ATP Tennis - Six players to look out for in 2011

Men's tennis in the past 6 years or so has had it's usual suspects, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.  I give to you six players I think will make some noise on the scene - #484 Juan Martin Del Potro, # 84 Milos Raonic, #32 Alexandr Dolgopolov, #7 Tomas Berdych, #5 Andy Murray, and #3 Novak Djokovic.  Djokovic and Del Potro have already been in the winners circle at the majors, Berdych and Murray have the game to break through, and Raonic & Dolgopolov just need a little bit of belief.  They may not all win majors this year, but remember these names, you're going to hear a lot about each of them.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Juan Martin w/2009 US Open trophy

Juan Martin Del Potro's ranking is a little misleading.  At the 2009 US Open, he beat Roger Federer in a thrilling five set final, winning his first major.  He was the guy everyone expected to break up the Rafa/Roger dominance in the sport.  Before having to miss most of 2010 (only playing in 3 tournaments) with a wrist injury & subsuquent wrist surgery, he made it up to number 5 in the world.  He's 2-2 so far in 2011, losing in the round of 64 at the 2011 Australian Open to Marcos Baghdatis, and in the round of 16 at the Medibank International Syndey to Florian Mayer.  I believe that once he gets healthy, he can return to 2009 US Open form in a matter of six months - the rankings will come & he will remain a dangerous unseeded player in any tournament he enters.  Check out the ATP Tour Uncovered video about his comeback, also, here's a ATP Tour Uncovered video from just after the 2009 US Open & just before his wrist problems began.  


Milos Raonic

 Canadian (born in Yugoslavia) Milos Raonic jumped onto the scene with his monsterous serve, and a fourth round run in the 2011 Australian Open, before being taken out by the Energizer Bunny, David Ferrer.  Of all the new upcomers, this dude has the attitude I think will take him the farther than the others - like Australia's Bernard Tomic -  he's head just seems more into the game & less into the hype around him.  Everything about this kid's game is big, included the nerve he showed before having to exit the Aussie Open. 

Alexandr Dolgopolov

Robin Soderling

Alexandr Dolgopolov made it to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, being taken out by Andy Murray 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6 in the quarterfinals.  He did however look impressive in defeating Robin Soderling in the fourth round 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.  He has a very efficient game, good stamina, effortless movement around the court & a good variety of ground strokes.  A little more match play and confidence, this kid should move up the rankings quickly. 

Tomas Berdych

The next two guys have been in the top 10 for a while, and they both have the game to defeat the top guys - they've done it, but both of them have the same problem - their heads.  First head case, Tomas Berdych.  He's been in the final of one major, 2010 Wimbledon & lost to Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.  He did however take out defending champ, Roger Federer in the quarterfinals 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 that year.  I don't believe that he'll make another final in a major this year, but he may very well upset one of the higher ranked guys deep into a major.

Andy Murray

Head case number two should be well known to most tennis fans, Andy Murray.  He's made it to three major finals, the 2008 US Open, 2010 & 2011 Australian Opens.  He lost the first 2 major finals to Roger Federer,   and the last one to Novak Djokovic - not winning a set in any of his appearances.  I think this last loss will take a while for him to get over - in his first match since the '11 Aussie Open, he lost in the first round to Marcos Baghdatis.  He has beaten Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic on more than one occasion, but when he makes to the final of a major, it's like a deer in headlights - his feet become glued to the court & he forgets everything that got him to the final.  Do I think he will make another final in a major, definitely.  Do I think he will ever win a final,  maybe at some point.

Novak Djokovic

Nole w/2011 Australian Open trophy

Next up is Novak Djokovic, a two time Australian Open champion - 2008 & 2011.  Nole has been around for a while, reaching a career high of number two in February 2010, but has been the number 3 player for a while.  Like most, he's been unable to crack that Rafa/Roger stranglehold on the number one/two positions, but he has his confidence & serve back, his health is in check, the mind is right, and if he continues on this path he has the game to break through.  With Rafa's body failing, and Roger just not being as sharp & not having the fear factor he once had over players on the tour, look for Nole to play up to the expectations.  He should definitely challange for at LEAST one more major, probably the US Open, later this year.  A really good sign is that he has said winning Wimbledon will be a priority this year. 

All in all, 2011 should be a great year for Men's tennis - lots of new names to look out for, of course the old guard to watch.