Jannik Sinner defeats Carlos Alcaraz to win 2025 ATP Tour Finals

 

                                             (Credit: IMAGO/La Presse) 

The 2025 ATP Finals at Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy went as one would expect: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the final. The two of them are clearly the top two players in the world and so it was only fitting that in the ATP Finals, the two of them would meet to determine the crown. This time, Sinner got the better of Alcaraz, defeating him 7-6, 7-5. 

The biggest difference was in their service aggression. Alcaraz made 68% of his first serves while Sinner made 55%. Alcaraz had zero double faults while Sinner had five. However, Sinner had eight aces while Alcaraz had five. Sinner also won 84% of his first serves while Alcaraz won 73%. Sinner won 63% of his second serves while Alcaraz won 57%. In the end, Sinner taking more chances on his serve seems to have made the difference. 

Another factor that also helped I'm sure was Sinner having home court advantage as an Italian. Playing in front of the home crowd no doubt was a benefit to him. Especially in such a close match. In truth, this is a match that could have gone either way and so little differences like that can make a huge difference. 

Of course, as you can tell by the photo, both guys were all smiles after the event was over. Even though he lost, Alcaraz finishes the year ranked No. 1 with his 12,050 points. Sinner finishes the year ranked No. 2 with his 11,500 points. Sinner wins the ATP Finals, but Alcaraz finishes the year ranked No. 1. In a way, it was kind of a win-win for both guys. 

To reflect on the year the two of them had, Alcaraz won the French Open and US Open while Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. They each won two grand slams and collectively dominated the ATP Tour. When the two of them get on the court together, while you may not know who is going to win, you know you're in for some amazing tennis. 

Looking ahead to the 2026 season, it'll be interesting to see if the two of them once more collect all the grand slams or if anyone will be able to make a dent and take one away from them. At the moment, I don't see it happening. I think we're in for another year of Sinner and Alcaraz dominating the tour and given how fun they are to watch against each other, that's fine by me. 

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Gaël Monfils to retire after 2026 season

 

                          

                                             (Credit: Julien Crosnier/FFT) 

Earlier this week, French tennis star Gaël Monfils announced on social media that he will retire after the 2026 season. Monfils made the following statement: 

"I held a racket in my hands for the first time at two and a half, and began playing professionally at 18. Now, after celebrating my 39th birthday just a month ago, I’d like to share that the year ahead will be my last as a professional tennis player.

"The opportunity to turn my passion into a profession is a privilege I have cherished during every match and moment of my 21-year career. Though this game means the world to me, I am tremendously at peace with my decision to retire at the end of the 2026 tennis season.

"Mostly, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. I’d like to express it to so many people:

"To my wife, Elina: my love, inspiration, and strength – and an exceptional player in her own right. To my daughter Skai: for the profound love, meaning, and joy she has added to my days. To my brother Daryl and my sisters Roddie and Maelie, for lifting me up during tough times and helping me celebrate the good ones. 

"To my best friends and loved ones, whose faces in the stands have always given me courage when it counted the most. To my longtime agent Nicolas, whose support and friendship helped me reach the highest highs and ride out the lowest lows. 

"To my coaches and team members over the years, who believed in a lanky kid from Paris and who have helped nurture my talent in ways I could never have imagined. To every person who ever cheered or shouted ‘Allez Gaël!’ in real life or at a TV screen: your energy and love are truly everything to me. To the French Tennis Federation for their unwavering support since Day One. 

"To Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet, my three musketeers and best friends for life. And most of all, to my parents: because all of this would have been impossible — unthinkable, even — without them. Papa, Maman, look how far we’ve come.

"While I came close, I never did win a Grand Slam during my career. I won’t pretend that I expect to do so during the next year. ‘You could have, you should have…’ As those who know me can attest, I’ve never thought this way, and frankly I’m far too old to start doing so now. Life is too short. Believe me when I say that I have no regrets.

"What I do have is the feeling that I have been lucky: insanely, stupidly lucky. I’ve had the chance to play during a golden age of tennis, alongside some of the greatest names in the history of our sport: Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray. Even losing feels epic when you’re facing a legend.

"Looking ahead, I have only one goal: to enjoy every minute, and to play each match like it’s my last."

Monfils got ranked as high as No. 6 in the world in November of 2016 and for a little while was knocking on the door to win a grand slam, reaching the semifinals of the French Open in 2008 and the semifinals of the US Open in 2016. He also reached the quarterfinals twice at the Australian Open in 2016 and 2022. Only Wimbledon has he never figured out, reaching the 4th round just the once in 2018. 

While he was never able to win a grand slam, Monfils still had a strong career. For many years, he was in the mix and was always a crowd favorite. He plays the game with a lot of flair and passion, which you can't help but love if you enjoy the sport. I feel like he's been especially fun to watch on clay given his length and sliding. There are so many difficult balls he has gotten to over the course of his career. 

I think what's most amazing is that at 39 years of age, Monfils is currently ranked No. 48 in the world. He became the oldest ATP Tour singles champion earlier this year at 38 years and 132 days old when he won the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. On top of that, he reached the 4th round at the Australian Open earlier this year as well. The fact that he's playing as well as he is at his age speaks to the dedication he has to his craft. Few players are able to compete at such a high level so late in life. His longevity more than anything else is something he should be proud of. 

Looking ahead to 2026, it'll be fun to see how Monfils does in his final season on tour. Given how he did at the Australian Open this year, there's a chance he makes his way into the second week of a grand slam at least once. Of course, the tournament where there will be the most buzz is the French Open. If he can find a way to make the 4th round in Paris next year, you know the place will be bursting with excitement. 

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10 things to look for at the 2019 French Open

The first round of the 2019 French Open (Roland Garros) begins on Sunday, which means it is time for me to list my 10 things to look for. If you have not yet taken a peek at the draw, click here to check it out.

#1. Can Alexander Zverev make a deep run? One of the things I'll be curious to see is if Alexander Zverev can build on his run to the quarterfinals last year (the furthest he's gone in a grand slam). Ranked #5 in the world, Zverev is a guy that should have made at least one grand slam semifinal by now, so it does seem like he's due for one anytime now. If you're going to pick a place for him to finally break through, what better place than Roland Garros? I don't like to put the heat on guys, but Zverev should be feeling a lot of pressure going into this tournament.

#2. Can Naomi Osaka win her third straight grand slam? Naomi Osaka has turned a new leaf since her last time out at Roland Garros (3rd round exit in 2018). She's won the 2018 US Open and 2019 Australian Open, which means she's gunning for an "Osaka Slam" right now. The big question mark going into this event and the rest of the season is how she'll do now that she's split with her coach Sascha Bajin, with whom she won both of her grand slam titles. Personally, I don't expect Osaka to win the tournament just because clay hasn't been her best surface. If she can prove me wrong and win it all, she'll be on one of the greatest runs in modern tennis history.

