2019 Crystal Ball Thread

[El Dude]

We're not quite done with the World Tour Finals and we still have the Davis Cup Final (France vs. Croatia), but I don't think we'll see anything that will change predictions for next year. The 2019 ATP season starts on December 31 with the Hopman Cup and AO warmups, and then gets fully underway on January 14 with the Australian Open - two months from now.

Let's see some predictions - put your (proverbial or otherwise) balls on the chopping block. What do you see going forward? Who do you think the Slam winners will be? YE#1? Breakthrough players? New big title winners? Disappointments? Declines and retirements? Etc. Try to include at least one bold "fearless prediction" - something that is unlikely to happen on paper, but you just have a gut feeling about.

I'll post my predictions in a reply.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

It all depends on whether Rafa is 100% healthy or not.

 

[El Dude]

It all depends on whether Rafa is 100% healthy or not.

Of course. If he's 100% healthy he'll win all 4 Slams, 9 Masters, and the WTF. That fact that he's never won the "Infinity Gauntlet Slam" (all 14 big titles) means that he's never been 100% healthy.

In fact, we can safely say that, given his career ATP record of 918-189, he's been unhealthy for at least 189 matches.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Of course. If he's 100% healthy he'll win all 4 Slams, 9 Masters, and the WTF. That fact that he's never won the "Infinity Gauntlet Slam" (all 14 big titles) means that he's never been 100% healthy.

In fact, we can safely say that, given his career ATP record of 918-189, he's been unhealthy for at least 189 matches.

Finally a good and knowledgeable post from you.

 

[Horsa]

Finally a good and knowledgeable post from you.

I disagree. I think El Dude writes many good, knowledgeable posts & I really enjoy reading what he's got to say. I also enjoy reading his blogs. It's very nice to see people who communicate in a pleasant manner & don't feel the need to belittle other people & be confrontational all the time.

 

[El Dude]

I disagree. I think El Dude writes many good, knowledgeable posts & I really enjoy reading what he's got to say. I also enjoy reading his blogs. It's very nice to see people who communicate in a pleasant manner & don't feel the need to belittle other people & be confrontational all the time.

I appreciate your defense, Horsa, but Nadalfan2013 was being facetious. He worships the ground I walk on.

 

[Moxie]

I appreciate your defense, Horsa, but Nadalfan2013 was being facetious. He worships the ground I walk on.

Actually, you're being facetious. Nadalfan2013 seems to believe everything s/he says. However trollish.

 

[Moxie]

I've already given my gut feeling that Thiem is not the man for RG. Next year, surely, but I'm not sure ever. I think Tsitsipas is going to come good with some real results. A MS1000. I hate to say it but I think Djokovic is going to have another dominant year. Rafa at least one Major, Roger, though, is done with Majors. I also think Stan is done and will sink like Berdy. Probably Tsonga, too, Gasquet and Monfils. I'd pick a bunch of Spaniards to retire: Ferrer, Almagro, Robredo. Andy Murray: what to say? I think he'll do a del Potro and claw his way back. And del Potro might just really spoil some people's day. Another Major for either? Not seeing it. And Kyrgios's commitment to the game comes good. An MS 1000. I'll stop for now. What have other people got?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Since when did Tsonga, Gasquet and Monfils not doing well is considered a great prediction? It is a certainty, that everyone and their dog knows.

 

[Moxie]

Since when did Tsonga, Gasquet and Monfils not doing well is considered a great prediction? It is a certainty, that everyone and their dog knows.

I picked them to sink. Make your own predictions then, dog. I thought I was genially opening up the conversation. Oh, right, but I forgot that you don't even join draw challenges because you're afraid you'll be found to be wrong. Innit?

 

[mrzz]

My predictions:

zero majors for Fedal (for 2019 and beyond);
maybe AO for Djokovic, but if he does not get that, zero for him too in 2019, maybe one more from then on and that's it;
zero majors for anyone younger than 25, only one in that club who might win one is Thiem on RG;
a lot of the same old same old in the boards;

Anderson gets a major. Someone else comes completely out of the blue and ends up in the top 5;

One of those guys that you are counting dead takes a masters 1000

 

[El Dude]

Great predictions, @Moxie. They align pretty closely with mine, which I'll give a bit later (was going to earlier but got swamped). And @mrzz? Kudos for being truly bold - if a bit unrealistic. But I like the wild west vibe.

 

[mrzz]

By the way, I've been saying no more majors for Fedal since before this years' Wimbledon.

I'll tell you, @El Dude , it is just how I translate what I see in court. Nowadays I don't get that overwhelming feeling when I watch Fedal. Of course they can still bring the occasional magic, but for a whole match (let alone for a whole tournament)? They are simply not that good anymore. Still damn good, but they were a few steps above damn good.

About Djokovic I actually feel the same, even if to a smaller extent. Of course he is playing bloody well (I don't discuss with results), but... again, surely not in the same league as his own self from 2011 or 2015/2016.

 

[Moxie]

I get that Fedal don't look like world-beaters anymore, but they still are better than most. That's the thing. Bold prediction about Djokovic, though. Who do you like for the person coming back from the dead? And who might come out of the blue to end up in the top 5? (Don't be coy, now.) I think you'll fail on the Anderson prediction, though.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

We should first dig out the 2018 crystal ball thread and gives awards to folks who were accurate. I don't think I came good this year as I predicted that all four slams will be won by four different players.

One year I made ten predictions and got 8.66 of them correct including "by the end of this year Roger will have more kids than Andy will have GS trophies".

 

[Moxie]

We should first dig out the 2018 crystal ball thread and gives awards to folks who were accurate. I don't think I came good this year as I predicted that all four slams will be won by four different players.

One year I made ten predictions and got 8.66 of them correct including "by the end of this year Roger will have more kids than Andy will have GS trophies".

Oh, just commit to something, for heaven's sake.

 

[Moxie]

We should first dig out the 2018 crystal ball thread and gives awards to folks who were accurate. I don't think I came good this year as I predicted that all four slams will be won by four different players.

One year I made ten predictions and got 8.66 of them correct including "by the end of this year Roger will have more kids than Andy will have GS trophies".

Actually, the old prediction thread is findable, and yours were pretty good, GSM (p.4, though some were pretty safe.)

https://www.tennisfrontier.com/tennisforum/threads/its-dec-1-2018-what-happened.5808/

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

2019 is looking like the year when the Young guns finally take over.
Expecting Djokovic to dominate a little at the start of the year and then starting to falter during the latter half.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Oh, just commit to something, for heaven's sake.

I am waiting for Black Friday Sale to buy a new crystal ball. Only after that I can commit to any predictions.

 

[Horsa]

I appreciate your defense, Horsa, but Nadalfan2013 was being facetious. He worships the ground I walk on.

Yeah, right. I'll believe you. Thousands wouldn't.