Tennisers of the World, Unite! The topspin blog

Definitely shaping up to be an exciting year next year. I think people are writing off Andy Murray to quickly, probably in part because he’s so unlikeable that people WANT him to go away. But just because DelPo has added himself to the contenders mix doesn’t mean that Murray’s been dropped out of it. Murray is nothing if not ambitious, and I think he’s going to work hard as ever to get to the top of that mountain.

Personally, I think if anyone is dropping out of the contenders mix its Djokovic. I would love to be wrong, but with Rog handling him so easily in their last two contests, we know how that match-up will go. So the question will be: can Djoke stand up to Nadal, Murray and DelPo? That will be one of the big questions in 2010.

I also don’t think DelPo’s defeat of ROger makes him a favourite against ROg next time. Roger is going to, again, be VERY strong at the Slams next year. One thing I’ve noticed going wrong for Rog lately is that he is tending to lose his offensive game as the match wears on. If you noticed, in the finals and his over-long win against Soderling, Rog started gangbusters, but his style was very aggressive- coming to the net and going for winners in the first set. In both cases, Rog then moved into baseline, defensive mode in the 2nd, and from there things became much tougher. When Rog was first dominating, he was one of the great thinkers on court, adapting as he tested out his opponents. I think he has really lost this trait.

I expect Nadal to be a dominant force again in 2010, but I do think DelPo is his kryptonite. 3-0 in 2009 against Nadal, DelPo is just perfectly built to defeat Nadal’s strengths. The same high bouncing shots to the backhand that make Nadal tough for Fed make him easy pickings for DelPo. So there’s a matchup problem there.

Conversely, I was disappointed that Rog didn't play more to DelPo's weaknesses. One of Roger's strengths has always been his ability to wrong-foot players, especially less nimble ones, with camouflage and spin. He really didn't use that against DelPo, and I think this opens a little hope into what more he can do. He only used his drop shot a couple times, and from bad positions. Sometimes, as with Murray, it can take Rog a while to figure an opponent out, but he often does. I think he's really made up his mind on how to play Rafa as well (ie offense, offense, offense)

Aside from these guys, I believe Roddick can contend on the fast courts still, but I personally believe Tsonga has reached his upper limit. I just don’t see that much more upside there. On the other hand, Monfils MAY yet be the next one to challenge the elite.

IS there anyone else coming up that we can imagine challenging the top four or five? Maybe Soderling. I don’t really see anyone else. So the field is certainly not open wide yet, despite the crack that DelPo has put in it. But one thing we’ve seen this year is that storylines change fast!

The fact remains that, as the 1 and 2 seeds, we may very well see a few more Fedal finals next year.

OK, I should have written something earlier but I get preoccupied getting in fights with people on other tennis blogs. So, here are some quick odds and ends:
WHOLE LOTTA UGLY
Did you see that Cilic/ Murray match? I heard the cameramen had to wear blindfolds lest they instantly turn to stone. Anyhoo... Cilic was pretty good, but he won because Murray sucked. Again, this is why Fed and Nadal are special folks. They don't suck at Slams. EVER. OK, except Fed against Nadal at the French that time, and in the 5th set against Nadal in Oz this year, but whatever.
OUDIN/ WOZNIACKI PREVIEW
Oh, well, this is just such an interesting matchup, I've been running it through my imagination all day.
OTHER WOMEN:
Serena looks great. Clijsters playing great but still very uneven. I've really enjoyed Serena's interviews. She's just so classy and funny when she's not being completely bitchy and full of herself. Like me, I guess. I don't see how Serena can end this tournament without a trophy- probably two. I find it funny how the blog freaks bitch about Fed's arrogance for having the temerity to wear a jacket saying "15" after winning his 15th Slam, yet no one seems to mind that Serena constantly wears t-shirts with messages like "You can't spell dynasty without nasty." I don't mind the shirt, of course, its just funny to me how bitchy people are towards Fed.
ON THAT NOTE:
I think Fed supporters should take comfort in the fact that Fed Haters have had a miserable 6 years watching tennis and not worry about the weird catty comments. When Haters say "Fed always gets easy draws", and they say that TOURNAMENT after TOURNAMENT, what that really means is, the Haters don't believe that anyone not named Murray or Nadal can beat Fed. If you took any of the supposed toughies from a Murray or Nadal draw and put them in Fed's line-up, suddenly they'd be considered cupcakes. Cilic is a case in point, or Gasquet who was Nadal's first round opponent. If they were in Fed's way, believe me, no one would think they pose a challenge. But what can you say? Fed really only has lost to others in The Big Four for years now, so how could one imagine a tough draw for him?
MEN
The Old Nadal is back, and I don't mean the one who won Australia in January, I mean the one who burst on the tour in 04. Have you noticed his pipes? They are back to freakishly huge. I think that in 07, 08, when Nadal started getting to finals regularly, he was playing SO MUCH more tennis that he probably didn't have time for the same physical training regime he'd had as a young man. His arms shrunk down to regular Giant Muscled Tennis Player size, like Safin or Verdasco. But it looks like Nadal didn't just sit on the couch the last 2 months as he nursed his bad knee.
The match last night against Monfils was awesome. Nadal looked just great. I think he and Del Potro should get through their quarters and THAT will be an awesome slugfest of a semifinal. Del Potro is just improving SO FAST, I really believe he will be the next #1 when the Nadal/Federer stranglehold ends.
Murray... ah, Murray. Eat it, buddy.
Fed looked like he is really getting in his groove in his round of 16 match against Robredo. Now that Djoker is through, I am really stoked for that semifinal.
unfortunately...
I won't get to see the semis or finals as I'll be playing with rocket launchers with my reserve unit this weekend. ARGH! Hopefully I can at least get someone to record the finals and watch it Sunday night.
The final word:
After all the ups and downs and all that's been said, first about the decline of Federer, then about the decline of Nadal... wouldn't it be funny to end '09 with Mr. Fed at #1 and Senor Nadal #2?

Oh yeah, I heard Fed introduced himself to Oudin yesterday and had a nice chat. What a pervert.