Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, all have won the US open. All are winding down their careers. Which one is more likely to turn back the clock at this years US open. I'm not saying they could do a 'Sampras'. However, maybe a semi or final. I guess Roddick is in better condition than the other two. But, I prefer Safin's (if he retires) game. I know which one I wouldn't want to meet in the early rounds at the open.(Safin)
Safin, Hewitt or Roddick. Who can turn back the clock
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grimmbomb21
Professional
Well, the choice that I would love to see make a final or win a slam is also almost for sure not happening. So, between Hewitt and Roddick you have to go with Roddick. I don't think you can compare him with the other guys because he is still at the top of the game. A final by the others would be way more of a shock.
Roddick is still no 6 or 7 in the world, JUST make the semi of AO and Indian Wells. He's been in the top 10 every year since 01 or 02, unlike Hewitt, Safin and JCF, who drop to around 100 during the stretch.
Roddick is still among the top, turning back the clock for him mean getting back to the top 3, where he still belong back in summer 2007, before Djoker take the 3rd place from then on
Becker was not in the top 3 in 1996,he end the year at no.6, but considered one of the main rival to Sampras that year, more so than Chang or Agassi. Just look at the result in Sttutgart indoor and the Master.
Same goes with Krajicek and Sampras, Krajicek highest ranking is 4
Roddick is still among the top, turning back the clock for him mean getting back to the top 3, where he still belong back in summer 2007, before Djoker take the 3rd place from then on
Becker was not in the top 3 in 1996,he end the year at no.6, but considered one of the main rival to Sampras that year, more so than Chang or Agassi. Just look at the result in Sttutgart indoor and the Master.
Same goes with Krajicek and Sampras, Krajicek highest ranking is 4
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lambielspins
Banned
Hewitt and Safin have no prayer of ever winning another slam title. None, nada, zippo. Roddick has a very small shot of 1 more but very unlikely.
Patrick_St
Rookie
Roddick has the best chance of doing decent at the U.S. Open.
Leublu tennis
Legend
He is talking about a semi or a final, like Safin did at Wimby and Roddick at AO.
TENNIS_IS_FUN
Professional
When you talk about 'turning back the clock' the number 1 issue at hand, and the most important is heart. Without heart, a professional athlete, regardless of the sport, cannot make a comeback. From the 3 athletes you posted above, Safin is automatically out (I can't believe I'm saying this), everybody knows Safin is more interested in the girls than tennis. Roddick and Hewitt are both hungry, but i think Roddick wants it just a little more...he's shown he is capable of working hard (He's lost ALOT of weight since back then, and has worked with multiple coaches to incorporate a more complete game, rather than just a serve). Hewitt, although he has heart, his game is just too passive in this day and age. In order for Hewitt to make a comeback, not only must he retain his love for the game (not to mention that Hewitt is the only one out of the three that has a family), but he must also change his play style, which is almost impossible at the stage he is in his career.
Leublu tennis
Legend
I didn't know that. And I don't think thats true. Girls chase him, so what? But did you know that last year, when he was ranked something like 89 he said his goal was to make top 50 by the end of the year. He got to #29. And this year, he has progressed to #20. Thats really tough to do, even for Safin, if all he was interested in was girls.
Hewitt's game will not get him into top 50 and Roddick has the same chance this year as last, a semi at best at USO or Wimby.
westside
Hall of Fame
Lol, you think so?
He's currently sitting at 53 with basically no points to defend for the last half of the season
Leublu tennis
Legend
My bad. I thought he was in the 70's somewhere. He was #108 in February so he is moving up. But he does have 300 points to defend at Wimby and 150 at FO. Not too bad.
Sorry.
LT
lambielspins
Banned
Roddick is capable of sneaking into a semi I guess. His best shot is if he plays Djokovic who seems to find Roddick a bad matchup of sorts these days. Against Federer, Nadal, or Murray he has very little shot, so probably needs to hope for that player to be upset before he plays them if he gets stuck in one of their quarters.
Hewitt and Safin have no shot of making a semi. Safin's Wimbledon last year was his last hurrah, a miracle final run, and he benefited from the fact nobody outside of Federer, Nadal, and Roddick (yet even Roddick has done poorly of late at Wimbledon) are really that formidable on grass. Djokovic or Murray are both ripe for upsets by lower ranked players at Wimbledon barring some further improvements on grass.
Hewitt and Safin have no shot of making a semi. Safin's Wimbledon last year was his last hurrah, a miracle final run, and he benefited from the fact nobody outside of Federer, Nadal, and Roddick (yet even Roddick has done poorly of late at Wimbledon) are really that formidable on grass. Djokovic or Murray are both ripe for upsets by lower ranked players at Wimbledon barring some further improvements on grass.
shadows
Legend
Roddicks already proved he can do it this year, and to be honest I really see him as having a great shot of making a semi again before it's over.
Safin is Safin, he's played some good tennis this year and he's played some bad tennis. Mentally he seems all over the place but you can never really tell which Safin is going to show up, it might be that he suddenly clicks at a GS and starts causing big trouble.
Hewitt is a great fighter, has great heart and is definately climbing back through the rankings, but in the face of younger opposition I just don't think he has the tools to do it. Maybe he'll prove me wrong, we'll see.
Safin is Safin, he's played some good tennis this year and he's played some bad tennis. Mentally he seems all over the place but you can never really tell which Safin is going to show up, it might be that he suddenly clicks at a GS and starts causing big trouble.
Hewitt is a great fighter, has great heart and is definately climbing back through the rankings, but in the face of younger opposition I just don't think he has the tools to do it. Maybe he'll prove me wrong, we'll see.
