Congratulation to the new world n. 3 and new world n.4

Stan Wawrinka and Juan Martin del Potro . And a special thanks to Stan the Man for giving some fresh hopes to those who want to see more in tennis than 5 hours long retriving battles.

well done both!

Del Potro could have done better than losing to BA.

Big disappointment for me that I'm a fan of the guy. Still must have earned his ranking points someway................

How an earth did Del Potro make 4? I suspect the thing is that the top 2 have so many ranking points and 3-8 are very close, so 3 and 4 have lower points than usual? Will have a look on Mon/Tue when they update the points and it's a bit easier to see.

In my mind it goes
1 Nadal
2 Djokovic
3 Murray
4 Federer
5 Del Potro
6 Warwinka
7 Ferrer
8 Berdych

That is how I would have the betting if there were a tournament tomorrow, or how I would currently rank the players in terms of ability to win a match.

But the actual rankings seems to have separated from my own ideas more than usual.

Henman Bill wrote:How an earth did Del Potro make 4? I suspect the thing is that the top 2 have so many ranking points and 3-8 are very close, so 3 and 4 have lower points than usual? Will have a look on Mon/Tue when they update the points and it's a bit easier to see.

In my mind it goes
1 Nadal
2 Djokovic
3 Murray
4 Federer
5 Del Potro
6 Warwinka
7 Ferrer
8 Berdych

That is how I would have the betting if there were a tournament tomorrow, or how I would currently rank the players in terms of ability to win a match.

But the actual rankings seems to have separated from my own ideas more than usual.

Del Potro had a stunner of a season in 2013, he was consistent all round the season, its unfortunate he went down early, otherwise it could have easily been Wawrinka vs Del Po finals.  

Henman Bill wrote:How an earth did Del Potro make 4? I suspect the thing is that the top 2 have so many ranking points and 3-8 are very close, so 3 and 4 have lower points than usual? Will have a look on Mon/Tue when they update the points and it's a bit easier to see.

In my mind it goes
1 Nadal
2 Djokovic
3 Murray
4 Federer
5 Del Potro
6 Warwinka
7 Ferrer
8 Berdych

That is how I would have the betting if there were a tournament tomorrow, or how I would currently rank the players in terms of ability to win a match.

But the actual rankings seems to have separated from my own ideas more than usual.

Hmm I'd have Fed in 7th place above Berdy and perhaps Djokovic on top if the tournament was on a hard court.

Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Ferrer, Wawrinka, DelPo, Federer, Berdy.

Slamless #2, veterans prominent, long term top 8's who never threaten, David Ferrer...

There's a name for an era like this.

...well that's just inviting comment

ineffable?

lydian wrote:...well that's just inviting comment

Well that is the idea on a discussion forum!

If comparing eras here's the Top 15 from 10 years ago...



Whatever happened to #10 Paradorn Srichaphan?

Good guy; had the decency never to take #3 and humiliate the field like David Ferrer.

Haha....too funny.
I remember him playing Nadal at W03, feels like a tennis lifetime ago.

Congratulations to Stan this shows how much he has evolved and improved in the last 12 months. He has been spectacular. I mean he has the best one hander in the game right now and his forehand is incredible with a great serve. He moves well and is as fit as a bull. He has improved his ability to attack a second serve but he still chips off both sides on the first serve.

socal1976 wrote:He has improved his ability to attack a second serve but he still chips off both sides on the first serve.

Was his return on BP at 0-40 in the 1st game of the second set not off the first serve?  He did not exactly chip that one back.

Between the USO13 and AO14 he now beat Rafa, Nole and Andy in a slam.  I doubt he will ever have the consistency to really challenge those guys in the rankings (at least not Nole and Rafa) but on his day he can be sensational.

Although I am 99.99999999999999999 % certain that a fully fit Nadal would have beaten Wawrinka, I hope this win gives Wawrinka the confidence to start making semi-finals etc more regularly - in his career he has only made two grand slam semi-finals (the last two USO 2013, AO 2014).

Nore Staat wrote:Although I am 99.99999999999999999 % certain that a fully fit Nadal would have beaten Wawrinka

That is not all that far from 100%.  Where does that certainty come from?

summerblues wrote:

Nore Staat wrote:Although I am 99.99999999999999999 % certain that a fully fit Nadal would have beaten Wawrinka

That is not all that far from 100%.  Where does that certainty come from?

Experience and a grade D+ in Advanced Maths.

summerblues wrote:

socal1976 wrote:He has improved his ability to attack a second serve but he still chips off both sides on the first serve.

Was his return on BP at 0-40 in the 1st game of the second set not off the first serve?  He did not exactly chip that one back.

Between the USO13 and AO14 he now beat Rafa, Nole and Andy in a slam.  I doubt he will ever have the consistency to really challenge those guys in the rankings (at least not Nole and Rafa) but on his day he can be sensational.

SB, one time or few times does not make a trend. I am comfortable in my assessment your smart alicky response aside. If you think Wawerinka is a great returner or even a very good one you are sadly mistaken. Last year despite finishing in the top 8 he was 25 th in return games one. Sarcasm does not make up for real facts. It remains to be seen if he has improved that area or if he had one good tournament. I think he is better than he used to be and can blast winners on the second ball. But I am observant enough on a tennis court to know that his return is probably the least comfortable part of his game despite you're attempt at sarcasm.

socal1976 wrote:SB, one time or few times does not make a trend. I am comfortable in my assessment your smart alicky response aside.

I was not quite serious; I agree with your assessment overall.

I am also glad - though surprised - that you agree that sarcasm does not make up for real facts.

Rainer Schuettler at No 6 in the world?!?

invisiblecoolers wrote:Del Potro had a stunner of a season in 2013, he was consistent all round the season, its unfortunate he went down early, otherwise it could have easily been Wawrinka vs Del Po finals.  

    Please IC it's too early in the week for jokes

Whilst we must accept that the poor beanpole missed the French he's now failed to get beyond the 3rd round of three of his last four slams he's entered and even then only reached the 3rd round once

Great so he reached at least the SF's of the Masters three times - but his true achievement was mopping up a few of the minor tournaments

But his ranking is so high because he's played six more events than Murray, not because he's suddenly become a Masters winner or regualar Slam semi-finalist