#3. Roger Federer is back! The last time Roger Federer played at Roland Garros was 2015, where he made a run to the quarterfinals. He skipped the event in 2016, 2017, and 2018 to rest and get himself ready for Wimbledon. This time, he's deciding to return to the dirt and see if he can perhaps win a second title in Paris. He played his first clay tournament in three years at the Madrid Open earlier this year, where he fell in the quarterfinals to Dominic Thiem. He had a similar result at the Italian Open in Rome, falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals due to a right leg injury. These recent results don't suggest he'll be much of a contender, but all the same it's fun to have him back. It makes things more interesting at the very least.

#4. Can Serena Williams get back in the winner's circle? I'm confident that Serena Williams has more grand slams to win, but whether or not she'll win another one at Roland Garros is a big question mark. Relative to the other grand slams, Roland Garros has proven to be a tough event for Serena. She's won it three times (2002, 2013, and 2015) and plays an aggressive style that the dirt doesn't always reward. Seeded 10th, I think Serena has to be considered a contender, but I don't expect her to come out victorious.

#5. Can Novak Djokovic take down Rafael Nadal? Novak Djokovic comes in as the #1 ranked player in the world and viewed by many as the biggest threat to Rafael Nadal's quest for a 12th Roland Garros title. He's beaten Nadal at Roland Garros before (2015) and has one Roland Garros title under his belt (2016), so the hype is definitely warranted. I got my money on Nadal to win it all, but if there's anyone that he should be concerned about it's definitely "The Joker."

#6. Can Simona Halep defend her title? Simona Halep finds herself in a position she's never been in before: Defending champion at a grand slam. After years of seeking her first grand slam title, she finally broke through at the 2018 French Open. Now, the question is can she defend her crown and start to establish some dominance in Paris.

#7. Can Dominic Thiem go the distance? In last year's French Open final, Dominic Thiem fell to Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in the final. He's been eying this tournament all year long and is eager to prove he can win it all in Paris. While Djokovic is the biggest threat to Nadal in my eyes, Thiem is right there behind him. His run to the final last year was impressive and with more experience under his belt, it's not crazy to think this could be the year Thiem wins his first of what is expected to be several Roland Garros titles.

#8. Does Jelena Ostapenko have any magic left? Jelena Ostapenko has had a very interesting tennis career thus far. In 2017, she won her first grand slam title at the French Open right before her 20th birthday. Since then, she has fallen off the map relative to her expectations. She hasn't won a grand slam title since and lost in the first round of the 2018 French Open, doing a terrible job at defending her title. Currently ranked #40 in the world, it'll be interesting if she can make a deep run this year and get herself back in the Top 25. When discussing contenders at this year's French Open, it would be foolish to rule her out given her success just two years ago.

#9. Look for Rafael Nadal to win his 12th Roland Garros title: So long as Rafael Nadal continues to breath air and play on tour, I will pick him to win the French Open every time. His dominance at this event is simply ridiculous. The only thing that can stand in his way is health. If he's able to stay healthy and not get worn down by the event, he'll win it all again. He is without question the greatest clay court tennis player of all-time and deserves to be the heavy favorite.

#10. Look for Karolina Pliskova to win her first grand slam title: Picking the winner of the women's singles tournament at Roland Garros is a really difficult task. In the last five years, we've seen five different champions (Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, and Simona Halep). So it really is anybody's guess of as to who will in it. If there's one thing that we can bank on, it's probably going to be someone who has never won it before, which is why I'm rolling with Karolina Pliskova. She's the #2 ranked player in the world and has found some success on the dirt, reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros back in 2017. If there's a player that fits the profile of what type of winner we should expect on the women's side, Pliskova fits as much as anyone.

#11. David Ferrer will be missed: David Ferrer retired at the Madrid Open earlier this year as opposed to playing one more Roland Garros. While he never won a grand slam title, Ferrer had an amazing career, reaching the 2013 French Open final and the semifinals at five additional grand slams (Australian Open in 2011 and 2013, French Open in 2012, and the US Open in 2007 and 2012).

Ferrer should be not be defined by what he didn't accomplish, but rather by what he did accomplish. Listed at 5'9", Ferrer overcame his lack of physical tools to get ranked as high as #3 in the world and embodied a fighting spirit that every athlete should strive to have. I certainly hope he gets inducted into the tennis hall of fame. He deserves it.

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2015 US Open preview: 10 things to look for

     The 2015 US Open begins Monday, August 31. What I would like to do is preview the event by listing 10 things to look for over the course of the best fortnight in tennis. Enjoy! 

#1. How will Marin Cilic do defending his title? The 2014 US Open was unique in that the men's champion wasn't somebody named Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, or Murray. The winner was Marin Cilic, who currently is seeded #9 in the men's main draw. It'll definitely be interesting to see how Cilic plays knowing that he has a grand slam title to defend. 

#2. How will the absence of Maria Sharapova affect the women's draw? Maria Sharapova withdrew from the US Open earlier today, making Serena Williams' half of the draw a little bit easier. It will be interesting to see if anybody takes advantage of Sharapova's absence and makes a deep run to the semifinals.  #7 seeded Ana Ivanovic is projected to do so at the moment. 

#3. Kei Nishikori has a nice draw: Kei Nishikori, currently seeded #4 in the men's singles draw, is projected to face #7 seeded David Ferrer in the quarterfinals and #1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Facing Djokovic isn't the nice part of the draw, but having David Ferrer in his quarter of the draw is very nice. Look for Kei Nishikori to once again threaten at Flushing. 

#4. Can Eugenie Bouchard get something going? Eugenie Bouchard has had a terrible season so far, losing in the first round of both the French Open and Wimbledon. She needs to finish 2015 on some sort of a positive note. What helps her out is that Maria Sharapova was going to be in her section, so perhaps she'll be the one to benefit from Maria' absence. 

#5. Will Andy Murray carry over positive momentum from Montreal? Andy Murray snapped an eight-match losing skid to Novak Djokovic in the final of Montreal.  Will this mini breakthrough for Murray will carry over into the US Open? 

#6. How will Serena Williams handle the pressure? The biggest story of the 2015 US Open without question is Serena Williams' quest for a calendar grand slam. It'll be interesting to see how she handles the pressure and the media over the course of the event. Especially early on in the tournament. 

#7. Will Rafael Nadal get anything going? Rafael Nadal is currently seeded #8 in the US Open men's draw and is having the worst season he's had since he reached the world #1 ranking. It'll be interesting to see if he can survive into the second week and be a threat. 

#8. Will Sloane Stephens get a boost from the American crowd? Sloane Stephens is another young player in the women's draw who is having a down year. Perhaps she'll make a deep run and thrive on the home crowd. 

