2020 Predictions and Speculations

[Jelenafan]

Thanks for leaving Wimbledon for Federer.

LOL good one!

Actually I’m leaving W for Rafa, just have a sense he’s in for a champhionship run there.

 

[Bonaca]

No but if he beat them on his absolute worst surface/indoor then it’s looking good for the slams

Maybe you are right. We will see, AO will be a good indicator how the season might go.
My prediction is, no dominance anymore by the big 2, even on clay.
We can be happy if they win 1-2 slams next year.

 

[Mile]

Becker gave 2 to Novak in 2020. I think 3:1 is good for the start of NextGen and "Gone with the wind" for LostGen. Otherwise we might see to add some more name in LostGen.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Maybe you are right. We will see, AO will be a good indicator how the season might go.
My prediction is, no dominance anymore by the big 2, even on clay.
We can be happy if they win 1-2 slams next year.

Hahaha @ the big 2 and not including Djokovic in your "no dominance" prediction... So you think that Nadal & Federer are pretty much done while Djokovic will still be able dominate?

I'd say Djokovic has 1 more slam in him at the most. The new generation has caught up with him and they can outhit him. Also I have a feeling that his recent injury will continue being an issue.

As for Federer, age has caught up with him so I don't see him prevailing in the 5-set format, not to mention that he seems to be fragile mentally in big moments.

However Nadal is still on top of his game and he has a unique variety in his shots that is different from anyone and that will keep causing problems for the new generation. And he's the biggest fighter.

I predict the final slam numbers to be Nadal 23, Federer 20, Djokovic 17. What's your final prediction?

 

[Bonaca]

Hahaha @ the big 2 and not including Djokovic in your "no dominance" prediction... So you think that Nadal & Federer are pretty much done while Djokovic will still be able dominate?

I'd say Djokovic has 1 more slam in him at the most. The new generation has caught up with him and they can outhit him. Also I have a feeling that his recent injury will continue being an issue.

As for Federer, age has caught up with him so I don't see him prevailing in the 5-set format, not to mention that he seems to be fragile mentally in big moments.

However Nadal is still on top of his game and he has a unique variety in his shots that is different from anyone and that will keep causing problems for the new generation. And he's the biggest fighter.

I predict the final slam numbers to be Nadal 23, Federer 20, Djokovic 17. What's your final prediction?

You misunderstood me completely. I meant Novak and Nadal, Roger isn’t dominating for a while.
They split the slams this year, would be nice if they could repeat that and play each other at slams!
You are right about the young ones and Bull. If he can avoid playing Novak or Roger he could have the better season 2020.

 

[Bonaca]

Hahaha @ the big 2 and not including Djokovic in your "no dominance" prediction... So you think that Nadal & Federer are pretty much done while Djokovic will still be able dominate?

I'd say Djokovic has 1 more slam in him at the most. The new generation has caught up with him and they can outhit him. Also I have a feeling that his recent injury will continue being an issue.

As for Federer, age has caught up with him so I don't see him prevailing in the 5-set format, not to mention that he seems to be fragile mentally in big moments.

However Nadal is still on top of his game and he has a unique variety in his shots that is different from anyone and that will keep causing problems for the new generation. And he's the biggest fighter.

I predict the final slam numbers to be Nadal 23, Federer 20, Djokovic 17. What's your final prediction?

My prediction:
20-21 Nadal
20 Federer
17-18 Novak

 

[Bonaca]

Becker gave 2 to Novak in 2020. I think 3:1 is good for the start of NextGen and "Gone with the wind" for LostGen. Otherwise we might see to add some more name in LostGen.

I have nothing against two more for Novak.
Pozdrav druze

 

[Nadalfan2013]

My prediction:
20-21 Nadal
20 Federer
17-18 Novak

Ok sounds reasonable.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

You misunderstood me completely. I meant Novak and Nadal, Roger isn’t dominating for a while.
They split the slams this year, would be nice if they could repeat that and play each other at slams!
You are right about the young ones and Bull. If he can avoid playing Novak or Roger he could have the better season 2020.

Ok thanks for the clarification. I disagree that Nadal needs to avoid Djokovic and Federer I feel that in the next few matches he will beat them on any surface. We’ll see...

