Rafael Nadal should win French Open for fifth consecutive time - Jon Wertheim - SI.com
Study on for the top first-round matchups, darkened horses to pocket watch and his predicted winners. Top 16 seeds 1. Rafael Nadal: Sure, he could posses done without the Madrid result. On the other hand let's be conscientious here: The four-time champ has never irrecoverable a match at Roland Garros.
His put in writing in sets: 82-8. Absurd. Until proven otherwise, he remains the overwhelming favorite. This may be the first-class clay-court practitioner ever. Sit back and enjoy. 2. Roger Federer: The plot got a bit exceeding affecting after the unforeseen -- and unexpectedly unceremoniously -- success over Nadal in Madrid.
Still, an lousy piece of stars enjoy to affiliate for Federer to appropriate down Nadal in Paris. Plus, he'll bend an early catechism against Alberto Martin. 3. Andrew Murray: So boiling after Material Biscayne in early April, Murray has, well, slid a bit on clay.
Assuming he gets foregone Juan Ignacio Chela, an disagreeable first-round opponent, Murray ought to cruise for a uncommon rounds. Still, it's unlikely his much-anticipated Slam breakthrough testament befall here. 4. Novak Djokovic: The Djoker has played Nadal close, closer and adjacent on clay this spring. On the contrary he even was unable to purchase his antecedent clay-court killing over the Spaniard.
Along with Federer, Djokovic is the "next-best pick" after Nadal. However where does that bias you? 5. Juan Martin del Potro: A second-round loser behind year, JMDP opens against French lefty Michael Llodra, a potentially tricky one. The Argentine is a former French Regulate minor champ and can play on clay. Certainly in the "if you had to pick someone other than Nadal" cluster. 6. Andy Roddick: Track create speaks for itself.
On account of 2002, he's won two matches at Roland Garros and none because 2005. On the other hand, he acquitted himself great in Madrid and confident can't complain approximately his draw. No threat to win, nevertheless don't be surprised to gape him in the centre weekend. 7. Gilles Simon: Possesses the precise, patient, physically efficient pastime to bring about fit on clay.
Unfortunately, Simon looked akin a journeyman in his tune-up events -- five losses in nine matches, none to a top-30 foe. Plus, as the highest-ranked Frenchman, he comes in with loads of pressure. 8. Fernando Verdasco: Controlling lefty is future off a semifinal showing in the preceding Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
He's shown he's a capable top-10 player, able to distance the quarterfinal rounds. But does he admit he can compete for the biggest prizes? In this case, Nadal looms in the round of eight. 9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: The reason is always an problem and not even momentum outlook in.
A disgrace owing to the picture here is that he's the cool of the French brigade. We eagerly await a potential quarterfinal encounter with del Potro. 10.
Nikolay Davydenko : Habituated his health issues in 2009, still whether he makes it to his headmost match against veteran Stefan Koubek, you own to conjecture the Russian -- though a former semifinalist -- will be forging one a cameo. 11. Gael Monfils : Much in the compose as of this writing, though deficient knees + clay disaster. Unfortunately, del Potro looms in moment round. Ernests Gulbis: A thoroughly forgettable 2009 so far, but the slide has to speck at some point.
Doesn't it? First-round matches to wristwatch Ivo Karlovic vs. Lleyton Hewitt: It's Wimbledon 2003 all over again. Gulbis vs. Sam Querrey : Merciless allure for both. Wayne Odesnik vs. Simon : Odesnik the infrequent American who thrives on clay. Juan Carlos Ferrero v. Ivan Ljubicic: Former prizewinner against former semifinalist.
Blue-plate capsized special: Bobby Reynolds over a hobbled Monfils. Doubles winners Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic: Defending champs hog been getting it done on clay. Semifinals Nadal vs. Complete Surprize (Montanes?) Djokovic vs. Federer Ending Nadal vs.
Djokovic Champion Nadal To computation a inscribe of Jon Wertheim's' advanced book, Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal, and the Greatest Match Ever Played, click here.
