2016 Predictions

[Moxie]

We have a few weeks off from actual tennis, besides Davis Cup and that nonsense they call ITPL.  Beyond the continued dominance of Novak...any ideas of how the youngsters, or the oldsters will fare?  Who are you buying, selling or holding?

Leaving off "The Big 4," for the moment, (and I'd argue there still is one, to some degree):  Juan Martin Del Potro, FFS.  I hope he can come back.  If he does, I don't think the impact will be felt until the USO season, nor meaningfully until 2017.  But fingers-crossed.  As for most of the "lost generation," I'm inclined to sell, except Nishikori, though he's still hard to see as a Slam winner.  I'm done with Dimitrov.  I like the looks of Goffin, Paire and Sousa as spoilers, so I'm buying there.  Youngsters:  I think Coric and Thiem will continue on an upward incline (I'm buying.)  Kyrgios?  Who knows?  Is the spanking he took from the ATP and public opinion enough to settle his head and let him take advantage, of his big game?  I'm not buying it, yet.  Kokkinakis? Zverev? Chung?  We'll probably see more of them next year. Oldsters:  I hate to say it, but David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez are a hold, at best.  If Wawrinka is going to have one more year of interesting results, this will be it.  But I think he's reached his high-water mark and might spoil, but not win another Major.  Berdych will be much the same.  The man for the QFs.  And he'll have another year at that level, but maybe not after.  Does Fognini pull his head together and make a run at the Top 10?  That could happen.

Just a jumping off point, but I will try to make some predictions.

 

[Billie]

I'd like Thiem to improve, as well as Sousa and Paire.  A couple of nice runs at some bigger tournaments (masters 1000 and majors) would be nice.  Hope that Delpo returns and at this point the objective is just for him to return.  Kokkinakis, Coric, Zverev Chung to continue to rise.   As much as I like F3, I don't see him in top 10, he is too inconsistent for that.  It will be interesting to see if top 10 (possibly) and top 20 changes significantly next year.

 

[herios]

Milos Raonic to return to top 8. Kei, Milos and Grigor will all have better year than last year.

 

[EdbergsGhost]

I’d like Thiem to improve, as well as Sousa and Paire. A couple of nice runs at some bigger tournaments (masters 1000 and majors) would be nice.  

These are three that I like too.  Was really pleased how well Paire played against Djokovic last year, and followed up that loss with with similar quality tennis that brought him great success.  I am not sure how high Sousa can go, but he is a competitor and usually hits above his weight.

 

 

[Billie]

Billie wrote:
I’d like Thiem to improve, as well as Sousa and Paire. A couple of nice runs at some bigger tournaments (masters 1000 and majors) would be nice.

These are three that I like too. Was really pleased how well Paire played against Djokovic last year, and followed up that loss with with similar quality tennis that brought him great success. I am not sure how high Sousa can go, but he is a competitor and usually hits above his weight.

Paire is so flashy but also very talented, I really enjoy watching him play.  He is also a bit on a nutsy side, which is also a + for me LOL

Thiem and Sousa are not as flashy but both really want to improve and work hard on it, so I hope to see that.

 

[Moxie]

I hadn't noticed that Paire is nutsy, but I do have a soft spot for the head-cases.    Anyway, I like those 3, as well.

 

[Billie]

Milos Raonic to return to top 8. Kei, Milos and Grigor will all have better year than last year.

Any news on the new coach for Milos, herios?  Chances are that all 3 will have better season than last year.

 

[herios]

herios wrote:
Milos Raonic to return to top 8. Kei, Milos and Grigor will all have better year than last year.

Any news on the new coach for Milos, herios? Chances are that all 3 will have better season than last year.

Actually there is, an unexpected one, he is adding Carlos Moya to his coaching team.

It was not as he was without coach after Ljubi departed, his coach was Riccardo Piatti because he had 2 coaches on board, It seems he likes to have 2 coaches guiding him.