 

[Fiero425]

My prediction:
20-21 Nadal
20 Federer
17-18 Novak

I won't mind, but I think Nole's good for more than 1 or 2 majors in the next few yrs! That's a woeful incalculable number for him IMO! :whistle:

 

[Moxie]

With regards to that bolded part, I agree - and it is a good characterization of Rafa and Novak: the "real slowing." They're still able to dominate overall, but Novak just doesn't seem to be able to find that consistency of dominance anymore. I could see him finding it for a few months, but it won't last - and those periods will probably both get shorter and fewer. Rafa actually seems the most consistent of the three (as evinced by that 88% of wins), but I think we're about to see him lose more off-clay to young pups, that there will be a bunch of upsets for him this year. Maybe even on clay.

As for Roger, I agree, unfortunately, but still hold out hope for that one more. In a way I feel similarly to how I felt back in 2014-16, when he come close a few times but it became increasingly apparent that he'd never win another. But then 2017 happened, so you never know. So I wouldn't be totally surprised if he has one more surge and Slam title in him, but I'm not expecting it. It kind of feels like he missed that chance at Wimbledon this year.

Don't listen to me on Roger. I've been saying (and believing) that he was done winning Slams since before 2012, though we mostly all did think so before 2017, I suppose. Then he won 3, so keep hope alive. It would probably take some help with the draw, but look at the last USO: Novak and Roger both went out early. I'm not saying it's the only reason Rafa won it, and I don't think fair posters would, either, but it sure didn't hurt. And Roger IS Roger, not to put too fine a clichè on it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Last year end, I predicted correctly that at least one member of Big three won't win a slam in 2019. Although my prediction came true, I would have preferred it to come true in a different manner.

 

[Jelenafan]

Last year end, I predicted correctly that at least one member of Big three won't slam in 2019. Although my prediction came true, I would have preferred it to come true in a different manner.

The Tennis Gods toy with us and can have a perverse sense of humor.

 

[Andy22]

nadal is next gen slayer king some thing will happen next season with nadal winning he's 21th record grand slam title at Wimbledon or us open.

 

[don_fabio]

Like for the thread.

I will be really shocked if next year doesn't offer a new slam winner. Hard to pick who will that be, but I'm also leaning towards @Jelenafan opinion about FO. Thiem has the game and ability to dethrone Rafa, just need to execute better. Margins are not that big. It took Wawrinka a couple of attempts and epic matches in slams againsy Novak to figure him out. There is a similar feel to me with Thiem-Nadal. I like the matchup too, it's great to watch them battle.

It's interesting that Becker is predicting Novak to win 2 slams in 2020. It's a brave call. I would be happy if he wins 1 slam, but if I had to choose which one is most likely to happen I would go with Wimbledon over the AO, even though he won AO more times. Competition just seems smaller on grass than the hard court. Novak will peak for Wimbledon trying to win it and to ride high on that wave to make it a double with Olympic gold. A tough task given the field of competition involving several players who already beat him before on hard courts.

What we will not see anymore is the big3 being ranked highest among the rest. It just won't be the case anymore and at least one of the younger guys will be in top 3 next season.

It's still hard to rule out Fed in Wimbledon, but I don't think he has that much of a chance on hard and in RG. What he missed to win this year is inexplicable, but maybe that still has him going wanting more. If he won it this year, next season could have been a farewell mental walk, but who knows what he will come with in the next season, he never ends to surprise that's for sure.

Tsitsipas and Medvedev both have high hopes and winning a slam is certainly a goal for both of them the next season and will be a tough task for any of the big 3 to win against them. These guys are not afraid of anyone and can deliver when it matters.

I also have a feeling that Fed's current number of 20 majors won't be that easy to overcome and could become somewhat of an issue even for Nadal and Djokovic for that matter too. You never know how healthy both of them are going to be.

 

[monfed]

as long as faker and dull don't win anymore slams(preferably any tournaments), I'm good.

 

[mrzz]

I feel like the main character of "The Big Short" movie (about 2007/2008 sub-prime crisis).

