Top clay courters at the moment

[isabelle]

@kskate2: Curious what Monfils will do. He could be up there.

What's up with Nalbandian? Any news on wildcards he may receive? Or is he playing challengers?

I wish the news was that benign. I have read that he is actually keeping quiet about his other, non-surgically-repaired hip because he doesn't want to miss the Davis Cup semifinal tie. There have been scattered reports in the Argentine press that he will need surgery on it and that this will be the end. The only reason he hasn't announced it is that he doesn't want a distraction for the team before semifinal tie. Many were saying that Nalbandian was going to officially retire if Argentina lost to France.

But this would help explain why he skipped the Australian Open, why he squandered the lead against Nieminen in Miami (6-2, 3-0), etc.

His game is fine and he is still better than everyone. Unfortunately, his body - as it has since age 27 - is letting him down in terms of durability. He just gets injured constantly anymore.

I hope this isn't the case, but I'm afraid that the Nieminen match in Miami may end up being the last time Nalbandian played at an official ATP tournament. In a negative and cynical sense, it would have been a symbolically fitting way for his career to end as well - up 6-2, 3-0 and the lead squandered. However, there are better, more positive ways to represent his career and I hope that it can end in one of those ways. His game is still good enough to be Top 5 for the next 4 years (I'm being modest to appease everyone here); his body just won't seem to allow it right now.

He needs a right hip surgery...so I guess we know why he can't play great during 3 sets....when pain becomes too strong he can't run anymore and lose
He should retire at the end of 2013, have his surgery and spend a happy life with Vicky and their first child (expected in may ???)

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

@kskate2: Curious what Monfils will do. He could be up there.

What's up with Nalbandian? Any news on wildcards he may receive? Or is he playing challengers?

I wish the news was that benign. I have read that he is actually keeping quiet about his other, non-surgically-repaired hip because he doesn't want to miss the Davis Cup semifinal tie. There have been scattered reports in the Argentine press that he will need surgery on it and that this will be the end. The only reason he hasn't announced it is that he doesn't want a distraction for the team before semifinal tie. Many were saying that Nalbandian was going to officially retire if Argentina lost to France.

But this would help explain why he skipped the Australian Open, why he squandered the lead against Nieminen in Miami (6-2, 3-0), etc.

His game is fine and he is still better than everyone. Unfortunately, his body - as it has since age 27 - is letting him down in terms of durability. He just gets injured constantly anymore.

I hope this isn't the case, but I'm afraid that the Nieminen match in Miami may end up being the last time Nalbandian played at an official ATP tournament. In a negative and cynical sense, it would have been a symbolically fitting way for his career to end as well - up 6-2, 3-0 and the lead squandered. However, there are better, more positive ways to represent his career and I hope that it can end in one of those ways. His game is still good enough to be Top 5 for the next 4 years (I'm being modest to appease everyone here); his body just won't seem to allow it right now.

He needs a right hip surgery...so I guess we know why he can't play great during 3 sets....when pain becomes too strong he can't run anymore and lose
He should retire at the end of 2013, have his surgery and spend a happy life with Vicky and their first child (expected in may ???)

that reminds me, almost forgot to respond to Cali. of course, i cling to the hope that the update on Dave's health is tainted by the usual hyperbole (just of a more pessimistic variation). if it's not, that would be quite sad, for him to go out this way. in any case, i hope it's just rumours and/or that he recovers well and returns strong.

 

[Denis]

Sorry to hear that Cali. I hope he wins the Davis Cup, that would be a more than fitting end of his career. I'll be rooting for Argentina.

 

[Didi]

Sorry to hear that Cali. I hope he wins the Davis Cup, that would be a more than fitting end of his career. I'll be rooting for Argentina.

Same here. A DC title would mean the world to David. It would be so great and touching if he goes on to fulfil his dream at the very end like Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon. Hopefully it's written in the stars for him.

 

[Front242]

Sad news alright if Nalbandian needs right hip surgery. Still, I'll hold up some hope that it goes well if he does have more surgery as guys like Haas and Hewitt prove you can still fight after multiple injuries. And in the case of Haas especially, still be quite a player. A lot of it for Nalbandian is mental imo when he blows matches. Not like he didn't do it before any hip injuries or other ailments but obviously, the two combined don't exactly help.

---

Such a shame that it's becoming more and more likely Soderling won't ever come back. With 2 consecutive RG finals he really proved himself to be imo the 4th best clay courter before he stopped playing. You could argue 3rd best at the time actually as Djokovic hadn't made a RG final before last year.

 

[Moxie]

Sad news alright if Nalbandian needs right hip surgery. Still, I'll hold up some hope that it goes well if he does have more surgery as guys like Haas and Hewitt prove you can still fight after multiple injuries. And in the case of Haas especially, still be quite a player. A lot of it for Nalbandian is mental imo when he blows matches. Not like he didn't do it before any hip injuries or other ailments but obviously, the two combined don't exactly help.

---

Such a shame that it's becoming more and more likely Soderling won't ever come back. With 2 consecutive RG finals he really proved himself to be imo the 4th best clay courter before he stopped playing. You could argue 3rd best at the time actually as Djokovic hadn't made a RG final before last year.

---

I was thinking of Soderling specifically, especially when I questioned Berdych being there. Robbie had proven chops as a threat on clay, and Tomas is, IMO, just a generally bigger threat than most others, and makes the list by default.

As to Nalbandian, I'm with those that hope he can finally bring the DC trophy home. He plays some of his most-committed tennis for Argentina. I'll be rooting for that. (Sorry, Canada.) :angel:

 

[Ricardo]

also agree that Soderling would've possibly been one of the top clay courters, just behind 'Fedalkovic'. After he beat Fed at RG semi, Roger said himself that he was playing at high level and still got beaten. Soderling on his day can whack the ball close to the lines at will, and do it consistently throughout a long match. Despite what some claimed, he was no fluke (against Nadal/Fed).

