Let's talk about 2017...

[El Dude]

OK, just looked it up. He was #18 on May 28, 2001, and #15 on June 11 and has ranked no lower than #15 from June 11, 2001, until the end of this year, 2016. So I was close.

 

[jonathon11]

its bad time for Rafa and Rojar....

_________
tennis world

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

These will be Federer's good matches at Hopman Cup:

Federer vs Gasquet
Federer vs Zverev
Federer vs Kyrgios (hopefully)

Did not we have best-of-5-set matches at Hopman Cup earlier at some point of time? Or is it me?

 

[delPoFearhand]

These will be Federer's good matches at Hopman Cup:

Federer vs Gasquet
Federer vs Zverev
Federer vs Kyrgios (hopefully)

Did not we have best-of-5-set matches at Hopman Cup earlier at some point of time? Or is it me?

Is that the order he'll be playing in?

I think the Gasquet match will be a good calibrating match- Gasquet has been a sort of "top 10 gatekeeper" for some time now.

The Kyrgios/Zverev matches will be entertaining, but not as useful for gauging where Roger is since both of their level of play can fluctuate so much during a match (Zverev because he's still so young, Kyrgios because he's Kyrgios).

 

[the AntiPusher]

These will be Federer's good matches at Hopman Cup:

Federer vs Gasquet
Federer vs Zverev
Federer vs Kyrgios (hopefully)

Did not we have best-of-5-set matches at Hopman Cup earlier at some point of time? Or is it me?

Is that the order he'll be playing in?

I think the Gasquet match will be a good calibrating match- Gasquet has been a sort of "top 10 gatekeeper" for some time now.

The Kyrgios/Zverev matches will be entertaining, but not as useful for gauging where Roger is since both of their level of play can fluctuate so much during a match (Zverev because he's still so young, Kyrgios because he's Kyrgios).

Yeah, but Kyrgios's act is getting old.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

The upcoming year of tennis is intriguing for so many beautiful reasons. Rafa and Roger's comebacks. Nole's situation at this stage of his career, expectations from Zverev, Kyrgios and Thiem. We want to see what Pouille can do with his talents. We want to see if Del Potro's game will come back to being anything close to its best. Will Wawrinka "show up" once again? Will Raonic be good enough to win a slam now?

 

[Fiero425]

The upcoming year of tennis is intriguing for so many beautiful reasons. Rafa and Roger's comebacks. Nole's situation at this stage of his career, expectations from Zverev, Kyrgios and Thiem. We want to see what Pouille can do with his talents. We want to see if Del Potro's game will come back to being anything close to its best. Will Wawrinka "show up" once again? Will Raonic be good enough to win a slam now?

Is this deja vu? We keep hoping, then the year becomes a continuation of the last! Let's keep hope alive these gutless wonders can finally break through! I love Thiem, Poulle, Zverev, & Del Po, but have only shown flashes of brilliance! We went thru the same situation with Tsonga, baby Fed (Dimitrov), Monfils, Gasguet, and so many others with such great promise! They have all the skills in the book, but little heart & brains or they would have taken at least a major or Masters' event more regularly! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :cover

 

[El Dude]

If nothing else, Fiero, the difference is that Thiem, Kyrgios, Zverev etc will peak when the current elite are in their decline years. Poor Tsonga, Berdych, Gasquet and others peaked along side three of the greatest players ever, and a fourth lesser great.

Ages 24-25 is, historically speaking, the best years for tennis players: of all years, the 24-25 range (meaning, the years a player turns 24 and 25) have the most Slams, and it isn't particularly close. So we could consider 24-25 as the most common absolute peak, with 20-30 being a broader "prime" range of years. Anyhow, here are the years that different young players will turn 24-25, and how old Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy will be turning in that year.

Thiem: 2017-18. Roger 36-37, Rafa 31-32, Novak/Andy 30-31.
Pouille: 2018-19. Roger 37-38, Rafa 32-33, Novak/Andy 31-32.
Kyrgios: 2019-20. Roger 38-39, Rafa 33-34, Novak/Andy 32-33.
Zverev: 2021-22. Roger 40-41, Rafa 35-36, Novak/Andy 34-35.