#9. Look for Novak Djokovic to win the men's singles title: I don't expect the winner of the men's title to be somebody surprising. I think Novak Djokovic will get his groove together and win the US Open for the second time. 

#10. Look for Serena Williams to capture the calendar slam: I got my money on world #1 Serena Williams to deliver the goods and capture her fourth grand slam of the year. It's her world right now and I don't see anybody stopping her. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy to keep up with tennis! 

For a printable bracket of the men's draw, click here 

For a printable bracket of the women's draw, click here

2014 US Open Preview

On the eve of the 2014 US Open, I'm sure that whoever is reading this can hardly wait for the best two weeks of tennis to start! But just so that you don't get overwhelmed and spaz out due to all the excitement, I will give you ten things to look for over the coming two weeks in both the Men's and Women's draws.

1. Watch how Novak Djokovic does early 

Novak Djokovic is my pick to win the Men's Singles title, but after early losses in Cincinnati and Toronto to Tommy Robredo and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, my pick looks at least a little bit dicey. It will be interesting to see if Djokovic has any hiccups before the Quarterfinals in which he is scheduled to face either Andy Murray or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga again. As for the Quarterfinals, it will also be interesting to see if either Murray or Tsonga gives Djokovic a real run for his money.

2. Watch how Victoria Azarenka does early 

The real mystery player in the Women's Singles draw is Victoria Azarenka. When healthy, she is the best hard court player in the women's game. But with all the injuries she has had, she finds herself seeded #16. If she can make it to the Round of 16 to face #3 Petra Kvitova, then we have to consider here a serious threat to win the title. But until she gets to that point, all eyes will be on her to see if she is healthy and ready to make a serious push in a Grand Slam.

3. Will Andy Murray have a bounce back event? 

After winning his two Grand Slams at the US Open and Wimbledon, things have suddenly turned rather quiet for Andy Murray after losing in the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier in the season. While he did reach the Semifinals of the French Open, he is yet to reach a Grand Slam Final this year. Will he end the drought at the US Open this week? It's hard to say given that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Novak Djokovic are in his half the draw, but if he plays up to his full potential, he could make a really deep run and knock out both of those players.

4. Will Sloane Stephens come back from the dead? 

Going into this season, Sloane Stephens was coming off of her best season in which she reached the Semifinals of the Australian Open and the Quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Everybody thought that 2014 was going to be more fruitful for her, but so far this year, she has failed to get past the 4th round of any Grand Slam. Will the young American recapture the magic from 2013 in front of the home crowd in New York City? Fortunately, she has Angelique Kerber and Jelena Jankovic in her section of the draw, which means if she gets passed them, she will make the Quarterfinals. I like her odds to do get passed both of them. Beyond that, it's tough to say. Agnieszka Radwanska seeded 4th is projected to be waiting in the Quarterfinals and her consistency will definitely give Stephens a real challenge.

5. Will John Isner show any signs of life? 

John Isner finds ways to let down American tennis fans every year at the US Open and while I don't expect things to change this year, a lot of attention will be on him as he is the top ranked American man. Maybe he'll take Novak Djokovic to a 5th set tiebreaker in the 4th round and shock the world. I doubt he will, but American tennis fans can still hope.

6. Will Eugenie Bouchard get even with Petra Kvitova? 

Eugenie Bouchard, who currently is seeded #7 just so happens to be projected to face #3 Petra Kvitova in the Quarterfinals. What makes this awesome is that this would be a rematch of the Wimbledon Final! A rematch against Kvitova would be an awesome test for Bouchard. It would also be interesting to see what adjustments she makes after not fairing so well in the Wimbledon Final.

7. Does Roger Federer have one more Grand Slam title in him? 

Somehow I believe that Roger Federer still has at least one more Grand Slam title left in him. With Rafael Nadal out, Novak Djokovic struggling as of late, and Andy Murray in a bit of a funk, this certainly would be a good time to pick him to go all the way.

8. Will Simona Halep continue to back up the hype? 

Simona Halep is having a career year, notching trips to the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Final of the French Open, and Semifinals of Wimbledon. Her fantastic play has gotten her the #2 seed in the US Open and she will once again have to prove that she belongs among the game's elite. It will be interesting to see if she makes another deep run in a Grand Slam to close out the year.

9. Look for Novak Djokovic to win it all

When all is said and done, I expect Novak Djokovic to win the US Open. His Wimbledon title this year overshadows his recent struggles in Cincinnati and Toronto, and with Rafael Nadal out and Andy Murray struggling, only Roger Federer can be said to pose any sort of serious threat to him. I personally think that if Djokovic were to face Federer in the US Open Final, he would get it done. Winning Wimbledon I think gives Djokovic a lot of confidence going into this year's US Open. Especially since hard court is his favorite surface.

10. Serena Williams better win because otherwise I have no idea who to pick to win the Women's title  

Serena Williams hasn't won a Grand Slam all season and so naturally it feels like she is due to win a Grand Slam again. Ana Ivanovic, who stunned her in Australia is projected to face her in the Quarterfinals, but I doubt lightning strikes twice on that front after seeing Serena Williams beat Ivanovic three times since Australia. Na Li's absence and Victoria Azarenka's injury woes make Serena Williams the clear favorite to win the Women's Singles title at the US Open. If she doesn't, then we're looking at a seven to eight horse race for the title with it really being anybody's ball game.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

Novak Djokovic has a real chance to get a chokehold on the #1 ranking

                                        (credit: theguardian.com)
After winning Wimbledon last month, Novak Djokovic finally ended his drought of not winning a grand slam since the 2013 Australian Open. The whole tennis world was uneasy as he continued to fall short in grand slams, but after he finally got back in the winner's circle, all appeared to be right in the tennis world again. We all knew that Djokovic wasn't done winning grand slams, but with each passing slam that he didn't win (especially when he fell to Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2014 Australian Open), it was unclear when he would win a grand slam again.

But now that he has won the 2014 Wimbledon title, the feeling has shifted from uneasiness about when he'll win another grand slam to confidence that he can win the next two grand slams (US Open and Australian Open) which will both be on hard court. At this point, Djokovic has to be the favorite to win both of these grand slam events with Rafael Nadal nursing a wrist injury, Roger Federer aging, and Andy Murray slipping beneath the waves.

 If he comes through and wins both of these slams, Novak Djokovic will once again be on the verge of winning four straight grand slams as he heads into the French Open. In addition, he will have reestablished himself as the best tennis player in the world with everybody else chasing him.

