Neither Andy Murray nor Novak Djokovic made progress this season, says Boris Becker
Tennis legend Boris Becker expressed disappointment today with the performances of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray this season.
“Murray and Djokovic have been showing potential for the last few years but neither of them really progressed this season,” said Becker. “Obviously it is difficult with Nadal and Federer ahead of them but I would hope they will
make more of an impact next year."
Murray finished the season ranked world number four. Although at one point, he did go as high as number two, Murray failed to make a lasting impression during the season. Murray won the Canada and Shanghai Masters by defeating
Roger Federer, but failed to overcome Federer in the final of the Australian Open. After Robin Soderling won the 2010 BNP Paribas Masters, Murray went as low as fifth in the world rankings.
Djokovic also made an appearance at the final of the US Open, playing against Rafael Nadal and losing 6–4, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2. Djokovic failed to clinch a Grand Slam this year. He did, however, manage title wins at ATP World Tour 500
events at Beijing and Dubai.
Although both players did make it to Grand Slam finals this year, they were unable to break the Nadal-Federer hegemony.
This year’s world top four are the same, but Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Nikolay Davydenko and Juan Martin del Potro have been replaced in the top ten by David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Mikhail Youzhny.
Notable entries in the top ten in the 2010 season were Soderling and Berdych. Winning maiden title wins at the Acapulco and Paris Masters and making a final appearance at the Roland-Garros, Soderling jumped as high as fourth in
the season. Berdych also broke into the top ten after meeting Nadal in the Wimbledon final.
Becker doubts that any player will make a similar breakthrough next season.
“I would love to say that a young German player will make the breakthrough into the top ten next year, but sadly I don't think it will happen," he said. "Obviously Soderling made the jump last year and it was Berdych this season,
but I don't expect the current group of players to change much in 2011."
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