[Bodo] 2018 will be a year of disruption

[El Dude]

It seems Bodo agrees with the general gist of my previous thread. To comment on his "five predictions:"

1. Grand Slams will produce four different champions
I agree, as I said in the other thread, picking Dimitrov (!), Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic.

2. Murray will struggle
I also agree. Bodo points out that Andy takes a lot of matches to get into form. I did predict he'd win a Masters, but who knows. Might be a tough year for Andy.

3. Disruptors will threaten the status quo
He mentions Goffin, Dimitrov, Sock, Thiem, Nishikori, Raonic, Zverev, Pouille, and Kyrgios. Add in del Potro and Cilic, and maybe Carreno Busta, and you have a crowded "second tier." I don't see Pouille or Busta doing much, but the others could all be serious spoilers and we might see some big titles come out of this group - especially Dimitrov, Thiem, and Zverev, maybe Kyrgios if he ever gets his act together.

4. Djokovic will earn back the #1 ranking
I also predicted this, that he'd have an especially strong second half and sneak in the year-end #1.

5. Zverev will crack the Grand Slam code
I don't think he'll win one, but he'll start going deep. I think by the time we get to Wimbledon and the US Open, he'll be a serious contender.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The only thing I strongly agree for sure is that the four slams will have four different champions. The only thing I strongly disagree for sure is that Zverev will win a slam in 2018. The other three, while I generally agree with them, I am not so sure of them.

 

[britbox]

I don't think Djoker gets back to #1 in 2018 but I'll hold before I see him at the AO.

 

[Federberg]

I don't think Djoker gets back to #1 in 2018 but I'll hold before I see him at the AO.

Agreed. I would actually have disagreed with the Murray thing until I heard he's split with Lendl again

 

[El Dude]

I don't think Novak's AO form will be hugely important as to whether he reaches #1. As long as he holds his own the first half, he can come on strong in the second half.

I have no idea who will be YE1 in 2018 - it is a hard year to predict. It is hard imagining Rafa repeating 2017, if only health-wise, and I don't think Roger will play enough to get the necessary points, and when he does he probably won't re-produce his 2017 results. So just as I predicted in another thread that the second tier (#5-15ish) is going to be tightly packed, it might be that the top 5 or so will also be tightly packed, with the YE1 being a close first among equals. It really (hopefully) could come down to the WTF.

Unless he doesn't play AO, Rafa will almost certainly remain #1 at least until Roland Garros, which would bring him up to about 185 weeks. To get to 200 weeks, he'd need to remain #1 until about the US Open, which is possible.

 

[Federberg]

I completely agree with Safin in this article. I see Murray returning to top form next year, whether that means he's able to win if he faces Fedal is an entirely different question. As for Novak I'm not so sure...

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/safin-djok...-federer-murray-will-have-his-moments-1649210

 

[El Dude]

I don't think Andy wins a Slam if at least two of Rafa, Roger, and Novak are in good form. Or at least his chances are significantly less. If all three come back strong, no way Andy wins a Slam.

 

[Federberg]

I certainly agree that Murray's chances against Fedal are limited. I can't say the same for Novak. I have to see evidence his mental issues have been resolved. As of now I see Murray as having better chances than Novak

 

[El Dude]

I hear you, although I've noticed a subtle but distinct trend over the last year to down-play just how great Novak was during his peak, from 2011 to mid-2016. Remember, this is the guy that dominated peak Nadal in 2011, and who also had what was probably the best season of the Open Era in 2015. Novak's peak was comparable to Roger's and Rafa's.

But yeah, his mental issues are concerning. But so are Roger's back issues and Rafa's knee issues. Going into 2018, I think Rafa is the single player most likely to win a Slam, if only because of RG, and then Roger a close second, but after that I'd rank Novak as third most likely.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I have to see evidence his mental issues have been resolved.

Talking of Novak's mental issues, Deepika has just recently been declared as the most beautiful women in the world . So, Novak is at least classy unlike tiger.

