Predict who will win each slam 2009

THEmasterWAYNE · Post #1 » by **THEmasterWAYNE** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 12:11 am

AUST OPEN ivanovic, nadal

ROLAND GARROS ivanovic, nadal

WIMBLEDON venus, nadal

US OPEN venus, nadal

Post #2 » by **Slava** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:25 am

Australian Open: Sharapova/Djokovic

Roland Garros: Serena/Nadal

Wimbledon: Venus/Federer

US Open: Ivanovic/Federer

I'd give Aus Open to Djoko cos' Federer will take time to warm up and get into the groove this season with all the injuries he's been through recently and I predict Djoko to have put in some work and return an improved player. Same with Venus and Serena.

I really want to see Andy Murray get into the reckoning for slams this season.

Holmes · Post #3 » by **Holmes** » Tue Dec 2, 2008 7:45 pm

AO : Serena , Federer

FO: Safina , Nadal

WIM: Sharapova , Federer

USO: Safina , Djokovic

Predicting Safina to have a monster 2009. She's made some significant strides in controlling her emotions this past year and it proved to be her most successful year. If she continues to make improvements next year she'll be unstoppable.

THEmasterWAYNE · Post #4 » by **THEmasterWAYNE** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 8:39 am

This will be a DARN good thread to check on during the year

Ong_dynasty · Post #5 » by **Ong_dynasty** » Sun Dec 7, 2008 3:08 pm

Ill only do mens cus I dont pay to much attention to womens (except for Ivanovic)

Aus:Nadal
Roland Garros:Nadal
Wim:Federer
US:Djokovic

Post #6 » by **Slava** » Mon Dec 8, 2008 10:25 pm

^^ Nadal always starts slow and Djokovic fades as the year progresses, so I really would expect Djokovic to win the Aus open if anything next season. This might be another year to savor the Federer vs Nadal rivalry though and once its done, I expect Andy Murray to step up and contend for slams.

Ong_dynasty · Post #7 » by **Ong_dynasty** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:10 am

I see a change this year. The fact that he gets an extended year and the fact that he almost won the Australian makes me believe that it could be his first hardcourt grandslam

THEmasterWAYNE · Post #8 » by **THEmasterWAYNE** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:35 am

I'm very confident of Nadal's chances in the Aust Open, because he made the semi last year and the semi of the US, so it just appears to be a natural pregression that he'll close the deal this time. Plus Nadal proved at the Olympics that he doesn't have a problem with Djokovic even on that extremely fast hardcourt. I also like his chances against Federer on hardcourt (he just matches up well with Fededer on any surface). Murray will present the biggest challenge, but there is no guarantee Nadal will even meet him because both Federer and Djokovic can beat Murray, plus their US Open meeting was somewhat close with the 1st set tie-breaker which Nadal led in and then up a break in the 4th set.

Post #9 » by **BlackMamba** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:00 pm

women is very difficult to predict, one day one of the players look unstoppable and the next they lose in the first round.

AO: federer
RG: federer
WM: federer
US: federer

Marmoset · Post #10 » by **Marmoset** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:54 am

Australian: Jankovic, Federer
Roland Garros: Ivanovic, Nadal
Wimbledon: Sharapova, Federer
U.S.: V. Williams, Tsonga

These are really hard to predict. As some have said, the women are hard to predict (since Justine retired). But the men are becoming harder to predict too, with at least 4 (and likely more) guys capable of winning.

I think Jankovic will break through this year, and I think someone somewhat unexpected will break through on the men's side. I picked Tsonga, but it could be any of several guys.

Post #11 » by **Slava** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:52 am

I'd like to see Wilfred Tsonga make that jump to elite status but I have questions regarding his temperament and consistency. He reminds me too much of Mariano Zabaleta to be honest.

raptor21_85 · Post #12 » by **raptor21_85** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:36 pm

I'd really really like Gaudio to win Roland Garros like he did it in 2004
Venus winnin his 6th Wimbledon... She's already a legend.

Marmoset · Post #13 » by **Marmoset** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 12:25 am

j-far wrote:I'd like to see Wilfred Tsonga make that jump to elite status but I have questions regarding his temperament and consistency. He reminds me too much of Mariano Zabaleta to be honest.

I agree with you to a point. I think those things will keep him from ever becoming a consistent top 5 or maybe even top 10 player. But I think he's the type of guy who can put it together for a few weeks at a time and be nearly unbeatable. I think he can have a career along the lines of someone like Marat Safin - very inconsistent, sometimes injured, but able to be the best when he's on. Hopefully with a few less broken racquets.

I also totally forgot about Juan Martin del Potro when I made my picks - he could certainly grab a slam soon as well. But I'll say it takes him another year.

THEmasterWAYNE · Post #14 » by **THEmasterWAYNE** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:11 am

Tsonga has the same problem as James Blake and Gael Monfils. They all possess freakish athletic ability. Why is this a problem? Well, in tennis when you have "too much" talent you end up overplaying the ball and being prone to unforced errors. The temptation to dominate is too great. Hopefully Tsonga can beat this problem by restricting himself and somewhat becoming a "poor man's Tsonga" (using his b-game) to avoid overusing his freakish strength.

Venus and Serena have the same "problem" however it doesn't really cost them any success. Although they do pile up the unforced errors on a regular basis. In women's tennis they can get away with it because women hit softer and shorter and it allows Venus and Serena to put-away those soft balls. Also, women don't often serve unreturnables, so with most points being decided by rallies the baseline power wins the point. Now and then you will see Venus or Serena lose to a soft but consistent hitter due to the unforced errors. Hingis took advntage of their unforced errors best, and has an equal head-to-head record with Venus and a solid record with Serena.

Marmoset · Post #15 » by **Marmoset** » Wed Jan 7, 2009 11:05 pm

THEmasterWAYNE wrote:Tsonga has the same problem as James Blake and Gael Monfils. They all possess freakish athletic ability. Why is this a problem? Well, in tennis when you have "too much" talent you end up overplaying the ball and being prone to unforced errors. The temptation to dominate is too great. Hopefully Tsonga can beat this problem by restricting himself and somewhat becoming a "poor man's Tsonga" (using his b-game) to avoid overusing his freakish strength.

I don't really agree with that at all. One of the guys with the most freakish athletic ability of anyone right now is currently #1 in the world. Nadal has incredible ability and talent, but doesn't overplay the ball.

The problem with the guys you mention is their approach to the game (IMO), not their athletic ability. James Blake's game is designed around going for broke on winners. That is rarely a recipe for being an elite tennis player, at least in today's age. Plus, I've never thought Blake is as talented as most people think he is - I think Blake has actually done very well for himself and I don't consider him an underachiever. Monfils has just been very fragile mentally but is showing signs of getting over that. I don't think there's much more to it than that.

In tennis there a ton of guys with the raw tools, but only a select few have the mental ability to put it all together consistently. Those guys become the Federer's and Nadal's.