CAMELOT FANTASIES

Hi all,

Generally speaking, I'm thinking the tour misses Murray, much as it missed Nadal, before his incredible return.  Hopefully he plays at the Australian Open.  I guess some of his preps will tell him for sure if he is ready to go.

Nadal has scheduled so many exhos and such.  I guess his knees must be in great shape after his triumphant 2013 season.  I only hope that we are not in for a repeat of 2008-2009.  It sort of smells like it to me.  But who knows?

The main story lines for me this year are:

1. Can Rafa pick up where he left off and how long will he be able to continue before something gives?  He is only one man.
Will he continue to play in hard court tournaments everywhere, or stick mostly to the clay? I hope after the Australian Open he either goes to South/Central America or takes a rest.  I don't want to see him in Rotterdam and Dubai.

2. How will Murray be after the surgery and the time off?  How much time will it take him to get back to his best form after 3.5 months out of action?

3. Will Spartan Stan continue to improve, or have we seen his best?

4. Which younger players will step up and start to consistently make it to the bigger tournament semis and finals? Dimitrov, Janowicz, Raonic, or someone else?  Pablo Carreño  improved from #654 to #65 last year.  Maybe we will see another jump up for him toward the top 30 where he can be seeded for majors?

5. How well will Federer do this year after his working vacation of last year?  Will his back hold up to the heavier schedule he has mentioned for this year? At which majors will be a significant factor (semis or better)?  Any?

6. Will Djokovic continue his consistent play of the last couple of years?  Will he be able to win a major outside of Australia this year?

7. Juan Martin Del Potro is #5 in the world, David Ferrer is #3.  Will they switch places this year? 

I'll give you my opinions after I hear what others have to say...

Respectfully,
masterclass

that is an incredible post general masterclass. I had to quote it so nobody misses it.


2014 is going to be the most exciting year of our times in the sport of tennis. so many questions need to be answered and they will get answered in 2014.



I am eagerly waiting for andy to return to the battlefield. looks like we will see him next on December 26th in abu dhabi.



as for nadal and all his exos on the hard courts, I can only think of a couple of things:

1. greed
2. he has his eyes set on the Australian Open title so he wants to keep playing and keep hitting the ball.


heavy topspin players have to hit constantly otherwise they lose their timing. timing can disappear in a week or less than a week.



nole`s level is unbelievably high at the moment. he has won 24 matches in a row. I am not sure he can maintain that level for all of next year.

the sport is far more brutal today than at any time in the past.

del potro and Spartan stan have to keep working hard if they want take it to the next level. I am impressed their progress in 2013 but their work is far from done.

I am also expecting a fairly strong return from Federer in 2014. he still has a big game. all that is missing is some consistency and fitness.

I think he should also start playing more doubles. it will help him in the long run.


note that doubles cant help everybody. it does not help nadal for instance. he plays his doubles from the baseline.