 

 

 

[mrzz]

The young guns will get older, and win about 50% of their coin tosses against the big boys.

 

[herios]

As currently there are 34 players aged 30+ in the top 100, I am predicting this number to increase even more by the end of this season. This despite having 3 teenagers coming through in 2015 (Chung, Kokkinakis and Zverev), more than in any of the recent years.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Rafael Nadal will only lose to Novak Djokovic at the AO. Whatever round that match-up happens to take place. There, I'm feeling balsy.

 

[shawnbm]

Broken may be correct about Nadal.  I will wait to see how he does during the clay court season, for I too don't see him winning in Melbourne with Nole on the prowl--barring injury or illness of course.

 

[Denis]

Rafael Nadal will only lose to Novak Djokovic at the AO. Whatever round that match-up happens to take place. There, I’m feeling balsy.

I can see him lose to Murray, wawrinka and nishikori too. I wouldn't mind Djokovic Nadal, another opportunity to improve the h2h. That will already happen in Doha I think.

 

[Moxie]

Broken may be correct about Nadal. I will wait to see how he does during the clay court season, for I too don’t see him winning in Melbourne with Nole on the prowl–barring injury or illness of course.

Agreed, if they play.  And don't discount upset.  (It could happen.)  I don't think Rafa is yet in form to beat Nole, but I don't rule it out down the road.  I'll be holding out some hope for them to be on opposite sides of the AO draw, and someone else perhaps to knock Nole out.  That'd be Nadal's best case scenario.

 

[Denis]

I predict we see something interesting with Chung at a slam this year.

I expect Novak to take the AO and depending on Nadal think he has a great shot at the French. I think he'll defend the us open again. Wimbledon will be more difficult if he faces Murray at some point there.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Nadal has zero chance against Djokovic at the AO, but, I might be an idiot, I somehow think he's the favorite against everyone else. What worries me is his fitness, not in terms of injuries, but in terms of fatigue in long matches. He was tiring awfully quickly throughout last year. But for some reason I'm encouraged by his level of tennis. Of course this could all change during the AO but I'm optimistic, which is pretty weird.

 

[Denis]

Nadal has zero chance against Djokovic at the AO, but, I might be an idiot, I somehow think he’s the favorite against everyone else. What worries me is his fitness, not in terms of injuries, but in terms of fatigue in long matches. He was tiring awfully quickly throughout last year. But for some reason I’m encouraged by his level of tennis. Of course this could all change during the AO but I’m optimistic, which is pretty weird.

I really don't see him beating Murray ATM. Wawrinka depends on which wawrinka shows up but perhaps Nadal would win that one on the basis of what I saw yesterday. Nadals serve is better than last year I had the impression.

 

I can can understand your optimism. Can't get much worse than last year.

 

[herios]

Some surprises could be around the corner. And it would be about time, to be honest.

I am pointing to some new faces could show up in the latest stages of the big events, like Stan did just two years ago. A hint in that respect:

Kyrgios just defeated Andy Murray in straight sets at Hopman Cup. He is not my favorite choice, but he could shake up the establishment.

 

[Moxie]

Some surprises could be around the corner. And it would be about time, to be honest. I am pointing to some new faces could show up in the latest stages of the big events, like Stan did just two years ago. A hint in that respect: Kyrgios just defeated Andy Murray in straight sets at Hopman Cup. He is not my favorite choice, but he could shake up the establishment.

Kyrgios already has shaken up the establishment.  He's proven himself a giant-killer, but he is still lacking in maturity to take it to the next level, and I'm not sure that it'll happen this year.  Otherwise, there should be some players making noise with upsets here and there, but I don't see any one making the big break.  Of anyone, maybe Nishikori or Kyrgios.  I've given up on Dimitrov.

 

[Denis]

I prefer Nadal and Ferrer over Kyrgios. Let's see how he does at the later stages of a slam, he reminds me of Safin for some reason. He has yet to win an ATp level event, but yes agreed worth mentioning him.