The year to come is shaping up to be quite interesting as there seems to be a lot more possible outcomes as opposed to previous years. This year will not be dominated by one player, with a fight for the 2nd spot. Multiple players have shown the ability to play at a level that is capable of beating any of the other top players.
You have to break it down into the top 4 players who have a legitimate chance to finish at #1 this year. Each player has shown the ability to play well in the Slams and play great tennis when it matters. Let’s see how each will do this year.
#1 Rafael Nadal – Nadal enters the season as the #1 players for the first time, although I highly expect him to not be fazed by this task. The question entering the year will be how healthy he is. After he withdrew from the Masters Cup at the end of last season, it has been a quick turn around and the knee could still be an issue as it may have hampered his off season regiment. However as you look forward to how the year will pan out, it is hard to see him losing at Roland Garros as he has never even been pushed to as fifth set yet. He seems to have mastered the grass of the All England club but Federer will be hungry to take back his home turf. The hard court tournaments will seem to give him the most trouble, especially with the pounding his body will take on them. For the year I expect him to win Roland Garros, but to finish the year at #3
#2 Roger Federer – This undoubtedly is the most important year in Federer’s career. While he is on the decline, his rivals are improving and he is running out of time to leave his enduring legacy on the game. This is his best chance to reach Sampras’ record of 14 slams, or to surpass it. The following years will only become increasingly harder despite the fact he has enough pure talent to make a run similar to Sampras’ final US Open. I think this year Fed comes in more rested, and more determined than ever. He has cut down his schedule to only include big events for the most part, saving himself for the majors. I predict he wins Wimbledon and US Open again, passing Sampras, and regaining the #1 ranking in the process.
#3 Novak Djokovic – It was a great sign for him to win the year end Masters Cup. Despite the fact he never had to face Nadal, Federer or Murray to do so, it was quite a turn around from his previous end to a season. In my mind though he can never seem to get out of his own way. Always causing trouble somewhere, or trying to make people laugh to cover up for it, seems to distract from his tennis somehow. Then with his family purchasing an ATP tournament with plans to move it to Serbia, he will have more on his mind. Despite his immense talent, I feel another year of turmoil finally takes a real toll on him, and he drops to #4.
#4 Andy Murray – Murray played the best tennis in the last quarter of 2008, and looks to continue that play this season. With a better focus and increased strength he has become one of the elite players. I feel the sky is the limit for Murray this season and I predict he will win the Australian Open to start the season, which will propel him to finish #2 in the ATP World Tour rankings.
Last year there were some meteoric rises by players such as Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Marin Cilic. Who will be the players to jump up in the rankings this year? MY favorite pick who seems to be getting more and more coverage is Ernests Gulbis. He has all the shots, such power and touch, he just needs to find that motivation and focus to go along with his skills. Also Kei Nishikori looks to challenge this year as well. HE made a name for himself around the world last season with a win in Delray Beach and an impressive five set win against David Ferrer at the US Open. He is a hero in his homeland, and hopefully all the support he receives from Japan can inspire some great tennis out of him. Then lastly I feel this is the year Donald Young breaks into the top 50. He has had some inconsistent results last year with wins over really talented players, then loses to players he shouldn’t lose to. With an extra year under his belt, I feel like he has a chance improve greatly with his unique playing style.