Obviously, he still needs to go out and win these matches and after seeing the way Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stomped him this week in Toronto, it's no slam-dunk that he mows down the competition in either New York or Australia. But with that being said, this Wimbledon title really is a B12 shot to his confidence, which is enough of a reason to make him the favorite going into both hard court slams.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

2014 Gentlemen's Wimbledon Singles Final: Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer

                                               (credit: theguardian.com)
While the Ladies' Wimbledon Singles Final featured two players with little grand slam final experience, the Gentlemen's Wimbledon Singles Final features two players who have plenty of grand slam final experience. Roger Federer has 17 grand slam singles titles of his own and Novak Djokovic has 6. However, don't let their grand slam success fool you into thinking that neither man has something he wants to prove. Roger Federer wants to prove that he still has what it takes to be a grand slam champion in addition to adding on to his career grand slam total. As for Novak Djokovic, he wants to remind the tennis world that he still is a threat to win grand slam titles after not winning a grand slam since the 2013 Australian Open. Both men have compelling reasons to want the 2014 Wimbledon crown and yet only one will wear it. Which one will it be? Only time will tell for sure, but since I have to make a prediction, I will predict that Roger Federer comes out on top because he has played better over the course of this tournament, has an 18-16 career head-to-head record against Novak Djokovic, and he is playing on his preferred surface.

                                             (credit: telegraph.co.uk)
     During these past 2 weeks at Wimbledon, Roger Federer has only dropped 1 set and he easily mowed down the big serving Canadian Milos Raonic who was seeded 8th in the semifinals. The only set he dropped was against the 5th seed Stanislas Wawrinka and that was the opening set. After that, Federer found his groove and took out Stan in 4 sets. The rest of his tournament has been totally uneventful. He crushed the 23rd seed Tommy Robredo in the 4th round, he destroyed Santiago Giraldo in the 3rd round, and both of his 1st and 2nd round opponents were left in the dust.
     As for Novak Djokovic, he hasn't had such an easy run. In his semifinal match, the 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov was a couple of points away from forcing a 5th set, and Marin Cilic took 2 out of the first 3 sets against him in his Quarterfinal match, which forced the match to go 5 sets. Similarly to the Dimitrov match, Radek Stepanek nearly forced a 5th set against Djokovic as well, falling in a 4th set tiebreak. The fact that Federer has had a much easier run to the final is a huge indicator that this is his tournament to lose.
    Federer's 18-16 head-to-head record against Djokovic is another reason why I think Federer wins. Over the course of their meetings, Federer has gotten the better of Djokovic, and in their only encounter on grass, which was back in 2012 in the Wimbledon semifinals, Federer won pretty handily in 4 sets. As for their very recent encounters, Federer has won 2 out of their 3 matches this season with wins at Monte Carlo and Dubai on hard court.
     The final reason why I really like Roger Federer to win on Sunday is because he is playing on his favorite surface, which is grass. If this were being played on hard court, I would have a hard time picking against Djokovic. But with Federer playing on his favorite surface and favorite court in the world (Wimbledon Centre Court), I think one has to say that Federer has to be the favorite going into this match.
     This isn't to say that Novak Djokovic doesn't have a chance to win on Sunday or that it won't be close, but upon looking at the facts and the data, the odds are in Federer's favor. Very often times in tennis, the player who is favored doesn't come out on top. Especially in matches that feature two great champions like these ones. But for the time being, if I'm going to have to make a prediction, I'm going to say that Federer pulls this one out in 5 sets. It'll definitely be a great match to watch!

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

Men's French Open Final Preview: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic

                                                 (image from: tennisworldusa.org) 

Unlike the Women's French Open final, the Men's French Open final features the two players everybody thought would reach the final: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. It's no shock that after two weeks of intense tennis on the red clay of Roland Garros, both of these men are still playing for the title. Where people do disagree is when it comes to picking who is going to win the title. A lot of experts think Novak Djokovic will dethrone Rafael Nadal of his French Open crown, and many others including myself think Rafael Nadal will once again reign on the clay as French Open champion.

If I can be perfectly candid, I don't understand why anybody would pick Novak Djokovic to win this title with Rafael Nadal still in it. I say this knowing that many tennis analysts who know the game far better than myself are picking Novak Djokovic to win this title and in the process have him beating Rafael Nadal. Why might they think this? I can only guess that it has something to do with the fact that Djokovic beat him on clay earlier this year in Rome, that Djokovic is hungry for his first French Open title, and that Rafael Nadal can't possibly keep beating a player like Novak Djokovic to win French Open titles. My problem with this line of thinking is that it simply doesn't add up from a logical point of view. It only adds up from the point of view of somebody who doesn't want Rafael Nadal to win or somebody who wants to see Novak Djokovic complete a career slam. The bottom line is that the argument for why Rafael Nadal will win the French Open is much stronger.

Before we even analyze Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic in their head-to-head matches, I will first lay out some important facts that support my conclusion that Rafael Nadal will win the French Open for the 9th time in 10 years. The first thing I would like to point out is that Novak Djokovic hasn't won a Grand Slam title since the 2013 Australian Open. For a player who recently was expected to challenge Roger Federer's record for most Grand Slam titles, this is quite a drought for Novak Djokovic. More notably, he hasn't won a Grand Slam title outside of the Australian Open since the 2011 US Open. Novak Djokovic practically owns the Australian Open with 4 of his 6 Grand Slam titles coming from the Australian Open but as for Wimbledon and the US Open, he has only won those titles once. As for the French Open, this is just his second trip to the French Open final. It is hard to think that a player who hasn't won a Grand Slam title in the amount of time that he has will end his dry spell on his least favorite surface against the most dominant force we have ever seen play on clay. With Nadal's dominance on clay being unlike anything we have seen from any player on any surface, is it really reasonable to pick Novak Djokovic to come up big and dethrone Nadal to win the French Open?

Secondly, Rafael Nadal hasn't faced any serious opposition all tournament. He's only dropped one set all tournament and that was to David Ferrer in the Quarterfinals. After dropping the first set to Ferrer, Nadal came roaring back, crushing Ferrer 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 in the final 3 sets. As for Andy Murray in the Semifinals, Nadal was so dominant that Murray didn't even need to bother showing up. Nadal destroyed him by the final score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Nadal has plenty of gas in the tank and is coming in really strong and confident. Djokovic will be lucky to get one set off Nadal. Picking him to take 3 sets off Nadal to win the match almost seems preposterous.

As for the head-to-head aspect of this matchup, Nadal owns Djokovic on the red clay at Roland Garros. Sure, Djokovic has beaten Nadal on clay at other venues including Rome earlier this year, but at Roland Garros, Nadal is 5-0 against Novak Djokovic. It is true that Nadal narrowly got away with a 9-7 win in the 5th set the last time they faced at Roland Garros, but he still prevailed, and that is all that matters.

The bottom line is Rafael Nadal should be heavily favored to win this title for the 9th time in 10 years. I don't want to sound like there isn't good reason to watch this match because if anybody can beat Nadal on clay at Roland Garros, it's Novak Djokovic. We've seen him press Nadal at Roland Garros and he is such a great champion himself that you never want to count him out. But what is certain is that if Djokovic is going to defeat Nadal in Sunday's French Open final, he will have to play the match of his life.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

Will Masters Titles In Miami and Indian Wells get Novak Djokovic Back On Track?