 

[Denis]

To be fairly opportunistic, so much for Almagro, Berdych, Murray, Del Potro being as top clay courters... I have the impression that the clay surface is more prone to upsets.

 

[Front242]

Whatever happened to Potato Starch? Haven't seen him in any clay court event yet this year. Is he playing challengers?

 

[tented]

Whatever happened to Potato Starch? Haven't seen him in any clay court event yet this year. Is he playing challengers?

Good question, so I looked him up:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Potito-Starace.aspx?t=pa

He can't make it beyond qualies.

 

[Moxie]

To be fairly opportunistic, so much for Almagro, Berdych, Murray, Del Potro being as top clay courters... I have the impression that the clay surface is more prone to upsets.

Well, you were the OP on this one, and you asked people to list top players on clay, at the moment, and not necessarily "clay specialists." Your list:

1 Nadal, Rafael (ESP)
2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB)
3 Federer, Roger (SUI)
4 Del Potro
5 Ferrer, David (ESP)
6 Murray, Andy (GBR)
7 Almagro
8 Wawrinka
9 Tsonga
10 Berdych
11 Juan Monaco
12 John Isner (he does surprisingly well on clay)

Here are some thoughts I have, and I'm sure others will chime in:

Of that list, those that are really good on clay, (not based on recent results or rankings, but playing clay for clay,) are, IMO: Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Ferrer, Almagro, Wawrinka, Monaco, and maybe Murray and Del Potro. And yes, in that order, taken as an over-all clay ability, and not exactly at the moment. I'm sure I'll hear about Murray and Del Potro, but I think they succeed on over-all ability, and how their game translates to clay, but not necessarily for being natural on the surface. Amongst the others, Tsonga, Berdych and Isner, I think they succeed, to the extent they do, for different reasons: Tsonga is powerfully athletic, and Berdych and Isner have big serves, and they're all better-enough than the rest of the field, generally. But it doesn't make them clay-courters.

What is missing is that some of the best clay-courters, amongst the rest, are aging out. Some of the "other" Argentines and Spaniards aren't the threat that they were. (Even Almagro and Monaco are waning, Ferrer probably will soon.) If some more clay-courters don't come up, I wonder if we won't see more of this volatility in the clay season, compared to the hards.

 

[Andrew William]

I'd like to get everyone's thoughts on Del Potro in regards to how he performs on clay. I have to be honest, he's never really stood out to me on the surface. I know many harp on how good he is on the red stuff and record wise he has done very well and even snagged himself 4 titles. Am I just unlucky to watch his worst performances on clay? To me his mobility is horrible and it seems with minimum variety even relatively average players can take advantage of it (footwork). On hards I have nothing to complain about. But what makes this guy special on clay? I'm sincerely curious.

Also just to throw this out there; is there anyone else who looks more exhausted between points than JMDP? Okay maybe Isner, but still. I'd just like to see the guy with a little more pep in his step on occasion. Just saying!

 

[Front242]

Whatever happened to Potato Starch? Haven't seen him in any clay court event yet this year. Is he playing challengers?

Good question, so I looked him up:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Potito-Starace.aspx?t=pa

He can't make it beyond qualies.

That's pretty horrible.

 

[Mastoor]

Funny thing is that on everyone's lists are Fed and Ferrer who don't even play MC, Murray and Delpo who lost early and No1e and Nadal who touch their ankles and knees, so everything may look too funny in couple of days with no one from your lists in the final.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

^ would it? it was just a general assessment of clay court abilities, and not a prediction of MC results. I wouldn't take Novak off the list of best hard court players just because he lost early-ish in Miami.

 

[Denis]

To be fairly opportunistic, so much for Almagro, Berdych, Murray, Del Potro being as top clay courters... I have the impression that the clay surface is more prone to upsets.

Well, you were the OP on this one, and you asked people to list top players on clay, at the moment, and not necessarily "clay specialists." Your list:

1 Nadal, Rafael (ESP)
2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB)
3 Federer, Roger (SUI)
4 Del Potro
5 Ferrer, David (ESP)
6 Murray, Andy (GBR)
7 Almagro
8 Wawrinka
9 Tsonga
10 Berdych
11 Juan Monaco
12 John Isner (he does surprisingly well on clay)

Here are some thoughts I have, and I'm sure others will chime in:

Of that list, those that are really good on clay, (not based on recent results or rankings, but playing clay for clay,) are, IMO: Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Ferrer, Almagro, Wawrinka, Monaco, and maybe Murray and Del Potro. And yes, in that order, taken as an over-all clay ability, and not exactly at the moment. I'm sure I'll hear about Murray and Del Potro, but I think they succeed on over-all ability, and how their game translates to clay, but not necessarily for being natural on the surface. Amongst the others, Tsonga, Berdych and Isner, I think they succeed, to the extent they do, for different reasons: Tsonga is powerfully athletic, and Berdych and Isner have big serves, and they're all better-enough than the rest of the field, generally. But it doesn't make them clay-courters.

What is missing is that some of the best clay-courters, amongst the rest, are aging out. Some of the "other" Argentines and Spaniards aren't the threat that they were. (Even Almagro and Monaco are waning, Ferrer probably will soon.) If some more clay-courters don't come up, I wonder if we won't see more of this volatility in the clay season, compared to the hards.

Yes, that's true, the old clay courters are disappearing, that's why Tsonga and Berdych make the list. Does Spain have any talent coming up? But is Almagro truly waning, I've always seen him as not reaching his full potential yet.

By the way, I'm being opportunistic and jumping on the bandwagon, and adding Dimitrov to my list.