Simple question: How much do you think Del Potro will achieve in his career? He's already got 14 titles, including one slam (2009 U.S. Open), so how much more is in store for him?
I think his performance in the last year or so is definitely something to be optimistic about. He's had to reign in his backhand due to his wrist injury, but even with a much weaker topspin backhand and a lot more slices, he's learning to beat the top guys again. In the last 12 months, he's beaten Federer twice, Djokovic twice, and Murray once, and he was up a set and a break against Nadal in a Masters final. If he keeps that up, he'll certainly have opportunities available to win tournaments higher than the 500 level that he seems stuck in now.
I actually think Roland Garros is his biggest chance for another major. Not this year or even the next, but if Nadal (who's about to turn 27) starts slipping as he ages, then Del Potro, who's only 24 now, definitely has a chance. A lot probably depends on Djokovic's level over the next few years as well, but I don't think anyone else will consistently stop Del Potro at Roland Garros. Federer's beaten him twice there, but he's turning 32 this year, so I doubt he'll always be a roadblock there. Murray's not a great clay court player. Ferrer might trouble him given the head-to-head, but he's also getting old and has never been very consistent at Roland Garros.
Of course, the hard court slams are possibilities as well, but the fields there are deeper and the best hard court players at the moment (Djokovic and Murray) seem to be worse match-ups for Delpo than the ones he went through to win the U.S. Open in 2009 (Federer and Nadal). Still, I wouldn't be shocked to see him win one.
At Wimbledon, he has pretty much no chance. I wouldn't be surprised to see a quarterfinal or semifinal finish sometimes in his career, but I'd be flabbergasted if he ever won the whole thing.
Another big title I think he has a shot at is the WTF. His last two attempts resulted in a final and a semifinal, and with Federer aging, I don't see anyone being a dominant, consistent force there. Djokovic has won it twice but has even more round robin exits. Nadal struggles there. And Murray, surprisingly, has never even made the final. Given his performance at Indian Wells this year (and the tournament's best of three and round robin formats), I think Del Potro could definitely find himself holding the trophy sometime before his career is over.
As far as Masters events, I think it's inevitable he'll win one. The draw won't always be as tough for him as it was at Indian Wells. I think he especially has chances at the post-U.S. Open Masters events where lots of players skip and/or are in poor form.
All in all, I think he'll finish with two slams, three or four Masters events, and a WTF, winning somewhere between 25 and 30 titles overall.
Anybody else have different predictions?
I think his performance in the last year or so is definitely something to be optimistic about. He's had to reign in his backhand due to his wrist injury, but even with a much weaker topspin backhand and a lot more slices, he's learning to beat the top guys again. In the last 12 months, he's beaten Federer twice, Djokovic twice, and Murray once, and he was up a set and a break against Nadal in a Masters final. If he keeps that up, he'll certainly have opportunities available to win tournaments higher than the 500 level that he seems stuck in now.
I actually think Roland Garros is his biggest chance for another major. Not this year or even the next, but if Nadal (who's about to turn 27) starts slipping as he ages, then Del Potro, who's only 24 now, definitely has a chance. A lot probably depends on Djokovic's level over the next few years as well, but I don't think anyone else will consistently stop Del Potro at Roland Garros. Federer's beaten him twice there, but he's turning 32 this year, so I doubt he'll always be a roadblock there. Murray's not a great clay court player. Ferrer might trouble him given the head-to-head, but he's also getting old and has never been very consistent at Roland Garros.
Of course, the hard court slams are possibilities as well, but the fields there are deeper and the best hard court players at the moment (Djokovic and Murray) seem to be worse match-ups for Delpo than the ones he went through to win the U.S. Open in 2009 (Federer and Nadal). Still, I wouldn't be shocked to see him win one.
At Wimbledon, he has pretty much no chance. I wouldn't be surprised to see a quarterfinal or semifinal finish sometimes in his career, but I'd be flabbergasted if he ever won the whole thing.
Another big title I think he has a shot at is the WTF. His last two attempts resulted in a final and a semifinal, and with Federer aging, I don't see anyone being a dominant, consistent force there. Djokovic has won it twice but has even more round robin exits. Nadal struggles there. And Murray, surprisingly, has never even made the final. Given his performance at Indian Wells this year (and the tournament's best of three and round robin formats), I think Del Potro could definitely find himself holding the trophy sometime before his career is over.
As far as Masters events, I think it's inevitable he'll win one. The draw won't always be as tough for him as it was at Indian Wells. I think he especially has chances at the post-U.S. Open Masters events where lots of players skip and/or are in poor form.
All in all, I think he'll finish with two slams, three or four Masters events, and a WTF, winning somewhere between 25 and 30 titles overall.
Anybody else have different predictions?