                                                    (Image from: espn.go.com) 

It has been a while since Novak Djokovic last won a grand slam title, at least for his standards anyways. Djokovic's last grand slam title was the 2013 Australian Open, and since then he has failed to win a grand slam. During the course of that time,  Rafael Nadal once again defended his French Open crown and also won the US Open, Andy Murray finally won Wimbledon, and Stanislas Wawrinka came out of nowhere to win the Australian Open. With the resurgence of Nadal, the feel-good story of a Brit winning Wimbledon, and Stanislas Wawrinka's shocking success down under, it is easy for us to forget about Novak Djokovic. While we still are a ways away from the next grand slam (French Open), Novak Djokovic's recent success at the last two ATP World Tour Masters events in Indian Wells, CA and Key Biscayne, FL is his way of reminding the tennis world that he still is a force to be reckoned with.
     To win the BNP Paribas Masters at Indian Wells, Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in the final and to win the Sony Open at Key Biscayne, he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final. Those are two of the toughest opponents he has to beat all year, and for him to beat them in back-to-back events is sending a pretty strong message to the rest of the tour. Look, I'm in the minority when it comes to valuing tournaments not called "Grand Slams". I don't hold them to nearly as much value as other people do, but I do think the Masters events can be important for guys who are trying to find their groove again. For Djokovic, if he wants to get back to winning grand slams and win at least one in 2014, he has to start somewhere to build up his confidence, and winning both Masters titles at Key Biscayne and Indian Wells is a great start!

In my opinion, these two Masters titles is definitely something to take note of. I think that for him to win both events is a very encouraging sign for Djokovic and his fans that he is gearing up to go on another dominating run. While I don't see this translating into a French Open title or anything since these two events are on hard court, I do see these two Masters titles potentially translating into success at Wimbledon and the US Open. Obviously, if Novak Djokovic doesn't win a grand slam this year, these two titles will mean almost nothing, but if goes on to win a grand slam this year, I think it is more than reasonable to look back at these two Masters titles as the catalyst that got him back on track to winning more Grand Slams.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

Indian Wells Preview

                                                     (image from: usta.com)

The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, an ATP Masters 1000 event/WTA Premiere event kicks off this week, with Round 1 action already done. However, with none of the seeded players playing yet, there is still time for me to break down this tournament and give you some key things to look for over these next 10 days.

1. What Does Roger Federer's Win At Dubai Really Mean? 
Roger Federer is coming into Indian Wells having just won the title in Dubai, which included a win over Novak Djokovic. Naturally, Federer fans were ecstatic with his win over Djokovic, many saying "Fed's back!" and other over-the-top statements that any tried and true Federer fan would say. While I think the win over Djokovic is a good sign, I'm not at all convinced that it is an indicator that he will win another slam or something along those lines. However, what happens down in Indian Wells to Federer could give us a better sense of what that victory actually wins. If Federer were to win the event and beat Djokovic again, then we could maybe look back at the Dubai win over Djokovic as a spring board to launch Federer into a successful 2014 campaign. If Federer falters and either loses to Djokovic in the Final or loses in earlier rounds, then his success at Dubai will likely be interpreted as a nice week for Federer but nothing to use as a barometer for his future success.

2. Can Sabine Lisicki Get It Together On Hard Court? 

We all know Sabine Lisicki is a threat at Wimbledon, but she hasn't yet proven she is a threat to win a grand slam elsewhere. While winning this event isn't likely for her, I do think that Sabine Lisicki is a player who could take tremendous confidence with her for the rest of the season if she put forth a solid outing at Indian Wells. If she reaches the the Semis at this event, which is possible, she should like her odds at making a run at a slam not called Wimbledon later this year.

3. Will Stanislas Wawrinka Back Up His Australian Open Title? 

I don't mean to say this as any sort of implication that his title at the Australian Open wasn't legit, but I do think a win for Wawrinka at Indian Wells would give the rest of the ATP Tour a real scare going forward into the rest of the season. Winning at Indian Wells could do a lot for Stanislas Wawrinka to show that his title down under wasn't just the product of a great two weeks or Nadal's back, but rather the result of his fantastic play.

4. No Serena Williams Doesn't Mean There Isn't Anything To Be Learned On The Women's Draw

The Williams sisters once again boycott the event after being subject to racial prejudice at the event more than a decade ago. While the absence of the Williams sisters, specifically Serena is a letdown every year, don't think that this diminishes the achievements of whoever wins this event or that there isn't something to take away from these 10 days.

5. Watch For The Health Of Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal

With both Murray and Nadal battling back problems recently,  this event should give us a good sense of how both guys are feeling health wise. Hopefully both guys can feel healthy enough to contend and possibly win.

6. Maria Sharapova Needs To Win A Big Event And She Might As Well Start Here

Despite all her off the court success with Sugarpova and her love life with Grigor "Baby Fed" Dimitrov, Maria Sharapova has struggled against the likes of Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka on the hard courts. Serena isn't playing for reasons previously explained, but Azarenka is, and if Sharapova could beat her in the process of winning this whole event, that would be really good for Sharapova.

7. Will Any Men Take Inspiration From Wawrinka? 

After seeing Stanislas Wawrinka win the Australian Open, there has to be a greater sense of hope among guys not listed in the "Big Four" that winning a grand slam is possible. While Indian Wells isn't a grand slam, it is the next best thing. It'll be interesting to see if guys like Del Potro, Tsonga, and Berdych take inspiration from Wawrinka and run the table to win the whole thing.

8. Petra Kvitova Needs A Wake Up Call

Ever since winning Wimbledon, Petra Kvitova has slowly receded into the background of the WTA tour and hasn't proven that she isn't a one slam wonder. She can't get rid of that reputation at Indian Wells of course, but a win at this event could propel her to success at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

9. Novak Djokovic Can't Really Do Much To Improve His Stock 

Some guys could do a lot to improve their stock and status at this event, but others can't. I don't really see a win at this event giving Djokovic a huge boost, and nor do I see him failing to win a crisis either. Novak has his eyes on Roland Garros, which is really his next big test. The Masters events leading up to Roland Garros will matter to Djokovic way more than Indian Wells.

