Novak Djokovic Leads My 2016 Top 10, But Will Roger Federer Stay Ahead Of Rafael Nadal?

Nadal will challenge Djokovic only on clay

January 9th, 2016 at 6:37 pm

Agree with you on most of your predictions. Though injuries and babies, may indeed have an impact.
Most definitely agree that this is the last year with the full Top 4 on top, that is why we should sit back and enjoy the rest of the year. If today’s Nadal vs Djokovic match was any indication, it will be some more of the same old, which is a bit boring, don’t know if anyone else agrees?

January 9th, 2016 at 6:47 pm

The big 4 ended last year imo. I think Fedal are going to have an equally disappointing year. Andy hopefully add some competition to the ATP. But honestly I think we’re going to see the ATP resemble the WTA with Novak dominating like Serena.

January 9th, 2016 at 7:50 pm

I do not agree Milos is the best server in the game. He has a good serve, but Isner’s is more rounded. His second serve is just as lethal as his first. Milos does not have that. And if I am correct, Raonic has never beaten Isner. The players think Isner has the best serve.

January 9th, 2016 at 8:49 pm

Pat Cash is the man that can help Nadal improve his game in general … Why not listen to him Rafa ?
Your legacy is under attack … You can’t be Djokovic’s bunny rabbit in 2016

January 9th, 2016 at 11:31 pm

Pat Cash can teach Rafa how to snort white powder for sure.

Old people in the country where I am coming from have a saying ” You don’t go to bed with a woman that is offering herself to you”, more PC variation is “You don’t marry woman that is offering herself to you”.

January 10th, 2016 at 12:04 am

I still don’t see how people think Nole is just going to hit a wall when he is 30 after 2017 and lose number 1 and that’s it. He isn’t going to fall off a cliff at 30 like some people think and deep down inside hope. It’s seems to be wishful thinking. I do agree that the big four will be done after 2017.

January 10th, 2016 at 12:14 am

if nole doesnt win more than 1 gs this year it will be a disappointment for hin considering that he is in his prime and all others struggle

January 10th, 2016 at 12:21 am

“it will be some more of the same old, which is a bit boring, don’t know if anyone else agrees?”

Well, we, Nole fans surely disagree. On the other side, I can’t remember people complaining when Roger was winning everything in sight or when Rafa claimed every clay tournament under the sun.

January 10th, 2016 at 1:45 am

Very well said, Danica…and I am sure that true tennis fans will follow the tennis matches, even if Djokovic will dominate, like he did it in 2011 and 2015

January 10th, 2016 at 1:56 am

I don’t understand how you can put Dominic Thiem in the top 10 – I don’t see it. His strokes are elaborate, and he’s forced top play a long way behind the baseline to produce them. I would say Sock and Dimitrov are far more likely to have a top 10 season than Thiem.

January 10th, 2016 at 10:29 am

Agree mostly, but I see Coric rising faster than Thiem.
Ferrer will probably stay higher than 10. Nishikori might fall out.

I believe it will be a very tight race for #2. The Big Four will re-establish this year, and one of the big question marks is if Stan can keep it a Big Five.

I agree with Dave that I don’t expect Novak to have a sudden drop-off. He seems to be in excellent fitness, doesn’t seem to have injury issues. He seems to have an excellent mind-set and team. His coach Becker really struggled with the mind-set to remain #1. I think it has been a problem for Rafa as well; of course I could be wrong, but I think he has always motivated himself with an underdog’s hunger.

All that said, one never knows in Sport. McEnroe and Wilander’s drop-offs were pretty unexpected. I just don’t see anyone in the wings ready to take it from Novak, as Lendl, Edberg and Becker were in the mid-80’s.

January 10th, 2016 at 11:03 am

Danica and Sarah, I would most definitely understand your point and agree that as a fan you never get bored of seeing your favorite player win.
To be quite honest, I always like periods in which the form and ranking of players are closer to each other, it makes the competition more enjoyable and fun to watch, and I’m not talking from the point of view of a less interested or occasional tennis fan.
I actually also did not like the period of excessive Federer or Sampras domination.
Just look at how much more interesting the clay season is without a totally clear favorite that Nadal was a couple of years ago. Which reminds me that Djokovic is going to win RG this year, and in the process end the debate on his best year ever. Now this prospect should be a crazy good one for Nole fans, as it is difficult to see him lose the AO or the US in fact. Wimbledon also seems halfway in the bag When you look at it, an unexpected injury is the biggest threat that could ruing his year right now, in which case it is another year of total utter domination, and yes being a true Tennis fan, I will still be watching every minute of it, down to the more interesting 250s :)

January 10th, 2016 at 1:48 pm

No fan complains when their own personal favorite is dominating,yet they certainly do when a rival is,and all cry out for more competition,or weak era etc,i think everyones guilty here of having double standards whether we care to admit it or not….

January 10th, 2016 at 1:59 pm

“but I see Coric rising faster than Thiem.”

i’m inclined to agree with tennis vagabond, here though it’s difficult to know. it’s just that coric is a gritty fighter; he fought his way to the chennai final and judging by the scoreline it looks like he was about to put up a good fight vs stan in the final in the second set. he also has wins over both andy and rafa already and he’s not even 20 yet.

thiem is higher ranked and 22 now. he’s played all the big 4 now and lost to all of them. not that this is a really big deal but i find it striking that coric has already beat two of them by contrast.

then there’s kyrgios… he’s got the game to rise right to the top methinks. he, too, has won over the top guys, and in big situations too. love, like or hate him, nick the kid is going to be a top player.

January 10th, 2016 at 2:19 pm

@jane:

I don’t agree about 2K. His return is atrocious. In the top 50, worse are only: 1. Karlovic, 2. Isner, 3. Raonic, 4. Pospisil, 5. Muller. 2K is at 33% return points won. Even Tsonga is better.

I give more chances to Coric, but my fav for the top spot is 4K, if he remains clear of injuries (and it doesn’t bode well so far). I think that “even Tomic” will have a better career.

January 10th, 2016 at 3:31 pm

Federer will finish No. 2.

He did not lose a set at the U.S. Open last year until the final against Djokovic. He lost one set at Wimbledon until the final against Djokovic.

He definitely has a few more off days in tour events, but if the Fed of today played the Fed of 2006 in a slam, the Fed of today would win.

January 11th, 2016 at 10:39 am

My oh my. A certain “Monfils fan” does seem all consumed with where Roger will finish with respect to Nadal (a common trait of Roger and especially by proxy Nole fans).

January 12th, 2016 at 7:50 am