RECAP: 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London
Now that the “tennis season” is officially over, except for the Davis Cup Final, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the year-end 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. What did each player accomplish and what did we learn about each player which
could impact his 2010 season...
Roger Federer – Federer cemented the year-end Number One ranking, but his uneven performance in London reflected his play over the past year and half. Federer still appears to have the desire and fight to continue to challenge for Grand Slam titles in the years to come. However, given his occasionally erratic forehand, serving and play on the key points, he may suffer more surprising losses along the way.
Rafael Nadal – Despite Rafa’s professed low expectations for the ATP Finals, not winning even a set in his three losses was pretty surprising. Nadal’s post-French Open knee injury break appears to have dented his confidence a fair amount. On his favored red clay in the Davis Cup Final, Nadal has one more chance in 2009 to find his forehand and regain his belief on the big points. Regardless, the off-season will be key to Rafa returning to form in 2010.
Novak Djokovic – Given Novak’s fall tournament tear in which he won three titles, it’s not surprising, although disappointing, that he seemed to run out of gas, mentally as much as physically, at the ATP Finals. Fortunately, Novak seems to be ending the year playing MUCH better with his “new” racket than he started the year. Look out for Djokovic at the 2010 Grand Slams.
Andy Murray – Another big event and another disappointing performance by Murray, especially his 1-6 third set loss against Federer. Murray may have missed out on the semis by one game, but after starting the year as the “favorite” for the Australian Open, Andy heads into the off-season without a Grand Slam title and ranked fourth. Clearly, Andy can beat all the other top players, but he needs to do it at a major in 2010 or risk starting to “slide out of the conversation”…
Juan Martin del Potro – It was a strong ending to del Potro’s best year yet on Tour. After a lackluster post-U.S. Open fall season, del Potro proved again with his victory over Federer and by reaching the final that he will be a major threat for more Grand Slam titles in 2010 to complement his 2009 U.S. Open title.
Nikolay Davydenko – With wins over the 2009 Australian Open (Nadal), French Open and Wimbledon (Federer) and U.S. Open (del Potro) champions, Davydenko clearly had his most impressive tournament ever! With his victory, Nikolay is 5-0 in finals in 2009 and also finally notched his first win over Federer after twelve consecutive losses. Davydenko will finish in the top ten for the fifth straight year. The question remains whether this title will catapult Davydenko to a Grand Slam title in 2010 as it did for Amelie Mauresmo when she won the year-end Championships?
Fernando Verdasco – Losing all three of his matches in three sets, two of them in third set tie-breakers, must have been very frustrating for Verdasco. Nonetheless, Fernando showed he can compete with all the top players, especially if he serves well. The challenge for Verdasco continues to be to play his best on the key points in the big matches.
Robin Soderling – With wins over Nadal and Djokovic and a three set loss to the red-hot eventual champion, Davydenko, Soderling confirmed that his big win over Nadal at the French Open was not a fluke, but rather a harbinger of things to come in 2009… and beyond? Soderling will need to work hard to maintain the same confidence and strong play week in and week out in 2010, but he can clearly remain a fixture in the top ten if he plays as he did in London last week.
Roger Federer – Federer cemented the year-end Number One ranking, but his uneven performance in London reflected his play over the past year and half. Federer still appears to have the desire and fight to continue to challenge for Grand Slam titles in the years to come. However, given his occasionally erratic forehand, serving and play on the key points, he may suffer more surprising losses along the way.
Rafael Nadal – Despite Rafa’s professed low expectations for the ATP Finals, not winning even a set in his three losses was pretty surprising. Nadal’s post-French Open knee injury break appears to have dented his confidence a fair amount. On his favored red clay in the Davis Cup Final, Nadal has one more chance in 2009 to find his forehand and regain his belief on the big points. Regardless, the off-season will be key to Rafa returning to form in 2010.
Novak Djokovic – Given Novak’s fall tournament tear in which he won three titles, it’s not surprising, although disappointing, that he seemed to run out of gas, mentally as much as physically, at the ATP Finals. Fortunately, Novak seems to be ending the year playing MUCH better with his “new” racket than he started the year. Look out for Djokovic at the 2010 Grand Slams.
Andy Murray – Another big event and another disappointing performance by Murray, especially his 1-6 third set loss against Federer. Murray may have missed out on the semis by one game, but after starting the year as the “favorite” for the Australian Open, Andy heads into the off-season without a Grand Slam title and ranked fourth. Clearly, Andy can beat all the other top players, but he needs to do it at a major in 2010 or risk starting to “slide out of the conversation”…
Juan Martin del Potro – It was a strong ending to del Potro’s best year yet on Tour. After a lackluster post-U.S. Open fall season, del Potro proved again with his victory over Federer and by reaching the final that he will be a major threat for more Grand Slam titles in 2010 to complement his 2009 U.S. Open title.
Nikolay Davydenko – With wins over the 2009 Australian Open (Nadal), French Open and Wimbledon (Federer) and U.S. Open (del Potro) champions, Davydenko clearly had his most impressive tournament ever! With his victory, Nikolay is 5-0 in finals in 2009 and also finally notched his first win over Federer after twelve consecutive losses. Davydenko will finish in the top ten for the fifth straight year. The question remains whether this title will catapult Davydenko to a Grand Slam title in 2010 as it did for Amelie Mauresmo when she won the year-end Championships?
Fernando Verdasco – Losing all three of his matches in three sets, two of them in third set tie-breakers, must have been very frustrating for Verdasco. Nonetheless, Fernando showed he can compete with all the top players, especially if he serves well. The challenge for Verdasco continues to be to play his best on the key points in the big matches.
Robin Soderling – With wins over Nadal and Djokovic and a three set loss to the red-hot eventual champion, Davydenko, Soderling confirmed that his big win over Nadal at the French Open was not a fluke, but rather a harbinger of things to come in 2009… and beyond? Soderling will need to work hard to maintain the same confidence and strong play week in and week out in 2010, but he can clearly remain a fixture in the top ten if he plays as he did in London last week.
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