 

[Front242]

Talking of Novak's mental issues, Deepika has just recently been declared as the most beautiful women in the world . So, Novak is at least classy unlike tiger.

LOL, who the hell voted for these women ?!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

LOL, who the hell voted for these women ?!

I am not personally a big fan of Deepika. However, the photo in that article does not do justice to her.

 

[Front242]

I am not personally a big fan of Deepika. However, the photo in that article does not do justice to her.

True but I'm talking more about the others they picked. You see better looking women walking across the road on a daily basis, in the gym, etc. Crazy choices.

 

[mrzz]

Judging by the pictures, around 10 are really beautiful, 10 are reasonable and the other 30 scare me to death. However, also judging from the very few women there pictured I already know, and trying to see beyond the photos, most of the photographers should be beaten to death in public to set an example.

 

[El Dude]

Are you kidding me?! Every woman on that list is beautiful to varying degrees.

 

[Moxie]

I completely agree with Safin in this article. I see Murray returning to top form next year, whether that means he's able to win if he faces Fedal is an entirely different question. As for Novak I'm not so sure...

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/safin-djok...-federer-murray-will-have-his-moments-1649210

I love Marat Safin, but I don't understand why he's called upon to tell us how Djokovic is going to do next year. His prognostications seem as likely as Agassi's. If you ask me.

 

[Moxie]

LOL, who the hell voted for these women ?!

It's a PR compilation. You shouldn't even bother clicking on it. Better we should make a poll here.

 

[Moxie]

It seems Bodo agrees with the general gist of my previous thread. To comment on his "five predictions:"

1. Grand Slams will produce four different champions
I agree, as I said in the other thread, picking Dimitrov (!), Rafa, Federer, and Djokovic.

2. Murray will struggle
I also agree. Bodo points out that Andy takes a lot of matches to get into form. I did predict he'd win a Masters, but who knows. Might be a tough year for Andy.

3. Disruptors will threaten the status quo
He mentions Goffin, Dimitrov, Sock, Thiem, Nishikori, Raonic, Zverev, Pouille, and Kyrgios. Add in del Potro and Cilic, and maybe Carreno Busta, and you have a crowded "second tier." I don't see Pouille or Busta doing much, but the others could all be serious spoilers and we might see some big titles come out of this group - especially Dimitrov, Thiem, and Zverev, maybe Kyrgios if he ever gets his act together.

4. Djokovic will earn back the #1 ranking
I also predicted this, that he'd have an especially strong second half and sneak in the year-end #1.

5. Zverev will crack the Grand Slam code
I don't think he'll win one, but he'll start going deep. I think by the time we get to Wimbledon and the US Open, he'll be a serious contender.

I think Bodo read your post, and I'm not kidding. #1-3 are not that hard to predict, though I think Murray will come back in good form...why? No reason. I don't think it will matter that Lendl has left him. He's a grown up, and a good player. If he's healthy, he'll be back to top.

#4: Will Djokovic regain the #1? This is the big question, for everyone. He's an elite talent, but will he find his way back to that level? He spent longer than we expected wandering in the wilderness. We all want to know how he comes back.

#5: I hope that Zverev does prove this year that he's the real deal. Win a Slam? Not sure, and it wouldn't be before the USO, but I'd like to see that he's got the chops. At least a final.

 

[The_Grand_Slam]

I think a disruption is highly unlikely

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Let's take the points one by one:

Disruption?

That is unlikely. One or two guys seems to be beefing up but other than Dimitrov I don't see anyone who has even a remote chance of being consistently effective on the tour. Very young guys are wayward, too impulsive and erratic. Zverev is hopeless in slams. So, it's difficult for all of them to break the tall order of Big 4 or 5. Those guys are pretty darn tough even today. Roger is just getting better at times, Rafa is unbreakable on clay and if Novak puts his head into the game again, he will have his share of silverware. Tough to think grand slam winners outside Big 5 even in 2018, damn.