2011 Tennis: Predictions for Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray and the return of Del Potro
With the 2010 season just coming to a close, aficionados are already looking forward to the advent of the next season. All over the world, tennis fans witnessed the return of Roger Federer’s best tennis at the end of the year for the World Tour Finals, and
they are hungry for more. In the season-ending event, Federer played as he did from 2004 to 2006; next to him, the top eight players seemed overwhelmed and too amazed to play shots well.
In addition to this, the Maestro almost levelled the World Number 1 Rafael Nadal. While he was unable to score a 6-0, the Maestro did fight for and win a fry, with 6-1 at the last set. With a finale like that, all everyone can wait for is what is in store
for next year, and whether 2011 will be as fascinating as the year before it.
In 2010, Rafael Nadal has had a fantastic run. Not only did he end the year as World Number 1, he completed a career Grand Slam with victories at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. He also took away many Masters 1000 titles. It is safe to expect
that Nadal will score more Majors wins in the next year. Wimbledon is probably a cinch for the player, but Roland Garros may be a problem this time round. This is because players such as Juan Martin Del Potro and Robin Soderling are steadily climbing the charts,
and Nadal’s knees will cause some problems on the court. He will probably make it as far as the semi-finals of the event.
At the Aussie Open, which is the first Grand Slam of the year, Nadal will almost definitely make it to the semi-finals of the event. However, he might be defeated by British Number 1 Andy Murray or Serb Novak Djokovic. In addition to this, the battle for
World Number 1 will be at its peak. However, Rafa will not be able to retain his top ranking.
Meanwhile, Swiss phenomenon Federer is on the rise. At the World Tour Finals, he defeated Rafa within three sets and managed to make it look easy. He will probably defend his title well at the Australian Open in January, and he may even take away the French
Open title in 2011. At Wimbledon and the US Open, Federer may succumb in the semi-finals and the title match respectively. However, his Grand Slam tally will probably go up to 18, and he may even finish the year as the new World Number 1.
Nole, meanwhile, has had a chaotic year. He reached the semi finals at the All England Club, and the final at the US Open. Novak Djokovic should be able to make it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the US Open, as well as the quarterfinals of
both Wimbledon and the French Open.
British Number 1 Andy Murray will probably be able to make it to the quarterfinals of all the Grand Slams, in addition to which he may even make it to the finals of the Australian Open.
Another upside for 2011 is the official return of 2009 US Open champion, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. Since he will return to the game after a considerable hiatus, he will probably fall in the first rounds of both the Australian Open and the French Open.
However, he will improve to the second round of Wimbledon and possibly the fourth at the US Open.
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