Li Ching Yuen
Legend
Rafael Nadal: Will maintain his number one spot without any problems. by remaining consistent through out the year, amassing enough points to not have to worry about it until after AO2011. Probably around 10.000 points.
Roger Federer: Will reach the Wimbledon final once more, but will lose it, to who?...that I don't really know, because of course there is no draw out yet, but I don't feel that he will be able to retain his title there, simply because his serving, although perfectly suited for grass is not as solid, but we will see. I feel that he will regain his US Open crown tho, because I've always felt that Federer brings his best at that tourney, always felt that. I see a rather poor continuation after that with the last two Masters, like he always does, but I see a potential improvement from last year in the WTF. Will maintain the second spot without any problems.
Novak Djokovic: Early exit at Wimbledon, simply because his game is a trainwreck atm. All of his wins since February have been through a lot of struggle, and he seems washed up, there's hardly anything left of that game that was so impressiong a year ago or two. There won't be anything to save him this time, simply slugging it out in rallies won't cut it. You need a serve and a solid finishing to be decent on grass. Then I could see a possible downfall, maybe even a break of a couple of months to regroup, maybe even a new coach, which might lead to a possible resurgence in the last two Masters, and maybe even a decent showing at the WTF. Anyway, I really feel this could be the start of a new era for Novak after this season. I see a fall around the 5th spot in the rankings.
Andy Murray: I always thought this guy had a good mental game, but after the AO, I, now doubt that, BUT what I also think is that that final really made him stronger, he feels less pressure now, he is a bit more mature, and will make a good impression through out the rest of the year. I can see a final at Wimbledon with him winning it or semi at the very worst. If this fullfils itself we could very much see a different animal. He is always good in the North American Masters and that won't change this year, I even expect a win from him in one of them, and I see him having decent results in all of the remaining major events: final at the USO and improvement at the WTF. I think the most improved part of his game will be the serve. That first serve of his has a lot of potential to do some serious damage.
Nikolay Davydenko: He will be back for the grass season as we all know, and I'm sure he will be doing the same as every year, which is rather average compared to his ranking. I think we might see him defending some of those big points from last year in the HC swing and the indoor season. He won't defend his titles tho, so I see a fall around the 7th spot.
Robin Soderling: Quarter at Wimbledon, and consistent results though out the rest of the year, and I also see him winning two indoor titles, a 500, probably Valencia and one of the two: Shanghai or Paris, decent showings at Cincinnati or Canada Open, I feel he will be too fatigued to defend his semi at the WTF, and as far as the USO is concerned, I can't see him getting past the quarters, the courts are simply too fast for his huge backswings. I see him on the 4th place in the rankings at the end of the year.
Andy Roddick: I don't see him defending his final at Wimbledon, simply because he hasn't got the game to back it up, he is not younger or better than what he was last year, his game now is more suited for slow hard courts, and is based more around consistency than having the bite to hurt any of the big guns. I can see him getting through the quarters at SW19 tho, he still has the most intelligent service game on the tour. Again I see consistency in the Masters and points at the WTF( he didn't participate last year), and a final 6th spot in the rankings.
The rest:
Verdasco: His good performances in the last months have transformed him into a diva, and I don't know if that's enough for taking that last spot to get to the WTF. He definitely has the potential to do some damage in the North American HC swing, maybe even a decent showing at the US Open. He is dependable of the draw at Wimbledon, and will probably stumble against the first tougher opponent. I could see him getting the last spot in the Top Ten, gathering points from quarters at Masters, semies in the 500's and so on like he has been doing for quite some years.
Tsonga: One thing that he has improved this year, is his consistency on all surfaces, he is no longer dangerous only in the AO and Paris-Bercy. He has a big enough game who could get him that final spot for the WTF, and I think he will get there. 8th spot in the rankings for him.
Ferrer: The best for him will end around this time of the year, I don't see him getting any big results in neither of the Masters or the remaining slams. He won't get a spot in the Top Ten.
Cilic: Well, he is not a great grass court player, but he sure as hell does like the HC, and I see him defending his USO points and having a great showing, semi or even final at one of the outdoor Masters. 9th spot in the rankings for him.
Gonzalez: He has tendinitis and a new coach, and I also don't see him defending that quarter at the USO. I predict a possible exit from the Top 15. Will probably manage to gather some points here and there.
Youzhny: He is currently 14th and I don't see him getting any higher than that, I'm not familiar with his performances last year but I reckon he'll keep a spot in the Top20.
Ljubicic: well he certainly isn't getting any younger, but I do see him getting another good showing at one of the indoor Masters this year, where he is playing his best. In the end I see him hovering around the place he is currently at in the ranking. He only has like a couple of Master quarters that he has to defend, which he will be able to compensate with other points or even straight-up defend them.
Berdych: I see him in the quarters at Wimbledon this year, he is in the right mindset atm, has grown a bit more mature, and can definitely win some of those matches that he would simply just throw away before. He is also not too shabby in the HC Masters, that is a fact, so in conclusion I see him getting around the 11-13 spot in the rankings.
Isner: Will improve, he hasn't got a lot of points to defend and could definitely win some points in the remaining majors. he will steadily rise up in the rankings, hovering around the 15 spot.
Stepanek: out of the Top20.
Gulbis: Will have a decent showing at Wimby, depending on the draw how further he can get, but now he has enough game to rise up in the rankings. Not a lot of points to defend from last year. A definite Top20 place for him at the end of the year.
