ESPN AO Picks
- Thread starter Fiji
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MatsPhilander
Legend
Bouchard no votes & not even any votes as a sleeper-where Venus gets most of the votes? What a joke.
PoeticJustice
New User
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Nishikori and Sharapova.
MatsPhilander
Legend
Am I missing something with Venus? She hasn't made it past the fourth round of any slam since the US Open in 2010.
Homeboy Hotel
Hall of Fame
All deluded
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
She is in great form winning Auckland the other day against Wozniacki in the final.
Venus is a very dangerous player. If she can find consistency in her high risk game, she has a great chance. She nearly beat Kvitova in Wimbledon 6 months ago who later won the tournament. She has the potential in her.
The others should look out.
either way, I hope she wins a slam again. I miss her in the biggest stage.
MatsPhilander
Legend
No doubt she has the history & is playing alright at the moment-but she has played 13 out of the last 16 slams & not made it to the last eight in any of them. Cannot see why she would suddenly be a contender.
Djokovic2011
Bionic Poster
If both Novak and Venus win this year's tournament you won't be able to wipe the smile off my face for the whole of February. Please tennis gods, make it happen!
Bertie B
Hall of Fame
Are you sure about this?? Even after her showing at the USO? The 3-year pattern imply she's about to slump.
Sharapova won first slam in 2004, had an upsurge three years later, then was forced out by injuries.
Serena won in 1999, upsurge in 2002 then slump
Same for Djokovic. Won in 2008, upsurge in 2011, then slump.
Same thing is happening with Kvitova. Won in 2011, spike in energy 2014... Don't be fooled, the Wimbledon showing was just the last spasm before the flat lining.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
:lol:
I would like to know what you are smoking. She likely won't get past the 3R or 4R.
Fiji
Legend
okie dokie. something to ponder...
RF-18
Talk Tennis Guru
I like to make unexpected picks. But why does it bother you if I think she can win? I believe in experience and she has a ton of it. Note that I'm also factoring in her impressive title win the other day wich leads to good form coming into the tournament. Also IF her high risk game works and can find consistency, I think she stands a chance. Thats what I believe, if it turns out that I'm completely wrong, then fine. No damage done.
He is the only one to pick Shriekapova, as well, he must've been in a Melbourne bar throwing back shots just before he wrote this...
Bertie B
Hall of Fame
Yes. I forgot to include Seles
Monica won her first slam in 1990, three years later she was forced out by fate.
MCallanan
Semi-Pro
Yea.. I feel like Wimbledon is Venus' only chance to win another Grand Slam. With her big hitting and fast surface she can shorten points and matches.. I've seen Venus play some incredible tennis for a set and a half over the last two years and it seems her lack of stamina shows through around that point and her opponent levels it up and pulls off the third set. It would be great to see her make a deep run though..
Fiji
Legend
Poor Monica..... Her progressions for 1993 had anaretic sun, anaretic mars and anaretic asc/desc. Too much.
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tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
I'm surprised that no-one picked Nadal.
Roddick85
Hall of Fame
I find those picks hilarious to be honest. Raonic in a best of 5 sets tournament, in the Australian heat he could barely tolerate last year? Not likely. Nishikori? Sure he's got the talent, but he'll have left so much of himself on court that if he makes the final, he'll be exhausted (see all the finals he made in 2014). Djokovic is the most popular pick, because he's #1, but far from a lock in my opinion. Surprised Federer doesn't get more votes, he's far from a lock as well, but he's got good odds. No love for Wawrinka?
MCallanan
Semi-Pro
Nishikori ran out of gas in the third set against Raonic in Brisbane. Given his history that's the last thing any Nishikori fan wanted to see going into Melbourne.
As for Raonic, I think that's a joke. Here's his slated draw to the final:
Marchenko, Young, Benneteau/Hewitt, Monfils/Del Potro, Djokovic, Wawrinka/Nishikori
Easy first round match followed by some very savvy opponents who could push Raonic deep and create a ton of problems for him.. If he stumbles early he could make a very quick exit.
djokovicgonzalez2010
G.O.A.T.
Some horrible picks here. Raonic winner is a shot in the dark, and Wawrinka and Nadal both have incredibly easy draws, yet are nominated for toughest road.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
Nishikori did not run out of gas in that match. It came down to a couple of key points. The match went to three tie-breaking sets! Nishikori made an error or two and that is all it took for him to lose the match. It was very close and could have gone either way. He didn't look like he was out of gas at all IMO.
I don't think Nishikori is a totally out there pick at all.
It doesn't bother me, I just don't happen to agree with you. I can't see how Venus will win. But each to his own.
If you get that pick right, you are a superstar!
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smoledman
G.O.A.T.
They're all going to look awfully dumb when it's Rafa hoisting the trophy in 2 weeks.
7
70sHollywood
Guest
Shriver picks Nishikori for the Winner and Toughest Road? ok...
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
They have finally realized that it's a waste of time. I think the others should follow their example.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Yes you are :lol: you clearly haven't seen her play lately. Easily playing like a top 5 player, and no signs of fatigue or let-up in any of the matches.
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Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah I agree. Rosol is that that good of a hard court player, I might even go as far as to say it's his worst surface. So even if he makes it to the 3rd round, I can't possibly see him beating Nadal. I mean I don't see Rafa playing amazing tennis or near his best, but even a Rafa at like 70% is good enough to beat most players.
And the other thing is what's the criteria for a sleeper? I find it rather lame that some of these guys are picking sleepers ranking inside the top 10. I mean unless you are picking a surprise finalist/winner, players ranked in the top 10 can't really be sleepers. They're expected to at least make it to the 4th round/Quarterfinals.
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Berdych in the quarters. I know the record is terribly one sided, but it feels like if they should play it's Berdych's best chance to get a nice win over Rafa.
D
Deleted member 542803
Guest
AO 2014 picks. LMAOOOOO.
http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/picks/_/tournament/16
http://espn.go.com/sports/tennis/picks/_/tournament/16
MCallanan
Semi-Pro
I thought he ran out of gas. The commentators on the tennis channel, albeit not the greatest sources in the world of tennis, also mentioned he looked tired. Given his track record it shouldn't be surprising whatsoever if he did run out of gas.
I don't think he's an out there pick either.. But given his track record it's tough for me to imagine him having to go through a couple five setters in Melbourne conditions to get to the final and having enough to get past a Federer, Nadal or even Murray.
tennis_commentator
Hall of Fame
LMAO why do these ESPN sillies even bother.....
I'm just subscribing to this thread so I can have a good laugh in a couple of weeks :lol:
Djokovic has single-handedly destroyed their credibility (at the slams overall, because they call him the favorite and he's lost 6 of his last 7 slam events) for the last 3 years :lol:
I'm just subscribing to this thread so I can have a good laugh in a couple of weeks :lol:
Djokovic has single-handedly destroyed their credibility (at the slams overall, because they call him the favorite and he's lost 6 of his last 7 slam events) for the last 3 years :lol:
