2015 - What Can We Expect?

[brokenshoelace]

Only a Novak fan would be offended that people don't think a player will win FOUR MAJORS IN THE SAME YEAR, a feat not done in literally 4 decades.

 

[isabelle]

Only a Novak fan would be offended that people don't think a player will win FOUR MAJORS IN THE SAME YEAR, a feat not done in literally 4 decades.

Will Nole join Laver on this elite club ? I don't think so, Laver was one of a kind

 

[brokenshoelace]

Only a Novak fan would be offended that people don't think a player will win FOUR MAJORS IN THE SAME YEAR, a feat not done in literally 4 decades.

Will Nole join Laver on this elite club ? I don't think so, Laver was one of a kind

I think IF someone is going to do it among the current tour, it's going to be Novak, but that's a looooong shot.

 

[shawnbm]

I wonder if there is any way for someone to post what us posters indicated at end of last year about this year to see who was close to spot on and who was way off? I'm not tech savvy enough to do this; hell, I can't even find all if my own!

Luckily I post a lot of that kind of dialogue on a blog! I'll go check now! :angel: :dodgy:

I got it; start at comment date of Nov 23rd, 2013:

- http://fiero4251.blogspot.com/2013/07/whats-up-topics-11-entries-from-813-on.html#comment-form

Thanks for posting that! It was neat reading some of the prognostications. Nobody seemed to think Roger would end up #2 at year's end. Naturally, the thought was that Nole would finish as top dog and he did. He has really built a helluva career these last 8 years--a true Hall of Famer.

 

[shawnbm]

As for someone winning the calendar slam, folks need to take a breath. Since Laver only one man has made it to all four finals in a given year and he lost in Paris twice (Rafa) and then won the other three and then one year lost the AO (Rafa) and then the USO (Delpo). Nobody--not Sampras, not Agassi, not Nadal nor Djokovic--has even made it to the finals of all four since Laver. So, the idea that Novak or anyone else is going to win the calendar year slam is most entertaining. But, hey! If he does it, it will be marvelous for him and for tennis. I will be applauding wildly if I get to witness it.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

 

[brokenshoelace]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

No. 17 > 11 by a good margin. But he could well be on his way since winning say, 3 more slams after that (and he could well win more) would put him in the conversation. Anyway, this is fantasy talk for now.

 

[Fiero425]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

Nope! I can only give him so much credit for his ascension to the top of the ranks! I would start talking about how weak and gutless the players were; already do because they allow him to make just about every semi and final of the majors! He's good, but not "that good" unless his opposition is not as competitive as they once were when I was growing up! The new tech has made a difference, but it should work for others as well; not just Roger, Rafa, and Nole! This is embarrassing to see the same names at the top year after year, again and again! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

No. 17 > 11 by a good margin. But he could well be on his way since winning say, 3 more slams after that (and he could well win more) would put him in the conversation. Anyway, this is fantasy talk for now.

I know it is fantasy...we are just having fun. The question is, 11 with a Grand slam versus 17 with none...how much of a game changer is it? Remember, none of the greats of the past 30 years could do it...

 

[DarthFed]

^ It's not 6 slams difference IMO. If someone got within 2 or 3 maybe you could argue it but even that is debatable.

 

[TsarMatt]

Does anyone think we'll see any more new GS champs next year like we did for Stan and Cilic this year?

 

[Fiero425]

Does anyone think we'll see any more new GS champs next year like we did for Stan and Cilic this year?

It would be nice, but today's top echelon are stronger than the troika of my era; Borg, Connors, McEnroe! Replace Borg with Lendl after his retirement and they're still not as good as Roger, Rafa, & Nole! Vitas Gerulaitus was the Andy Murray of his day; just didn't complete the sale with a win in the major finals of USO & FO; did take AO IIRC! There just isn't much hope I'd have for someone to sneak one like Stan and Cilic, but you never know! :nono :dodgy:

 

[Kieran]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

No. 17 > 11 by a good margin. But he could well be on his way since winning say, 3 more slams after that (and he could well win more) would put him in the conversation. Anyway, this is fantasy talk for now.

I know it is fantasy...we are just having fun. The question is, 11 with a Grand slam versus 17 with none...how much of a game changer is it? Remember, none of the greats of the past 30 years could do it...

It would be an absolute game changer. The calendar year slam is the Holy Grail of tennis. If anyone did it, he would instantly be among the greatest who ever played, especially if they have the current resume that Nole has. Even more so if he finally beat Rafa in Paris, rather than just wait him out.

But nobody will do it next year. The old guard are getting on (Federer) or breaking down (Rafa) or settling down (Novak). And even if Novak played lights out next year, he's not consistent enough to win 28 slam matches in a row. Far as I know, for instance, Rafa will play in Paris, and even in a bad year (2014) he's shown that he's still prohibitive favourite there.

And Rafa won't do it either. Novak is favourite in Oz, but not so solid.

The two slams where nobody is favourite are Wimbledon and the USO. But they maybe the least interesting in 2015, and in Oz and Paris we may have huge eruptions of change. Inevitably, it has to happen in Paris. If Rafa won Oz, I wouldn't mind it at all, once it meant he took more time to get ready for Wimbo. The priorities for Rafa this year must be his health, and winning majors, with more slams off clay being a particular goal...

 

[Kieran]

Does anyone think we'll see any more new GS champs next year like we did for Stan and Cilic this year?

Yes, I think we will. I think next year will be more open than this year, and the Old Brigade may find it tough. Having said that, they're still favourite to snaffle all the majors, but I think they won't...

 

[mrzz]

I think the big 4 still got it on their racquets. If Murray plays well at the AO and soon enough they are 1-2-3-4 again, with at least three of them entering the slams healthy and playing reasonably well (which was far away from truth last year) they might end up with all 4 majors between them. But, as time goes by, this becomes harder and harder.

 

[brokenshoelace]

The question is, if Nole pulled it off, would he automatically be the modern day GOAT? :eyepop

No. 17 > 11 by a good margin. But he could well be on his way since winning say, 3 more slams after that (and he could well win more) would put him in the conversation. Anyway, this is fantasy talk for now.

I know it is fantasy...we are just having fun. The question is, 11 with a Grand slam versus 17 with none...how much of a game changer is it? Remember, none of the greats of the past 30 years could do it...

6 is still a huge difference.

One inhuman year shouldn't weigh more heavily than an inhuman career.

 

[El Dude]

I agree that of all players Novak is most likely to win the Grand Slam, sort of like saying that of the two of Kieran and myself, Kieran is probably more likely to date a super model due to his Irish charm (and singleness?)...but it is still very, very unlikely. Let's talk about it if and only if he wins the AO *and* French Open, and then things will get interesting. But at this point it is just pure fantasy.

 

[Kieran]

I agree that of all players Novak is most likely to win the Grand Slam, sort of like saying that of the two of Kieran and myself, Kieran is probably more likely to date a super model due to his Irish charm (and singleness?)...but it is still very, very unlikely. Let's talk about it if and only if he wins the AO *and* French Open, and then things will get interesting. But at this point it is just pure fantasy.

Married, brother, and to me she's a supermodel so...Nole will win all four next year?! :eyepop

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Time to gloat.

At the end of last year, I made ten predictions in post #52 of the 2014 Crystal Ball thread. I got a score of 8.16 out of 10 on my predictions and the year is not yet over. If Andy proposes to Kim by Christmas, my score will go up to 8.50 out of 10.

Del Potro cost me 1 point due to his injuries and Novak cost me 0.5 points by not winning AO.

Andy and Kim are reportedly engaged. My score went up to 8.5 out of 10.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ thought of your prognosis this morning when the news came up