merges from a cocoon of golden light to miraculously defeat Milos Raonic , who took steroids in one arm to serve 200mph, in a Battle of the Ics at the US Open.

Finally, in a battle royale, Grigor Dimitrov faces off against Andy Murray in the World Tour Finals. After two tiebreak sets, Andy is broken to go down 5-3 in the third set and spontaneously combusts in a vitriolic conflagration, and Grigor wins the #1 ranking.

How is that, herios?

 

[shawnbm]

Novak will be the main guy again next year. Rafa and Roger are question marks. Nadal will be healthy, but to ask that he repeat 2010 and 2013 (when those were amazing years) is a bit much to ask. If he is any semblance of himself, he will be highly competitive, but I have a feeling Paris will finally elude him again. That means he likely has his best shot in Melbourne. Roger would have to make a full recovery quickly and hit the ground running for me to believe he is going to win one of majors. But, it took the very best from Nole to eke out a victory last year and Fed is showing he can still bring it. Murray is one I have lost a bit of faith in; he needs a breakthrough win against FEDALNOLE to convince me he is back in the running. Federer utterly destroyed him and made it look routine. If I have to pick a darkhorse this year I go with Kei--he has proven he belongs in the big leagues. Berdych when on can cause damage, but he would need to have Novak lose. All in all, I think it is going to be a wild and wide open year of tennis.

 

[Kieran]

You guys make me laugh. Betting again on the status quo. Nobody but Fadalovic. You will all be surprised yet again, like in 2014!! Expect the unexpected.

Well what are your predictions? Go for it, herios!

OK, but for the sake of fun - here's an alternate universe.

Novak is inundated in diapers and marriage and gains 50 lbs. One of Rafa's legs falls off while he's getting out of the shower. Mirka becomes pregnant with triplets and Roger quietly retires. Andy thrashes about in monumental rage-pout for most of the year. The Big Four are no more.

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios is blessed by Aboriginal shamans with Dreamtime mojo and blazes through the Australian Open, winning it all. Kei Nishikori is cybernetically enhanced by Japanese technology, preventing his body from breaking down and defeating a one-legged Rafa Nadal in the French Open final (yes, Rafa made it to the final even with just one leg). Grigor Dimitrov vows off Maria and women altogether, joining a secret monastic order of warrior-athletes and storms through the rankings, winning Wimbledon. Borna Coric, at the tender age of 18, merges from a cocoon of golden light to miraculously defeat Milos Raonic , who took steroids in one arm to serve 200mph, in a Battle of the Ics at the US Open.

Finally, in a battle royale, Grigor Dimitrov faces off against Andy Murray in the World Tour Finals. After two tiebreak sets, Andy is broken to go down 5-3 in the third set and spontaneously combusts in a vitriolic conflagration, and Grigor wins the #1 ranking.

How is that, herios?

:lolz: :clap :lolz:

It sounds good, what are the odds? I'll bet on it! :laydownlaughing

 

[Mile]

Agree, Djoker needs fit Rafa and Murray or he will start loosing to no-ones.


Would say those three will be in charge. I dont think Cilic, Wawrinka will repeat in 2015. Maybe Djoker get 3, and Roland is a must.

 

[Kieran]

Well, in 2015, Rafa is going for the most incredible achievement in GS tennis at RG: to win one of these trinkets six years in a row. Never been done.

To win one of them ten times.

Never been done.

To win a major eleven seasons in a row (if he hasn't already snagged Oz).

Never been done.

So history is actually against Rafa winning in Paris again next year - but it's also with him. I mean, he writes his own history there, and even if he's as poor on clay as he was this year, he'll still be mighty hard to stop.

Can't see Novak being knocked out of Oz so early next year - and I can't see Stan repeating.

I don't see Roger winning a major. In fact, he's played something like 83 matches this year, and I expect he'll pay the toll next year. But he'll reach the latter stages of Oz.

