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What is in store for the upcoming tennis year, 2011? With a new tennis season quickly approaching, this thought is on every tennis lover’s mind. Who will make their first breakthrough? Which underdog will come out on top? What controversies will happen? Who will come out on top?
2010 was Rafael Nadal’s year to shine. He won three out of the four Grand Slams. He also won three Masters 1000 Finals, six ATP Singles Finals, and an Exhibition Final according to tennis.wettpoint.com. He has had a very successful year.
His rival, Roger Federer, did not do so well. He started off strong by winning the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open. He played in the final against Andy Murray. He did not win a single title after this Grand Slam until the Barclays ATP World Tour Final a few days ago. He did win against Nadal, so there is still hope for all you Federer fans out there.
I believe that 2011 will be once again a battle of wills between Nadal and Federer, or quite possibly, it could be a breakthrough year for Andy Murray or even Robin Soderling. Soderling has been causing quite a few upsets over the years, especially his win over Nadal a few years ago at Roland Garros. This could be his year. Also, Murray has yet to win the elusive Grand Slam despite being ranked in the top five for some time. Perhaps, he could be the Brit to bring Wimbledon back home.
The women’s side is not so easy to make predictions about. Caroline Wozniacki is currently ranked number one in the world. She has only made it to one Grand Slam final, and she lost it. However, she is extremely athletic and talented. Her rise to number one reminds of Anna Ivanovic’s rise to greatness. Ivanovic won the French Open in 2008 over Dinara Safina, but things went all downhill from there. She started tensing up and could not win a match for the longest time. To this day, she has not looked like the same player as she was in that final. She is now ranked 17 in the world. I hope Wozniacki does not end up like Ivanovic.
The Williams sisters are certainly a threat to Wozniacki. There are always out there lurking in the lower half of the top ten in the world. However, Serena withdrew from the Australian Open due to a foot injury leaving the draw wide open for big sister, Venus, to make her move and win her first title there ever.
Justine Henin will make her return to tennis in the 2011 Hopman Cup according to ESPN.com. Henin was out earlier 2010 due to an elbow injury. She is a dangerous wildcard. She was at the top for so long, and then to come back with a whole new style of play may hurt her. Whatever the case, she is a contender in any match she plays. 2011 could be the year that she reestablishes her dominance and right to be world number 1.
2010 was Rafael Nadal’s year to shine. He won three out of the four Grand Slams. He also won three Masters 1000 Finals, six ATP Singles Finals, and an Exhibition Final according to tennis.wettpoint.com. He has had a very successful year.
His rival, Roger Federer, did not do so well. He started off strong by winning the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open. He played in the final against Andy Murray. He did not win a single title after this Grand Slam until the Barclays ATP World Tour Final a few days ago. He did win against Nadal, so there is still hope for all you Federer fans out there.
I believe that 2011 will be once again a battle of wills between Nadal and Federer, or quite possibly, it could be a breakthrough year for Andy Murray or even Robin Soderling. Soderling has been causing quite a few upsets over the years, especially his win over Nadal a few years ago at Roland Garros. This could be his year. Also, Murray has yet to win the elusive Grand Slam despite being ranked in the top five for some time. Perhaps, he could be the Brit to bring Wimbledon back home.
The women’s side is not so easy to make predictions about. Caroline Wozniacki is currently ranked number one in the world. She has only made it to one Grand Slam final, and she lost it. However, she is extremely athletic and talented. Her rise to number one reminds of Anna Ivanovic’s rise to greatness. Ivanovic won the French Open in 2008 over Dinara Safina, but things went all downhill from there. She started tensing up and could not win a match for the longest time. To this day, she has not looked like the same player as she was in that final. She is now ranked 17 in the world. I hope Wozniacki does not end up like Ivanovic.
The Williams sisters are certainly a threat to Wozniacki. There are always out there lurking in the lower half of the top ten in the world. However, Serena withdrew from the Australian Open due to a foot injury leaving the draw wide open for big sister, Venus, to make her move and win her first title there ever.
Justine Henin will make her return to tennis in the 2011 Hopman Cup according to ESPN.com. Henin was out earlier 2010 due to an elbow injury. She is a dangerous wildcard. She was at the top for so long, and then to come back with a whole new style of play may hurt her. Whatever the case, she is a contender in any match she plays. 2011 could be the year that she reestablishes her dominance and right to be world number 1.
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