Do players from say 15 and on really believe?

[chatt_town]

Do you all think players that are ranked say 15 and on really believe they have a chance to win say Indian Wells, Miami or the Majors? I mean do you all think they really see themselves beating Novak, Fed and Murray Ferrer...and that's assuming they get past the likes of Isner or Almagro? That's why I say many of them are content with showing up and maybe pulling out two rounds or so.
I don't think they believe. I don't even know if I believe that players like Almagro, Isner or other players that go from say 9 to 18 back and forth believe they will beat the top 5 or 6. I think if Ferrer would just about have to get a major where Nadal is hurt, Fed gets put out by the likes of Berdych or some other player he has problems with to have a chance and he's like number 4 or 5.

So...is it fair to say that most of the tourneys are for entertainment and the tourney starts about the quarters? What do you all think? I'd like to know what the new pro player on the board thinks about this.

[reaper]

I think there's a lack of belief outside the top 4 and del Potro. Ferrer has been slaughtered in big matches this year by djokovic and nadal, while berdytch threw away a strong position in the Dubai final against djokovic. You don't need to go far down the rankings to find lack of belief.

[Towser83]

I duno but Ljubicic did win IW in 2010 and he was ranked out of the top 20 (25 or 26 I think) He was once world number 3 though, but most guys don't seem to believe. Janowicz did make the final of Paris but that event has less committment from the top players

[corbind]

I think any player to reach the top 20 in the WORLD has a very strong belief they can win. Sure some are likely delusional in thinking they can win a major. Yet they need to have the belief or they would never be in the world elite. Bless them for believing!