2015 - What Can We Expect?

[TsarMatt]

Not sure where to post this, but the 2015 Australian Open Wildcard Play-off is currently streaming live on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EUiin4BhC8

 

[Vince Evert]

Hopefully an end to the Djokovic and Nadal era and an arrival of newer talents who can shorten the points by coming to the net more.

 

[TsarMatt]

Hopefully an end to the Djokovic and Nadal era and an arrival of newer talents who can shorten the points by coming to the net more.

I agree that coming to the net has greately diminished in today's current game and I would absolutely love to see more of it, but I really wouldn't like to see an end to the Djokovic/Nadal era. I actually this we're currently in an - excuse the cheesiness - 'golden age' of tennis, and I have nothing but admiration for these guys and the matches they've been involved in over the years.

 

[Vince Evert]

Not even close. They play too much alike and take their time between points. It would be different if they were contrasting players. Another thing, it has been a huge disappointment to myself that neither Andy Murray or Stan Wawrinka have been able to challenge them over a sustainable period. Murray especially whose game has fallen away. BTW Ever heard of guys named Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl ? Check out my YT channel.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

After 10 years of winning at least one slam each year, the streak will finally come to an
end for Rafa in 2015. Although Rafa will win a slam(s) in future, 2015 will mark the beginning
of the end for Rafa.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Write off Rafa at your own peril I have always said

 

[herios]

I am expecting a similar season like last year. More guys in the run at the final stages of slams and masters.
There were 6 guys making finals in slams (Novak and Rafa 2 times each and Stan, Roger, Kei and Marin)
and 9 in masters (Roger 5, Novak 4, Rafa 3, Stan, Jo, Kei, David, Gilles and Milos once each).

It is definitely more exciting than to see only 4 guys in these final stages at events.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafael wins 3 of 4 slams. I see there is a prevalence assessment that Roger will win a another major. I don't subscribe to that thought because last year was his best chance Ever in the past 2 plus years. It's gonna be extremely tough at age 34 for Roger to maintain his endurance and High level of play against a much younger field for a full 2 weeks. I wouldn't totally count him out because if there were a player who could pull it off it would be Roger. However, with today's technology, strings and advanced rackets, Tennis is a young man's game and Father time will finally defeat the Mighty Fed.

 

[brokenshoelace]

After 10 years of winning at least one slam each year, the streak will finally come to an
end for Rafa in 2015. Although Rafa will win a slam(s) in future, 2015 will mark the beginning
of the end for Rafa.

I can only hope this works out as well as the "unknown player" prediction.

 

[herios]

Rafael wins 3 of 4 slams.

Why so much pessimism :snigger

 

[the AntiPusher]

To be fair, outside of the French, when Fed lost at slams it was to Novak, Rafa, and an on fire cillic. Outside of cilic, both rafa and novak should be beating fed at this point when they play their best. Fed played really well in the Wimbledon final, maybe not his best possible at this point, but it was darn close. To the point where it's fairly academic. At the USO, Cillic put up an insane level, so you can't really blame fed. I think Fed maybe should have regrets about Monte Carlo, where he did not put up his best in the final.

On paper Roger has no business losing to Novak or Rafa on grass even now. But I give credit to Nole, he was fantastic and took out a good version of Roger. Roger wasn't aggressive enough on his forehand, aside from that he was excellent. If Djokovic was his usual level on grass he would've lost convincingly.

And yes, Cilic was on fire, but Roger compromised his chances by laying an egg vs. Monfils. If he had full energy he could've at least made things more complicated for Cilic and if things got tight...who knows how Marin would've handled it. So I was more pointing towards Roger's huge drop of form starting in the QF of USO.

How can you say on paper Roger has "no business " loosing to Djokovic or Nadal on grass.Both players are far better movers and more consistent off both wings, Both players read Roger's serve pretty well although Rafael ROS is very poor against the current big servers on the ATP tour in my opinion to be ranked as high as he is.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Rafael wins 3 of 4 slams.

Why so much pessimism :snigger

Why not, look at how he played in 2013. When he is healthy , he has only one rival, Djokovic

 

[Front242]

^ And Steve Darcis.

 

[the AntiPusher]

^ And Steve Darcis.

I heard he was going to retire

 

[Front242]

One less nobody for Nadal to worry about then :snigger

 

[herios]

One less nobody for Nadal to worry about then :snigger

There should be a special award instituted at Wimbledon, who is the new player who takes next Rafa's scalp?

 

[Fiero425]

One less nobody for Nadal to worry about then :snigger

There should be a special award instituted at Wimbledon, who is the new player who takes next Rafa's scalp?

