|
January 5, 2006
ATP 2006 YEAR-END RANKING PREDICTIONS
|
| RANK |
PLAYER |
THE SKINNY |
|
1. |
Roger Federer |
Is it possible to have more Slam titles
than match losses during a season? Sounds crazy, but yeah... |
|
2. |
Lleyton Hewitt |
Being a dad should help to ease the pressure and lighten
the load, but not enough to overtake King Rog. |
|
3. |
Andy Roddick |
Rigorous off-season training will help keep
the American in Top 3 for a jaw-dropping fourth straight
year. |
|
4. |
Rafael Nadal |
Just how serious is this foot injury of
his? Bad enough to move him down a few spots. Vamos Chico! |
|
5. |
David Nalbandian |
A nice close to 2005 with Shanghai title
should parlay into the Argy's finest season yet. |
|
6. |
Ivan Ljubicic |
Big-serving Croat will continue to improve
off Davis Cup win and might even get a big Slam result. |
|
7. |
Guillermo Coria |
A rebound is in order after a sub-par 2005
campaign. |
|
8. |
Richard Gasquet |
Fast on his way to becoming Federer's sole
challenger of the future. |
|
9. |
Mario Ancic |
Davis Cup hero should finally break out
with a long-awaited consistent season. |
|
10. |
Marat Safin |
If the knee heals early in the season he'll
finish higher. |
| |
|
|
WTA TOUR 2004
YEAR-END RANKING PREDICTIONS
|
| RANK |
PLAYER |
THE SKINNY |
|
1. |
Kim Clijsters |
Would she really retire
after finally finishing No. 1? Nah! |
|
2. |
Justine Henin |
Healthy and wiser, should
return to full form and year-long Slam contention. |
|
3. |
Amelie Mauresmo |
Could this be the year
for a Slam win? After her WTA title, time may finally
have arrived. |
|
4. |
Maria Sharapova |
The sport's starlet is
also the toughest fighter on the court. |
|
5. |
Lindsay Davenport |
The veteran American still
can bang the ball pretty well, but with a healthy cast
of contemporaries will have a tougher go. |
|
6. |
Mary Pierce |
Won't match her career
year of 2005, but will remain a formidable foe in the
new season. |
|
7. |
Serena Williams |
A true wildcard. Is she
dedicated or isn't she? Injuries are also an issue. If
she plays a full season she could finish No. 1. |
|
8. |
Patty Schnyder |
Quirky Swiss is the best
lefty lady in the world. |
|
9. |
Nicole Vaidisova |
Should breakthrough for
the first of many Top 10 finishes. |
|
10. |
Elena Dementieva |
A ridiculously bad second
serve keeps her in the Top 10, again. |
2006 GRAND SLAM PREDICTIONS
|
|
Australian Open |
Roger Federer defeats Lleyton Hewitt |
| Kim Clijsters defeats
Lindsay Davenport |
|
French Open |
Roger Federer defeats David Nalbandian |
| Justine Henin defeats Mary Pierce |
|
Wimbledon |
Roger Federer defeats Mario Ancic |
| Justine Henin defeats
Maria Sharapova |
|
US Open |
Lleyton Hewitt defeats Richard Gasquet |
| Kim Clijsters defeats Amelie Mauresmo |