I also see Almagro, Wawrinka, Melzer, Baghdatis and Monfils fighting for a place in the Top 20.
What do you think?
Roger Federer: Will reach the Wimbledon final once more, but will lose it, to who?...that I don't really know, because of course there is no draw out yet, but I don't feel that he will be able to retain his title there, simply because his serving, although perfectly suited for grass is not as solid, but we will see. I feel that he will regain his US Open crown tho, because I've always felt that Federer brings his best at that tourney, always felt that. I see a rather poor continuation after that with the last two Masters, like he always does, but I see a potential improvement from last year in the WTF. Will maintain the second spot without any problems.
Novak Djokovic: Early exit at Wimbledon, simply because his game is a trainwreck atm. All of his wins since February have been through a lot of struggle, and he seems washed up, there's hardly anything left of that game that was so impressiong a year ago or two. There won't be anything to save him this time, simply slugging it out in rallies won't cut it. You need a serve and a solid finishing to be decent on grass. Then I could see a possible downfall, maybe even a break of a couple of months to regroup, maybe even a new coach, which might lead to a possible resurgence in the last two Masters, and maybe even a decent showing at the WTF. Anyway, I really feel this could be the start of a new era for Novak after this season. I see a fall around the 5th spot in the rankings.
Andy Murray: I always thought this guy had a good mental game, but after the AO, I, now doubt that, BUT what I also think is that that final really made him stronger, he feels less pressure now, he is a bit more mature, and will make a good impression through out the rest of the year. I can see a final at Wimbledon with him winning it or semi at the very worst. If this fullfils itself we could very much see a different animal. He is always good in the North American Masters and that won't change this year, I even expect a win from him in one of them, and I see him having decent results in all of the remaining major events: final at the USO and improvement at the WTF. I think the most improved part of his game will be the serve. That first serve of his has a lot of potential to do some serious damage.
Nikolay Davydenko: He will be back for the grass season as we all know, and I'm sure he will be doing the same as every year, which is rather average compared to his ranking. I think we might see him defending some of those big points from last year in the HC swing and the indoor season. He won't defend his titles tho, so I see a fall around the 7th spot.
Robin Soderling: Quarter at Wimbledon, and consistent results though out the rest of the year, and I also see him winning two indoor titles, a 500, probably Valencia and one of the two: Shanghai or Paris, decent showings at Cincinnati or Canada Open, I feel he will be too fatigued to defend his semi at the WTF, and as far as the USO is concerned, I can't see him getting past the quarters, the courts are simply too fast for his huge backswings. I see him on the 4th place in the rankings at the end of the year.
Andy Roddick: I don't see him defending his final at Wimbledon, simply because he hasn't got the game to back it up, he is not younger or better than what he was last year, his game now is more suited for slow hard courts, and is based more around consistency than having the bite to hurt any of the big guns. I can see him getting through the quarters at SW19 tho, he still has the most intelligent service game on the tour. Again I see consistency in the Masters and points at the WTF( he didn't participate last year), and a final 6th spot in the rankings.
The rest:
Verdasco: His good performances in the last months have transformed him into a diva, and I don't know if that's enough for taking that last spot to get to the WTF. He definitely has the potential to do some damage in the North American HC swing, maybe even a decent showing at the US Open. He is dependable of the draw at Wimbledon, and will probably stumble against the first tougher opponent. I could see him getting the last spot in the Top Ten, gathering points from quarters at Masters, semies in the 500's and so on like he has been doing for quite some years.
Tsonga: One thing that he has improved this year, is his consistency on all surfaces, he is no longer dangerous only in the AO and Paris-Bercy. He has a big enough game who could get him that final spot for the WTF, and I think he will get there. 8th spot in the rankings for him.
Ferrer: The best for him will end around this time of the year, I don't see him getting any big results in neither of the Masters or the remaining slams. He won't get a spot in the Top Ten.
Cilic: Well, he is not a great grass court player, but he sure as hell does like the HC, and I see him defending his USO points and having a great showing, semi or even final at one of the outdoor Masters. 9th spot in the rankings for him.
Gonzalez: He has tendinitis and a new coach, and I also don't see him defending that quarter at the USO. I predict a possible exit from the Top 15. Will probably manage to gather some points here and there.
Youzhny: He is currently 14th and I don't see him getting any higher than that, I'm not familiar with his performances last year but I reckon he'll keep a spot in the Top20.
Ljubicic: well he certainly isn't getting any younger, but I do see him getting another good showing at one of the indoor Masters this year, where he is playing his best. In the end I see him hovering around the place he is currently at in the ranking. He only has like a couple of Master quarters that he has to defend, which he will be able to compensate with other points or even straight-up defend them.
Berdych: I see him in the quarters at Wimbledon this year, he is in the right mindset atm, has grown a bit more mature, and can definitely win some of those matches that he would simply just throw away before. He is also not too shabby in the HC Masters, that is a fact, so in conclusion I see him getting around the 11-13 spot in the rankings.
Isner: Will improve, he hasn't got a lot of points to defend and could definitely win some points in the remaining majors. he will steadily rise up in the rankings, hovering around the 15 spot.
Stepanek: out of the Top20.
Gulbis: Will have a decent showing at Wimby, depending on the draw how further he can get, but now he has enough game to rise up in the rankings. Not a lot of points to defend from last year. A definite Top20 place for him at the end of the year.
I also see Almagro, Wawrinka, Melzer, Baghdatis and Monfils fighting for a place in the Top 20.
What do you think?
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