1. Novak Djokovic - Technically he has basically all of the shots, and while only his backhand and return would be considered among the best in the game, he's so solid in all other areas, such a great mover/defender, and has got so much experience on his side now. I still think a Federer can outthink him on a tennis court, but otherwise you're just required to try and blow him off the court (which too few guys have the ability/mental fortitude to do) or outgrind him as Murray and Nadal try and do, and it's 50/50 at best if that's going to work.
2. Andy Murray - I try not to watch him play that often, so it's a little harder to judge, but he's similar to Djokovic just slightly lesser in all departments? His serve is less consistent, his second serve isn't up to much, so that makes him less solid than Novak is too.
3. Roger Federer - I mean he's an artist on a tennis court. He is (or certainly was) an amazing defender to go along with all of that, but I just don't think mentally he's all that strong. He has a tendency to just switch off from time to time, and on those rare occasions when he's truly pressed he even more rarely comes out on top. He seems incredibly stubborn, like he has no interest in a plan B if things aren't working for him, and that makes him super frustrating as well.
4. David Ferrer - Dude has more heart than... a valentine's day card! He could have easily made that top 4 a top 5 except he just has no weapons with which to compete with those big 4 guys. He's got the mentality to absolutely out think, out last, out class all the other guys in his domain (Tsonga, Del Potro, Berdych) but you also feel like if those guys get their heads together they'd dismiss him fairly easily too. Good backhand, good return, great mover, can serve really well from time to time, but yeah, he's basically the opposite of the other mental midgets in the top 10.
5. Rafael Nadal - In terms of game he's basically Ferrer with a giant forehand. Rafa's brilliance comes from his mentality. His craftiness (
), his iron will, his smarts, his ability to work through problems, figure ways to overcome his weaknesses. In that regard he's the total opposite to Federer. Unfortunately for him Novak can defend as well (better, given he's stronger off both wings) and just has the perfect game with which to counteract his fairly simple one, so he's run into major trouble.
6. Tomas Berdych - Dude has got the serve and forehand, and hard, hard hitting to go all the way. He's just so horribly inconsistant that he'll go from one day being able to beat anyone, to one day caving hopelessly in first rounds. I also don't really think he's got the game to outduel Djokovic, Murray or Nadal over 5 sets.
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - So much game, so little brain. Dude could be the best in the world if he didn't have the fighting mentality of a kitten.
8. Juan Martin Del Potro - Unlike Berdych and Tsonga, this fella actually has the mental strength to go toe to toe with the big guys. He has the serve and forehand to blow anybody off the court. Unfortunately he's so annoyingly one dimensional on a tennis court that it isn't too hard to work him out, and give him trouble if you play smartly, and consistently enough, and he's so horribly injury prone, and there's a question mark around his general fitness too, so you almost feel he'll never get any really good run going without some health issue coming up.
9. Richard Gasquet - He's like a more extreme version of Federer. Arguably the second greatest artist on a tennis court in the game today, with a game that when it works is hard to cope with. Unfortunately he is, always has been, and probably always will be a mental midget. He also always has been, and probably always will be physically unable to play long, long matches. Certainly not multiple ones in a single tournament. Basically I think he was at a super high level when he was a teenager, and while guys like Nadal, and Djokovic, and Murray all worked at their issues, and weaknesses, and improved their fitness, and their game, this guy was just lazy, and content to coast on ability alone. He probably has more natural talent than all those guys, he's just let it all go tragically to waste.
10. Stanislas Wawrinka - I don't really know what Stan's issue is! He's got all the game you could want to compete at the highest level. I don't think he's mentally weak (unless up against Roger) I guess he's just not consistent enough. He's a pleasure to watch on his day, and he proved in Australia he's not afraid of the top guys.