Now of course not every player reaches their absolute peak at 24-25, and it may be that players are peaking a bit later these days...that would only strengthen their chances, especially Thiem whose 24-25 years are this year and next.

But you can see the basic point. All of these young players--and more besides--will have peak or at least prime years in which the Big Four are in decline or retired.

 

[the AntiPusher]

If nothing else, Fiero, the difference is that Thiem, Kyrgios, Zverev etc will peak when the current elite are in their decline years. Poor Tsonga, Berdych, Gasquet and others peaked along side three of the greatest players ever, and a fourth lesser great.

Ages 24-25 is, historically speaking, the best years for tennis players: of all years, the 24-25 range (meaning, the years a player turns 24 and 25) have the most Slams, and it isn't particularly close. So we could consider 24-25 as the most common absolute peak, with 20-30 being a broader "prime" range of years. Anyhow, here are the years that different young players will turn 24-25, and how old Roger, Rafa, Novak and Andy will be turning in that year.

Thiem: 2017-18. Roger 36-37, Rafa 31-32, Novak/Andy 30-31.
Pouille: 2018-19. Roger 37-38, Rafa 32-33, Novak/Andy 31-32.
Kyrgios: 2019-20. Roger 38-39, Rafa 33-34, Novak/Andy 32-33.
Zverev: 2021-22. Roger 40-41, Rafa 35-36, Novak/Andy 34-35.

Now of course not every player reaches their absolute peak at 24-25, and it may be that players are peaking a bit later these days...that would only strengthen their chances, especially Thiem whose 24-25 years are this year and next.

But you can see the basic point. All of these young players--and more besides--will have peak or at least prime years in which the Big Four are in decline or retired.

I thought Rafa just turned 30, Murray/Djokovic a week apart turned 29

 

[El Dude]

Those are the ages they turn in the years in question. For instance, in 2017 Novak and Andy will turn 30, in 2018 31, thus "30-31."

 

[the AntiPusher]

Those are the ages they turn in the years in question. For instance, in 2017 Novak and Andy will turn 30, in 2018 31, thus "30-31."

I gotta ya

 

[Fiero425]

I'd put up a sizeable bet Nadal will be nowhere near an ATP court by age 35! He might be too broken down to do Courier's senior tour! McEnroe might be able to take him! :angel: :dodgy: :snicker

 

[isabelle]

Delpo'll miss AO, don't know what happens with him

 

[mrzz]

^Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Delpo'll miss AO, don't know what happens with him

From what I read it's really what I posted in the earlier thread, it's his fitness for the duration of a fortnight format ( 3 0f 5). I would hope by May he have his fitness up to par. He said he is in doubt so he may change his mind and decide to play the tournament.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

What's the problem? Is it an injury? Why would he think he can't do it. He played some good best of 5 sets matches this year.

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[the AntiPusher]

What's the problem? Is it an injury? Why would he think he can't do it. He played some good best of 5 sets matches this year.

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He says he doesn't know if his fitness is up to par for the fortnight of the AO

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

What's the problem? Is it an injury? Why would he think he can't do it. He played some good best of 5 sets matches this year.

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He says he doesn't know if his fitness is up to par for the fortnight of the AO

He did play the last 2 GSs at least. Why would he be doubtful of his fitness now?

 

[the AntiPusher]

What's the problem? Is it an injury? Why would he think he can't do it. He played some good best of 5 sets matches this year.

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He says he doesn't know if his fitness is up to par for the fortnight of the AO

He did play the last 2 GSs at least. Why would he be doubtful of his fitness now?

Maybe he partied afterwards the DC title..I don't knowuzzled

 

[Kieran]

His fitness up to par? Sheesh! Well, play and see. I mean, who knows, he might get a draw like Djoker at the USO, where everybody withdrew. How can he withdraw based on this?

And does this mean, "fitness", as in, he might get a liddle widdle bitsy tired from hitting a tennis ball?

Or, "fitness", as in, health?