10. Winning At Indian Wells Would Be Nice For Na Li, But It Won't Be A Big Deal If She Has  A Rough Outing 

Don't expect Na Li to struggle, but if she does, don't freak out and think the end for her is near. She just won the Australian Open and seems prime for a great 2014 regardless of what happens at Indian Wells. She can't do much to improve her stock at this event and her stock won't really go down too much if she struggles or gets bounced early.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

Team Competition In Davis Cup/Fed Cup Has To Improve

                                               (image from Daviscup.com)

The first round of Davis Cup and Fed Cup play finished earlier this month and to say the least the results were rather disappointing. Many of the top players opted not to represent their countries in these team events in which players get to represent their countries. Italy for example didn't send Francesca Schiavone, Roberta Vinci,  Sara Errani, or Flavia Penitent to compete against the United States, who themselves were without Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens. Maria Sharapova opted to represent her country at the Olympics instead of the Fed Cup, etc. As for the Men things were better in the Davis Cup with Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka representing Switzerland and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, and Richard Gasquet playing for France, but still,  Rafael Nadal didn't compete for Spain and Novak Djokovic didn't compete for Serbia along with fellow countryman Janko Tipsarevic.

The lack of players truly caring about Fed Cup and Davis Cup has been an ongoing problem for tennis, and it isn't entirely the players' fault. With all the matches that these guys have to play, the weeks of Davis Cup and Fed Cup can seem like a rare chance to rest up for a week and relax a bit. Going out to play in a tournament that doesn't count for much towards your own ATP or WTA ranking points and is considered optimal can be hard to get up for. But still, even with that, one would like to think that these players would love to get the chance to represent their countries and show a little patriotism. I don't know what exact changes would help increase Davis Cup and Fed Cup participation, but changes do need to be made.

One guy I know, named Phil Naessens,  suggested on his show with me as his guest that the Davis Cup and Fed Cup become compressed into a one or two week event. This suggestion is interesting since the fact that it gets spaced out over the calendar year all the way until December does seem to take steam out of the Davis Cup. Perhaps turning these events into a 5th Grand Slam of sorts would make players become more eager to compete.

In addition to this idea, I think making Davis Cup and Fed Cup play mandatory needs to somehow happen. Mandatory is a bit strong, but at the very least, the ITF could make the consequences of not playing severe enough that players would think twice about not playing in it. Maybe really up the ranking points for it, or give special consideration to players in seeding at Grand Slams based on Davis Cup or Fed Cup participation. Technically speaking, the ITF doesn't have to seed players based on ATP and WTA ranking points. If they wanted to make Davis Cup and Fed Cup participation a heavy part of their seeding selection process they could do it, and they could make players pay for not participating. E.g. Andy Murray could get a top seed at the French Open because he participated in Davis Cup and Nadal did not. Of course, it couldn't be that simple, but maybe him participating ups his seeding by one or two spots. That would make players think twice about choosing to skip Davis Cup and Fed Cup for sure.

In conclusion, the main take away from this is that the Status quo for Fed Cup and Davis Cup is not acceptable. These events need to have the stars of tennis participating. Otherwise it turns into a joke. The entire Russian Fed Cup team consisted of players' names who I hadn't heard of, which says a lot since I'm familiar with at least 300-400 names in tennis since I spend so much time updating people from every tournament on the ATP and WTA tours. Russia's lack of Fed Cup participation was embarrassing, but it was just one instance of an ongoing problem in tennis that needs to change. I hope for the sake of tennis and the spirit of international team competition, changes are made to make Fed Cup and Davis Cup play more appealing and rewarding to those who choose to compete.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy  

How Will Stanislas Wawrinka's Australian Open Title Affect The 2014 ATP Season?

When people listed their potential dark horses to win the Australian Open on the men's side, Stanislas Wawrinka's name came up as a result of his incredible performance at the 2013 Australian Open against Novak Djokovic. But nobody actually thought that Wawrinka would win it all. To those of us who follow the ATP World Tour year round, we can't say we were shocked by this result given Stan's great season in 2013, but we also can't say we saw it coming either. It feels weird to see somebody not named Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Andy Murray walk away with the title at the end of a grand slam. Given how dominant those four players have been over the past several seasons, the odds that somebody wins a grand slam outside of those four seems almost impossible, which is why many tennis fans including myself still feel like we are in a dream every time we see the words "Stanislas Wawrinka Grand Slam Champion" in a cohesive sentence.

But with Wawrinka actually being the 2014 Australian Open champion, the landscape of the 2014 ATP World Tour season and how it ultimately shakes out has suddenly become a lot more cloudy than clear. Wawrinka has now leapfrogged both Roger Federer and Andy Murray in the rankings as a result of his grand slam title, shooting up to #3 in the world, only behind Rafael Nadal who is #1 and Novak Djokovic who is #2. But while many different possible scenarios could ultimately play out (with Wawrinka even finishing the year #1 should he win another grand slam title), one thing that definitely seems to be true is that his title most greatly affects Novak Djokovic's season, really putting Djokovic behind the 8-ball.

If you read my preview for the Australian Open, you would know that I said that Djokovic had to win this Australian Open in order to bounce back and re-establish himself. I stand by that, and what's worse is that he wasn't beaten by Nadal, he was beaten by Wawrinka. This isn't to take anything away from Wawrinka, rather it is to highlight the fact that Djokovic has more than just Nadal and Murray to worry about at this stage of his career. He also has Wawrinka, and possibly others as well. Failing to win the Australian Open is potentially lethal to Djokovic's season because this was the one grand slam event where he was the clear favorite. The rest of the grand slams he isn't necessarily the favorite. Rafael Nadal is the clear favorite to win the French, Wimbledon seems to be pretty evenly split between  Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer with Murray having the slight edge, and the US Open is pretty evenly split except now we probably say that Wawrinka is in that mix to win it and not Federer. The point is, with the rest of the grand slams not being in his favor to win, it'll be very hard for Djokovic to win a grand slam, which means his odds of not winning a grand slam in 2014 are very high.

Failing to win a grand slam in 2014 would be devastating for Djokovic as he tries to establish himself as an all-time great. I think we already know that he is one of the greatest players to ever play, but history judges players by their total grand slam titles, and not on just one or two amazing seasons. The bottom line is that the victory of Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open really puts Novak Djokovic into a tough situation since his odds of not winning a grand slam are suddenly quite high. It'll be interesting to see how Djokovic responds as the season goes on not only in the grand slams, but also in the future masters events such as Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid since those events will give us a good indicator of where his head is going into the remaining three grand slams.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

2014 Australian Open Preview: Men's Draw

The Australian Open starts in less than 24 hours and it is time for me to make my predictions for the first grand slam of the year. What I will do is list 10 things that every tennis fan should be watching for as they watch the Men's Draw unfold.

1. Look For Novak Djokovic To Have An Easy Run To The Final: 
Novak Djokovic may be seeded #2, but it's no secret that he has an easier draw than the top seeded Rafael Nadal. Nadal has Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer in his half of the draw, whereas the only real threats in Djokovic's half of the draw are Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka. The highest seed in Djokovic's draw aside from him is the 3rd seeded David Ferrer, who we all know isn't even remotely a threat to take out Djokovic. Against Berdych, Wawrinka, and Ferrer combined, Djokovic is 41-9. If he has that kind of dominance over the toughest players in his half of the draw, there is no reason to not think that Novak Djokovic will reach the Australian Open Men's Singles Final.