Oh, is that why his hair's thinning out? :snigger :laydownlaughing Worry and stress while playing at Wimbledon is maybe taking it's toll on Rafa's follicles! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[the AntiPusher]

One less nobody for Nadal to worry about then :snigger

There should be a special award instituted at Wimbledon, who is the new player who takes next Rafa's scalp?

Maybe a special award to take your Rafa hatin scalp

 

[DarthFed]

To be fair, outside of the French, when Fed lost at slams it was to Novak, Rafa, and an on fire cillic. Outside of cilic, both rafa and novak should be beating fed at this point when they play their best. Fed played really well in the Wimbledon final, maybe not his best possible at this point, but it was darn close. To the point where it's fairly academic. At the USO, Cillic put up an insane level, so you can't really blame fed. I think Fed maybe should have regrets about Monte Carlo, where he did not put up his best in the final.

On paper Roger has no business losing to Novak or Rafa on grass even now. But I give credit to Nole, he was fantastic and took out a good version of Roger. Roger wasn't aggressive enough on his forehand, aside from that he was excellent. If Djokovic was his usual level on grass he would've lost convincingly.

And yes, Cilic was on fire, but Roger compromised his chances by laying an egg vs. Monfils. If he had full energy he could've at least made things more complicated for Cilic and if things got tight...who knows how Marin would've handled it. So I was more pointing towards Roger's huge drop of form starting in the QF of USO.

How can you say on paper Roger has "no business " loosing to Djokovic or Nadal on grass.Both players are far better movers and more consistent off both wings, Both players read Roger's serve pretty well although Rafael ROS is very poor against the current big servers on the ATP tour in my opinion to be ranked as high as he is.

Well with Rafa we are talking a match 6 years ago when Roger was still great and was big time on grass. Needless to say that's a weak loss on paper, we were talking someone with 65 straight wins on grass, wasn't that much worse of a mover than Rafa at the time, way better serve, way better net play, and a forehand every bit as deadly. Rafa's advantages in consistency and defense are somewhat neutralized there, one of the reasons he has lost to the 3 stooges the past few years.

With this past match with Nole it is a little more hazy. Roger isn't as good as he was but Nole has had plenty of struggles on grass heading into that match. Nole played tremendous to barely edge past a slightly above average Roger (for current standards). Even now I don't know if Nole moves THAT much better than Roger on grass, the latter still has a much better serve, net play, etc. Some of the things that means grass court success. Honestly I don't have much problem with Roger's play this past Wimbledon, it obviously was far from perfect but he fought hard and did a lot right.

 

[the AntiPusher]

On paper Roger has no business losing to Novak or Rafa on grass even now. But I give credit to Nole, he was fantastic and took out a good version of Roger. Roger wasn't aggressive enough on his forehand, aside from that he was excellent. If Djokovic was his usual level on grass he would've lost convincingly.

And yes, Cilic was on fire, but Roger compromised his chances by laying an egg vs. Monfils. If he had full energy he could've at least made things more complicated for Cilic and if things got tight...who knows how Marin would've handled it. So I was more pointing towards Roger's huge drop of form starting in the QF of USO.

How can you say on paper Roger has "no business " loosing to Djokovic or Nadal on grass.Both players are far better movers and more consistent off both wings, Both players read Roger's serve pretty well although Rafael ROS is very poor against the current big servers on the ATP tour in my opinion to be ranked as high as he is.

Well with Rafa we are talking a match 6 years ago when Roger was still great and was big time on grass. Needless to say that's a weak loss on paper, we were talking someone with 65 straight wins on grass, wasn't that much worse of a mover than Rafa at the time, way better serve, way better net play, and a forehand every bit as deadly. Rafa's advantages in consistency and defense are somewhat neutralized there, one of the reasons he has lost to the 3 stooges the past few years.

With this past match with Nole it is a little more hazy. Roger isn't as good as he was but Nole has had plenty of struggles on grass heading into that match. Nole played tremendous to barely edge past a slightly above average Roger (for current standards). Even now I don't know if Nole moves THAT much better than Roger on grass, the latter still has a much better serve, net play, etc. Some of the things that means grass court success. Honestly I don't have much problem with Roger's play this past Wimbledon, it obviously was far from perfect but he fought hard and did a lot right.

Darth, Rafael game on grass has been extremely poor due to poor preparation, lack of grass court matches due to being over extended during RG campaigns.He only has himself to blame. A 34,year old player even Roger isn't going to get better. Roger cannot win as many free points on his serve and forehands as he did before. If he faces Rafael on grass at SW19,, he will loose again due to the incredible bad match up IMO