MarrratSafin
Hall of Fame
Roddick is still competing at the very highest level. If he can rip that forehand again and at a good percentage he has every chance to win more slams. He's pretty close at the moment and doing well. Safin has a slim chance, as usual you never know with Marat.
Hewitt well, no chance at all. He doesn't have anything to trouble top players nowadays.
Hewitt well, no chance at all. He doesn't have anything to trouble top players nowadays.
egn
Hall of Fame
Just cause everyone is saying Roddick I vote Safin. Safin d. Murray 6-0, 6-0, 6-1 lol...but anyone I am actually going to say Safin here is my attempt to justify it. Safin when he is on can destroy the top players today...okay probably not that true. Hell I have no justification it would just be nice to see Safin win a slam for a laugh.
out of those 3, in terms of winning, it would be
Hewitt 0%
Safin 0.001%
Roddick 0.0001%
because hewitt's not the player he was, Roddick doesn't have the game to beat Federer or Nadal, at least one of whom I expect to be in every slam final this year, and only a seriously hot (Wimbledon 08 but with a more solid head/ less defeatist attitude in the semi) Safin could hope to blast one of the top guys off court.
in terms of getting to the semis, it's probably
Hewitt 0%
Safin 0.01%
Roddick 5%
cut the odds a little for Safin to get that far but he could still self-destruct at any given moment, be it first round or at match point in the quarters. Roddick is as fit and fast as he's ever been and that's helped him reclaim the edge over the pack chasing the big four (i'd like to see him play JMDP on hards). He could conceivably sneak a win against Djoko esp. or Murray, and could get through any quarter where the highest seed is out at Wimbledon or USO. Hewitt never had the weapons to be a serious threat at the business end of grand slams once his awesome wheels stopped being 100%.
Hewitt 0%
Safin 0.001%
Roddick 0.0001%
because hewitt's not the player he was, Roddick doesn't have the game to beat Federer or Nadal, at least one of whom I expect to be in every slam final this year, and only a seriously hot (Wimbledon 08 but with a more solid head/ less defeatist attitude in the semi) Safin could hope to blast one of the top guys off court.
in terms of getting to the semis, it's probably
Hewitt 0%
Safin 0.01%
Roddick 5%
cut the odds a little for Safin to get that far but he could still self-destruct at any given moment, be it first round or at match point in the quarters. Roddick is as fit and fast as he's ever been and that's helped him reclaim the edge over the pack chasing the big four (i'd like to see him play JMDP on hards
). He could conceivably sneak a win against Djoko esp. or Murray, and could get through any quarter where the highest seed is out at Wimbledon or USO. Hewitt never had the weapons to be a serious threat at the business end of grand slams once his awesome wheels stopped being 100%.
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Lionheart392
Professional
It's gotta be Roddick who is 'most likely' to do what the OP says, but I don't see him ever winning another slam and even a final is a stretch.
NotSoSuper
Rookie
They are all very capable of beating the best on good days.
Safin: Shows that he can still compete with the top 10 players, but doesnt seem to be putting in the work required to be consistently at the top. Also he has had trouble putting away matches these last few tournaments, and that has to hurt your confidence. If he were to dedicate himself im sure we would see an improvement in his game.. He is probably the least capable of the three though . The us open surface fits his game best out of all the majors, prediction: round of 16
Hewitt: His game is so physical, that he has to be in great shape just to compete. He has the heart and the dedication, but he just cant seem to pull out that one big victory to bring him to the top again, and i just dont think hes capable of it. I think his game has been figured out by all the top pros, and he would be lucky to pull an upset in a major. My prediction for him at the us open is 3rd round.
Roddick: As much as hate the guy, he has done a great job of sticking around at the top of the game. Out of the 3 listed, he has by far the best chance IMO to pull off a slam victory. This is because Roddick has found a way to keep his heart in the game and stay focused. He also has major weapons that can hurt anybody at anytime. Within the last 2 years we have seen his forehand diminish, and i think if he has any sort of chance to win anything he has to regain it. I dont think he will ever be a favorite to win a slam again, but if he gets his game straight he is very capable of it... he has always loved playing in New York, and he always has lots of confidence coming into the tournament, also the fans provide him with some extra energy. My prediction for him would be the semis.
Safin: Shows that he can still compete with the top 10 players, but doesnt seem to be putting in the work required to be consistently at the top. Also he has had trouble putting away matches these last few tournaments, and that has to hurt your confidence. If he were to dedicate himself im sure we would see an improvement in his game.. He is probably the least capable of the three though
. The us open surface fits his game best out of all the majors, prediction: round of 16Hewitt: His game is so physical, that he has to be in great shape just to compete. He has the heart and the dedication, but he just cant seem to pull out that one big victory to bring him to the top again, and i just dont think hes capable of it. I think his game has been figured out by all the top pros, and he would be lucky to pull an upset in a major. My prediction for him at the us open is 3rd round.
Roddick: As much as hate the guy, he has done a great job of sticking around at the top of the game. Out of the 3 listed, he has by far the best chance IMO to pull off a slam victory. This is because Roddick has found a way to keep his heart in the game and stay focused. He also has major weapons that can hurt anybody at anytime. Within the last 2 years we have seen his forehand diminish, and i think if he has any sort of chance to win anything he has to regain it. I dont think he will ever be a favorite to win a slam again, but if he gets his game straight he is very capable of it... he has always loved playing in New York, and he always has lots of confidence coming into the tournament, also the fans provide him with some extra energy. My prediction for him would be the semis.
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