2. Roger Federer Won't Go Very Far: 

Roger Federer might be the greatest tennis player of all time, but he isn't going to go very far in the Australian Open. The main reason is that his draw is really tough with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Andy Murray as his projected 4th Round and Quarterfinals opponents. I don't see any way he gets to the Semifinals as the #6 seed with those players in front of him. If he wants to make another deep run at a grand slam (which I doubt he will), he will have to boost up his ranking to get a more favorable draw.

3. Look For Lleyton Hewitt To Make A Little Noise: 

When I filled out my bracket, I picked Lleyton Hewitt to to upset #24 Andreas Seppi and get all the way to the 4th Round before he runs into Rafael Nadal. Hewitt loves to play in front of his home Australian crowd and he always gets extra juiced for his matches down under. I expect him to play well as a result of the extra energy and make his way into the 2nd week of the slam.

4. Nobody Knows How Andy Murray Is Going To Do: 

Andy Murray ended 2013 on a bit of a sour note with back problems which required surgery. He has spent the past week in Melbourne, declining a wild card to the Heineken Open and instead choosing to practice where the Australian Open will be held. If his back feels fine, he should make another deep push for a grand slam title, but if his back gives him any problems, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or maybe even John Isner could be there to take advantage. I think Murray will be fine and will reach the Semifinals to face Rafael Nadal, but with that being said,  how he plays the first couple of rounds will definitely be something to watch for.

5. Look For An Exciting 4th Round Match Between Milos Raonic and Juan Martin Del Potro: 

If everything holds to form, Milos Raonic and Juan Martin Del Potro should meet in what is sure to be a slugfest between two power hitters. Del Potro and his monstrous forehand vs. Raonic and his booming serve! This is definitely a match to have circled on your calendars! Also, the ramifications are huge with a trip to the Quarterfinals of a grand slam on the line. Especially for Raonic, who has never reached the Quarterfinals of a grand slam before.

6. Look For David Ferrer To Be David Ferrer: 

David Ferrer is one of the most unique tennis players we have ever seen in terms of where he fits in on the tour. He is one of the most consistent players to ever play, and that is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's a good thing because he consistently beats the players he is supposed to beat and it's a bad thing because he consistently loses to the players who are ranked ahead of him. I expect that pattern to continue down under. I did pick Tomas Berdych to knock him out in the Quarterfinals, but that's really rolling the dice. Don't be surprised to see Ferrer beat Berdych handily in the Quarterfinals and then get crushed by Novak Djokovic in the Semifinals.

7. Look For Tomas Berdych Make A Deep Run: 

I just said that I am rolling the dice to pick Tomas Berdych to reach the Semifinals, but I'm sticking with it! His draw really is favorable, and facing Ferrer in the Quarterfinals is much better than drawing Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, or Novak Djokovic. While it's highly unlikely he reaches the Final with Djokovic as his likely Semifinal opponent, the one thing in Berdych's favor is that Djokovic doesn't await him until the Semifinals if he does at all. If Berdych can get to the Semifinals, who knows what happens from there. He'll only be 2 matches away from a grand slam title.

8. Look For Rafael Nadal To Survive His Draw All The Way To The Final: 

As tough as Nadal's draw is with Tsonga, Federer, Murray, and Del Potro all as possible opponents on his way to the Final, I still like Nadal to get to the Final when it is all said and done. He's too talented not to, and with Federer aging and Murray's back being a concern, that certainly ups Rafa's odds at getting to the Final.

9. Look For Things To Go Chalk: 

At the end of the day, look for the highest seeds to advance in their proper order. There is a lot of talent in the men's game, but also a lot of structure, and very little upheaval and changing of the guard going on. I know Wimbledon was nuts last year, but I think that was a freaky result of too many players not having the time to adjust to the grass courts after clay season. This is the beginning of the season on the most commonly played surface of hard court. No such surprises await the players in this Australian Open. The top seeds should advance with regularity with only maybe an upset or two along the way.

10. Look For Novak Djokovic To Beat Rafael Nadal In The Final: 

My prediction for the Australian Open Men's Draw is that Novak Djokovic will win the title in 5 sets over Rafael Nadal. Both players are the top two players in tennis right now and I expect them to face off in the Final. Given the importance for Djokovic to win this Australian Open due to Nadal's bounce back season, I expect Djokovic to win as a result of having that extra motivation and sense of urgency in addition to playing on his favorite surface. He has all 2000 ranking points to defend at the Australian Open after winning it last year, and Nadal has no ranking points to defend sine he didn't play in it last year. Djokovic has to win the Australian Open if he wants to finish 2014 ranked #1, which is why I think he wins it. If he doesn't win the Australian Open he can pretty much kiss the #1 ranking for 2014 goodbye whereas for Nadal he still has his favorite grand slam (Roland Garros) to look forward to.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy  

Novak Djokovic Must Win The Australian Open This Season

When winning a grand slam and finishing #2 in the world is considered a disappointing season, you know the expectations on you are really high. Such is the case for Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open in 2013, and finished #2 in the world behind Rafael Nadal. For Nadal, 2013 was more than just a bounce back season. It was reaffirmation of his greatness and a reminder that when healthy, there may be no one who has played the sport of tennis as well as he has. For Djokovic, it was a season where he realized that the level of play required of him to continue to dominate the ATP World Tour had just been raised.

Djokovic watched Nadal once again win the French Open and US Open, and also saw Andy Murray win Wimbledon. Djokovic no longer had Roger Federer to worry about, but in Federer's place he had to deal with a refreshed and rejuvenated Rafael Nadal and an Andy Murray who is playing the best tennis of his career. With these seismic changes in the tennis landscape occurring in 2013, Novak Djokovic enters 2014 with challenges that we didn't foresee as we entered 2013. He is no longer considered a lock to win any grand slam, whereas a year ago, he was the heavy favorite to win all but the French Open.

With these major changes in the tennis landscape occurring, the importance of winning the Australian Open is more important than it ever has been for Novak Djokovic. Winning the Australian Open would help Djokovic somewhat reestablish himself and let the tennis world know that he is still going to be a tough out at all grand slams, whereas failure to win the Australian Open would be disastrous. The reason why it would be so disastrous for Djokovic to fail to win the Australian Open is because the Australian Open is his favorite grand slam event. Not only is hard court Djokovic's surface of choice, but more specifically, his favorite surface is the hard courts of the Australian Open. No place is tougher to beat Novak Djokovic at (just ask Stanislas Wawrinka). If Novak Djokovic gets beaten on his favorite surface and favorite grand slam, I don't see any way he wins a grand slam in 2014. The French Open will not be viewed as even remotely possible, and as for Wimbledon and the US Open, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal will be the favorites to win each event. Without winning a grand slam, Djokovic won't finish the year #1, and probably not even #2. A year without a grand slam would be a year of bigger regression than this year, and we'll be having the same conversation again in a year only with even more urgency.