Of the youngsters, Grigor is no longer young - so he has to make some noise. Nick let me down after Wimbledon this year, then he needed to go to bed early in autumn, po' diddums, so he's got to show something next year too. I believe he can play well on clay. I hope he gets it right with coaches and knuckles down to fulfilling his potential. Milos isn't winning any majors, but Kei will feel the heat next year and he'll have to be winning matches easier, if he's to get better. He's been stellar this year.

Cough Drop will cough - then drop...a calf...

 

[El Dude]

It is hard to believe that Grigor Dimitrov will be 24 in May. Rafa 29!

Roland Garros is a long way away and we'll have to see how Rafa looks leading up to it, but I think Novak has a good chance of taking it this year.

I agree that chances are Milos will never win a Slam, but then again who would have thought Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka would be the ones to break the Big Four Hegemony? I mean, if anyone was going to do it I would have thought Tsonga or Berdych before those two.

 

[Garro]

I think Novak will recapture his title in Australia. Even though outside of Wimbledon he still has seemed strangely weaker in the slams than in other events, I think he'll be motivated to make a statement here. With Rafa out recently, and Murray and Stan out of sorts it will be a good opportunity.

The French Open I have to say, if Novak couldn't take advantage of the circumstances last year and the year before, I just don't see a reason to think he will next year. He had all the momentum in the world against Rafa and still came up short, and we've all seen Rafa play better than that final. I certainly don't see anyone else taking Rafa out, unless Rafa's first tournament back is the French Open or something like that.

Wimbledon is harder to predict. I can't really see Novak defending the title, but at the same time I think Murray won't be back to his best yet by this time. I think the extra week will help Rafa a lot in his preparation, and though it's hard to see where Roger will be, I think Fedal will take the title next year.

The US Open is a tough one because it really is the most "Open" of the slams. In the past seven years, six different guys have won it. This could be where Grigor really comes into his own. I think we might see another new winner here, or Rafa will take it if it doesn't win Wimbledon. He won't win both.

 

[Front242]

Personally I'm hopeful Tommy Haas recovers well from yet another shoulder surgery (poor guy, so many at this stage) and manages one last very good season. At his best even last year before his injury he was pretty damn good. One of the best matches this year for fast, attacking all court tennis was Haas v Federer at Indians Wells 2014.

 

[lacatch]

Always hard to predict before the season has even begun, but......I think 2015 is going to be another big year for Novak similar to 2011-----at least 2 slams, including Roland Garros. I also think at least one slam will be won by a slam virgin (Nishikori, Dimitrov, etc).

 

[tented]

Interestingly, no one mentioned Del Potro and his chances? Btw is he bound to return in 2015?

Hi Balta,

I think many people don't include JMDP, because he has been injured so frequently. Personally, I would love for him to return and have a great 2015. The sport has been deprived of his presence way too much the last several years.

 

[Bounce It !!]

Interestingly, no one mentioned Del Potro and his chances? Btw is he bound to return in 2015?

Hi Balta,

I think many people don't include JMDP, because he has been injured so frequently. Personally, I would love for him to return and have a great 2015. The sport has been deprived of his presence way too much the last several years.

Aloha Balta...

I too was surprised his name didn't get mentioned. But then, IIRC after his last couple injuries, it took him a long time to get match fit, eventually he finds his game. For 2015 I'd like to see him competitive by US Open, earlier if possible, just not likely. Once he gets in form, he moves pretty good for a big guy, unfortunately he moves like Isner to find his game :nono

All in all, in 2014, I think the injuries to Rafa Murray and Delpo provided the opportunity for the new faces at slams, finals and SF. I think Rafa is likely to comeback like 2013, winning just about everything in site, until he wears himself out, sometime after RG. Although I won't be too surprised if he paces himself and doesn't over extend his schedule. Murray, may need another year to find his old form, if he even can, Lendl was a miracle worker. :angel: I think Kei is most likely to keep his form, and improve if he can stay injury free. I also think Grigor is ready make his move in 2015. He had a lousy finish to 2014, but otherwise a decent year.

As to Fed, we are just gonna have to wait and see how much trouble his back will be. I like to think its a minor thing, and he goes deep at O, W and USO. Can he get #18 in 2015? I hope so. :woohoos