So, we are now halfway through the tennis year in terms of slams! Sorry for the delay in this one, busy with some other blogs!
Rafael Nadal won is, as predicted by me. Interesting to note, obviously, it ties Sampras for second behind Roger Federer. But how about this one: Nadal also ties Sampras and Bjorn Borg in career ATP titles won, with 64!
Pretty good company! But the 66-1 record at the French Open? Wow. Will we ever see that topped? I don't think so. And with five straight French titles, that means something else interesting. Since 2003, three different slams have been won five years in succession. Roger Federer at Wimbledon, 2003 to 2007. Federer at the US Open, 2004-2008. Now, Nadal at Paris, 2010-2014! Does it end?
Can he do it again next year, make it six straight and make it double digits? Wouldn't bet against Raf. But this year was still a bit of a struggle on clay. Losses at Monte Carlo and Rome, plus a struggle just to win in Madrid made it look like he was on his way to relinquishing the French Open for the first time since 2009. But he prevailed in the end. Nonetheless, I have to believe Novak Djokovic is fast on his heels on clay. The two are destined for another showdown in the finals in Paris next year.
Novak Djokovic looked primed, poised and possessed enough to finally take home the crown at Paris, but alas, it was not to be. Here is a slam that just continues to just elude him. Amazingly enough, this was the first slam that he reached the quarter-finals of, back in 2006. That was one year before his big breakout year. Here's all Novak has done at France so far. Finals, 2. Semi-finals, 4. Quarter-finals 2. He's done it all but win. Almost seems like Ivan Lendl's story at Wimbledon! Novak has won in Italy three times, including this year. And he's won in Monte Carlo and Madrid. He's done it all on clay except win in France. Next year, I predict he will win it, finally. Novak has now lost the last three grand slam finals he has reached. He's stuck in bridesmaid mode! But Novak, at 27 years old, is tied with Thomas Muster for twelve place on the all-time pro titles won since 1968 with 44.
Andy Murray. Just when it looked like this year was going to be a washout, he had a surprising run. This was actually his second semi-finals appearance. Can he ever win this thing? I'm not sure. He finally has that new coach now. He also has yet to win the Australian Open or reach #1 in the world. A better clay court season next year might make #1 in the world possible. Andy is stuck on zero titles and zero finals reached in 2014. Still, he's the defending champion at the next slam. I think that, along with the semis in Paris should bring him around. At Paris, he has two quarter-finals appearances in addition to his two final four placements. Djokovic and Nadal will be tough to beat, even in the coming year, that's for sure!
Roger Federer lost early, even for him at this stage of his career. That's the first time Roger has been Roger-and-out this early at France since his 2004 loss to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. I think this loss pretty much ends any hope of him ever winning here again. Nothing to be ashamed of. We'll be hearing this for a long time: But for Nadal what would Federer have done at the French Open?
Indeed, Federer has his 2009 win, four finals and two semi-finals to look back on. Just one win, but so many deep runs. And his 2014 clay court season was not a total washout. Granted, he lost in the second round in Rome, but at Monte Carlo, he beat Djokovic in the semi-finals in straight sets and came within a whisker of beating Stan Warwrinka in the finals.
Stan Wawrinka looked like a fluke semi-finalist at the US Open a year ago. Then he stunned the world with an Australian Open win this year. Reality then may have set in as he lost in the fourth round at Indian Wells and Miami. The change of surfaces brought him the Monte Carlo title. But a second round lost at Madrid, a third round loss in Rome and finally a first round exit at Paris brought him down to earth, seemingly for good. He'll need a great run at Wimbledon to regain his momentum and confidence.
Ernests Gulbis was the surprise of the tournament, beating Federer and Tomas Berdych (the sixth seed) back-to-back. Do you know he's 2-2 all-time vs. Federer? He was also just 1-4 coming into his match against Berdych. Seeded 18th when all this went down, Ernests now is in the top ten going into Wimbledon. Another deep run and I'm a believer!
Rafael Nadal won is, as predicted by me. Interesting to note, obviously, it ties Sampras for second behind Roger Federer. But how about this one: Nadal also ties Sampras and Bjorn Borg in career ATP titles won, with 64!