In conclusion, Novak Djokovic has to win the Australian Open this year because it's the only way he can stay afloat in the conversation for the best player in the world. Right now, some people still believe Djokovic is the best player in the world in face of Rafael Nadal's incredible 2013  season in which he finished #1 in the world and won both the French Open and US Open. But if Djokovic doesn't win the Australian Open, there is no way that anybody can still think he's the best player in the world. Especially since if he doesn't win the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal will likely be the winner of it since Andy Murray is dealing with a bad back, Roger Federer's game has declined since 2012, and nobody outside of the "Big Four" is considered to be a serious grand slam threat. If Djokovic doesn't win the Australian Open, that would likely mean that Nadal will have won three of the past four grand slams with a firm grip on the world's #1 ranking going into his favorite grand slam, the French Open. No situation could be more pretty for Nadal and more disastrous for Djokovic at the same time.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy 

10 Things To Watch For In The 2014 Tennis Season

The 2014 ATP and WTA season starts this upcoming week, and the Australian Open is starting in a couple of weeks, which is the first grand slam event of the season. With the season just getting under way, I will list ten things to look out for in the 2014 season on both tours. These will be some key predictions for the upcoming season.

#1. Look for Novak Djokovic to establish his dominance early in the season: 

Novak Djokovic is frustrated about losing his #1 ranking to Rafael Nadal. That is why he hired Boris Becker to be his coach. He's looking for an edge to reclaim the #1 ranking in the world, and I think he will do just that through the first four and half months of the season, though I  do think it'll be a year long struggle between Djokovic and Nadal for the #1 ranking. I expect Djokovic to win the Australian Open, his favorite grand slam, and thus put the pressure on Rafael Nadal to respond by winning the French Open at Roland Garros.

#2. Look for Serena Williams to continue to be the most dominant player in the WTA: 

If you think Serena Williams is going to slow down in 2014, you are sorely mistaken. She is in as good of shape as she has ever been and more importantly, she is more driven to win than she has ever been. Serena has 17 grand slam titles and  knows she is creeping up on Steffi Graf's mark of 22 grand slam titles and Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 grand slam titles. The only player on the WTA tour who should worry Serena Williams is Victoria Azarenka, who will prove to be a tough out on both the hard courts of Australia and the US Open. But I don't see Azarenka getting more than 1 slam, which means that I expect Serena Williams to win at least two grand slam titles, and probably three. There is no doubt in my mind that Serena Williams will finish the year #1, the only question is how many grand slam titles will she win?

#3. Look for Rafael Nadal to win at Roland Garros: 

I expect Rafael Nadal to win more than one grand slam title in 2014, but I am 100% confident that one of his grand slam titles will be the French Open. The clay is where he is most confident and feels most at home. There is no reason to not expect the "King of Clay" to continue his dominance on the dirt.  

#4. Roger Federer won't win a grand slam in 2014: 

I know this may come as a disappointment to Roger Federer fans, but I don't see Roger winning another grand slam title in 2014 or any time in the future for that matter. He is done winning grand slams as far as I'm concerned, and I personally think his final Wimbledon title was a result of him getting his second wind. I don't see a third wind coming for Federer. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray are playing too well right now to reasonably think that Federer will win a slam ever again.

#5. Victoria Azarenka will win a grand slam title: 

Serena Williams may be the #1 female tennis player in the world (likely the #1 female athlete in the world), but that doesn't mean she will take home the hardware from all four grand slams this year. Serena is bound to slip up somewhere, and if/when she does, Victoria Azarenka is likely the one behind her to capitalize. Look for Australia and/or the US Open to be the most likely places where Azarenka gets a grand slam title. She's good enough to beat Serena Williams at either event.

#6. Maria Sharapova will have a quiet season: 

I'm not quite ready to say Maria Sharapova is done winning grand slams, but I'm close to saying that she is. She gets totally destroyed by Serena Williams every time they face and Victoria Azarenka's game also seems to be too powerful for Sharapova. Perhaps she wins another French Open and makes a run at Roland Garros, but I doubt it. Keep in mind that a quiet season for Maria Sharapova is still a fantastic season by most players' standards. She'll easily finish in the top five and reach two or three grand slam semis and maybe win a WTA Premiere event like Indian Wells. But I don't think she will win a grand slam title unless the seas really part for her with both Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka going down (which knowing the WTA tour could happen).

#7. Marion Bartoli will attempt a comeback: 

Marion Baroli is currently the #13 player in the world and retired shortly after winning Wimbledon last year. It usually takes players a while to truly walk away from the game for good and Bartoli seemed more like she wanted to end the 2013 season early rather than permanently retire. I could be wrong on this, but I think at some point in 2014, Marion Bartoli will enter a tournament and make an attempt at getting back in the flow of competitive tennis.

#8. It's going to be another long year for American men's tennis: 

I should note that by American men's tennis, I am referring to the singles, because the Bryan Brothers are still doing really well in doubles. John Isner is #14 in the world and is the top ranked American man, and you have to scroll all the way down to Sam Querrey at #46 in the world to find the #2 ranked American man. To say the least, if America is hoping for another man to win a grand slam title, it's probably not happening for a while. Ryan Harrison and Jack Sock seem promising, but they won't threaten at a grand slam this year, and it's entirely possible that they never will. When it comes to men's singles, American tennis is in the dark ages. Thankfully America has Serena Williams to cheer for on the women's side.

#9. Andy Murray will make his deepest run at Wimbledon: 

I don't want to say that Andy Murray won't win a grand slam in 2014 after all that he has accomplished. He has earned the same level of respect as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in terms of factoring into the championship equation at grand slams, but simply due to the nature of how tough it is up at the very top, it's hard to see Murray winning more than one grand slam in 2014. With that being said, if there's a place where he gets it done, I figure it'll have to be in front of the home fans in the United Kingdom.

#10. All grand slam title winners on the men's side will be either Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Murray: 

As time goes on, Juan Martin Del Potro's US Open title in 2009 seems more and more like an aberration and less like a future trend. Del Potro has played really well, but I don't see him winning a grand slam title in 2014. He doesn't seem to have quite enough to take out more than one of the three guys listed above in a grand slam. He could maybe reach a final, but I find the odds of that happening to be highly unlikely, and the odds of him winning a grand slam to be even more slim. As for the rest of the guys considered to be candidates to take out Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray, I don't see any of them doing it. David Ferrer gets crushed against these top guys in grand slams, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can't beat two or more of them in one event, and I've already explained why I don't see Roger Federer winning a grand slam. I can't predict all four grand slam events for you right now, but I can guarantee the men's winner for each grand slam event will either be Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @atp_guy