After RG 2018 I wrote that Fedal were done winning majors. I was completely wrong since from then on Nadal won 2 and Federer had two MP's to win one. However, for me the basic reason why I thought so is still there (and both fan bases will hate me for that):

They are not playing that well anymore. Each one in his own way, but in the end, that is what I really feel when watching them both. Of course, they "know" how to win matches (and majors), and that counts a lot. Federer has the "advantage"that grass is still the most peculiar surface so a lot of players struggle with it. But still, I really don't think either one has a scary level anymore, actually far from it in most cases, and that is why I will repeat my prediction of no Fedal majors in 2020 -- or ever. Of course I will still root for Federer.

And now I am almost including Djokovic. Apart from one match in the Paris tournament, I also don't think Djokovic was particularly impressive in 2019. So, I won't be surprised with zero majors from him as well. At AO the big three will still be all top seeded, so this boost their chances as a group.

In other words, right now there are a lot of players that simply know that they have a shot at them, anywhere (yes, even Nadal at RG). I mean, if you were Thiem, what would you think (since every single year since 2017 you beat the guy on clay)? Of if you were Fognini? Yeah, yeah, I know that RG is different, that is not the point. The point is that players who felt like it is to beat him (on clay), or soundly beat him (off clay) won't get in court scared. And, as I said, the level difference is not that great anymore. Actually, as I said, I think the big three have more than occasionally a level gap to some players.

So, having said that, I will go out on a limb and double(ish) down on my early prediction: zero majors for the big three in 2020.

 

[Bonaca]

I feel like the main character of "The Big Short" movie (about 2007/2008 sub-prime crisis).

After RG 2018 I wrote that Fedal were done winning majors. I was completely wrong since from then on Nadal won 2 and Federer has two MP's to win one. However, for me the basic reason why I thought so is still there (and both fan bases will hate me for that):

They are not playing that well anymore. Each one in his own way, but in the end, that is what I really feel when watching them both. Of course, the "know" how to win matches (and majors), and that counts a lot. Federer has the "advantage"that grass is still the most peculiar surface so a lot of players struggle with it. But still, I really don't think either one has a scary level anymore, actually far from it in most cases, and that is why I will repeat my prediction of no Fedal majors in 2020 -- or ever. Of course I will still root for Federer.

And now I am almost including Djokovic. Apart from one match in the Paris tournament, I also don't think Djokovic was particularly impressive in 2019. So, I won't be surprised with zero majors from him as well. At AO the big three will still be all top seeded, so this boost their chances as a group.

In other words, right now there are a lot of players that simply know that they have a shot at them, anywhere (yes, even Nadal at RG). I mean, if you were Thiem, what would you think (since every single year since 2017 you beat the guy on clay)? Of if you were Fognini? Yeah, yeah, I know that RG is different, that is not the point. The point is that players who felt like it is to beat him (on clay), or soundly beat him (off clay) won't get in court scared. And, as I said, the level difference is not that great anymore. Actually, as I said, I think the big three have more than occasionally a level gap to some players.

So, having said that, I will go out on a limb and double(ish) down on my early prediction: zero majors for the big three in 2020.

Sadly but i have to agree with your Novak comment. I am not satisfied with his level since the AO F 19.
All you wrote about the other two is also reasonable.
The only questionmark is, can they raise their levels in 2nd week of slams and show something near their peak levels?
If yes, they will win more, if not=zero.

 

[Andy22]

Australian open-Djokovic] Roland garros-nadal] Wimbledon-nadal] us open-Medvedev.

 

[El Dude]

So, having said that, I will go out on a limb and double(ish) down on my early prediction: zero majors for the big three in 2020.

Hey, mrzz. That is bold. I agree with your basic logic - they have all faded in various ways and are not only beatable, but players are feeling that. (I also like @don_fabio 's Stan : Novak :: Thiem : Rafa comparison...hadn't thought of that, don, but it rings true...or at least possible).

That said, as much as I like the idea of the New Era finally dawning, I can't see the Big Three not winning at least a couple Slams. For me the over/under for Slams for them is 2. If they win 3-4, they had more gas in the tank than I thought; if they win 1 or none, I will be surprised. But 2 sounds about right.