Pretty good company! But the 66-1 record at the French Open? Wow. Will we ever see that topped? I don't think so. And with five straight French titles, that means something else interesting. Since 2003, three different slams have been won five years in succession. Roger Federer at Wimbledon, 2003 to 2007. Federer at the US Open, 2004-2008. Now, Nadal at Paris, 2010-2014! Does it end?
Can he do it again next year, make it six straight and make it double digits? Wouldn't bet against Raf. But this year was still a bit of a struggle on clay. Losses at Monte Carlo and Rome, plus a struggle just to win in Madrid made it look like he was on his way to relinquishing the French Open for the first time since 2009. But he prevailed in the end. Nonetheless, I have to believe Novak Djokovic is fast on his heels on clay. The two are destined for another showdown in the finals in Paris next year.
Novak Djokovic looked primed, poised and possessed enough to finally take home the crown at Paris, but alas, it was not to be. Here is a slam that just continues to just elude him. Amazingly enough, this was the first slam that he reached the quarter-finals of, back in 2006. That was one year before his big breakout year. Here's all Novak has done at France so far. Finals, 2. Semi-finals, 4. Quarter-finals 2. He's done it all but win. Almost seems like Ivan Lendl's story at Wimbledon! Novak has won in Italy three times, including this year. And he's won in Monte Carlo and Madrid. He's done it all on clay except win in France. Next year, I predict he will win it, finally. Novak has now lost the last three grand slam finals he has reached. He's stuck in bridesmaid mode! But Novak, at 27 years old, is tied with Thomas Muster for twelve place on the all-time pro titles won since 1968 with 44.
Andy Murray. Just when it looked like this year was going to be a washout, he had a surprising run. This was actually his second semi-finals appearance. Can he ever win this thing? I'm not sure. He finally has that new coach now. He also has yet to win the Australian Open or reach #1 in the world. A better clay court season next year might make #1 in the world possible. Andy is stuck on zero titles and zero finals reached in 2014. Still, he's the defending champion at the next slam. I think that, along with the semis in Paris should bring him around. At Paris, he has two quarter-finals appearances in addition to his two final four placements. Djokovic and Nadal will be tough to beat, even in the coming year, that's for sure!
Roger Federer lost early, even for him at this stage of his career. That's the first time Roger has been Roger-and-out this early at France since his 2004 loss to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. I think this loss pretty much ends any hope of him ever winning here again. Nothing to be ashamed of. We'll be hearing this for a long time: But for Nadal what would Federer have done at the French Open?
Indeed, Federer has his 2009 win, four finals and two semi-finals to look back on. Just one win, but so many deep runs. And his 2014 clay court season was not a total washout. Granted, he lost in the second round in Rome, but at Monte Carlo, he beat Djokovic in the semi-finals in straight sets and came within a whisker of beating Stan Warwrinka in the finals.
Stan Wawrinka looked like a fluke semi-finalist at the US Open a year ago. Then he stunned the world with an Australian Open win this year. Reality then may have set in as he lost in the fourth round at Indian Wells and Miami. The change of surfaces brought him the Monte Carlo title. But a second round lost at Madrid, a third round loss in Rome and finally a first round exit at Paris brought him down to earth, seemingly for good. He'll need a great run at Wimbledon to regain his momentum and confidence.
Ernests Gulbis was the surprise of the tournament, beating Federer and Tomas Berdych (the sixth seed) back-to-back. Do you know he's 2-2 all-time vs. Federer? He was also just 1-4 coming into his match against Berdych. Seeded 18th when all this went down, Ernests now is in the top ten going into Wimbledon. Another deep run and I'm a believer!
References
Collins,
Bud. The Bud Collins History Of Tennis:
An Authoritative Encyclopedia And Record Book. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.:
New Chapter, 2010. Print.
Infosys,
FedEx, Peugeot, and LeSports. "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis
| ATP World Tour | Tennis." ATP World Tour. Emirates. Web. 18 Jun 2014. <http://www.atpworldtour.com/>
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