{"id":1991,"date":"2011-06-21T10:11:50","date_gmt":"2011-06-21T14:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=1991"},"modified":"2011-06-21T19:47:41","modified_gmt":"2011-06-21T23:47:41","slug":"take-your-pick-whos-the-favourite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/broadstreetbelievers.com\/?p=1991","title":{"rendered":"Take Your Pick: Who’s the Favourite?"},"content":{"rendered":"

– All active American men’s tennis players have a combined ONE major title.\u00a0<\/p>\n

– The highest ranked American is 9th in the world, and he is a 29-year old that no one has ever heard of (Mardy Fish).\u00a0<\/p>\n

– The highest-ranked American under the age of 28 is Sam Querrey at #40.<\/p>\n

Because of the historic\u00a0low in which\u00a0American men’s tennis is mired right now, most of the country is completely blind to the fact that we are enjoying one of the most interesting eras of tennis in a very long time.\u00a0 In fact, I would argue that 2011 may be the most intriguing and interesting year of men’s tennis in my lifetime of fandom.\u00a0 And, Wimbledon, which starts today, may be the most intriguing tournament of what could be an epic season of tennis.<\/p>\n

The reason to get interested in men’s tennis right now is obvious – the Big Four.\u00a0 As deep as the talent goes right now, the top of the men’s rankings is ripe with storyline after storyline, and the next two weeks at the hallowed grounds of the All-England Club should be absolutely fascinating!<\/p>\n

After Rafael Nadal held on to his #1 ranking, by taking his record-tying 6th French Open title, I sent a text to the Lead BSB Tennis Correspondent, Alexi, that simply said “So…who’s the favorite now at Wimbledon?”\u00a0 It was a simple question that drew upon an incredibly complex array of factors entering the 135th Championships at Wimbledon.\u00a0 Let’s take a look at the four reasons\u00a0(in reverse order of how I would have answered the question) why this normally simple and mundane question does not have such an elementary answer this year.<\/p>\n

4). Andy Murray<\/em><\/p>\n

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While Tim Henman probably had what it takes mentally to break the British drought at Wimbledon, he didn't have it physically. Andy Murray looks like he is the exact opposite.<\/p><\/div>\n

The last British male to win the singles’ title at their own heralded championship was Fred Perry in 1936.\u00a0 But, now they have serious hopes of possibly breaking that heart-wrenching drought with their Scottish hero, Andy Murray.\u00a0 However, as good as Murray has played and as serious of a contender he will likely be for many years to come, it still remains to be seen if he has the mental toughness to ever get it done.\u00a0 He has made it to three major championships, but has not won a single set in any of them.\u00a0 He has proven almost incapable of dealing with big-pressure moments, and Andy Murray in a Wimbledon final is probably a more pressure-packed moment than any player could possibly have, considering history and the fervor of tennis in the UK.\u00a0 Because of all of this – and the fact that he is number 4 in the world and grass is not his best surface – Murray is clearly the #4 favorite to win the title this year.\u00a0 But, just the fact that he’s Scottish and in the conversation adds greatly to the intrigue that these next two weeks will deliver.<\/p>\n

3). Rafael Nadal<\/em>
\nThe #1 player in the world, who has already completed a career Grand Slam at the mere age of 25,<\/p>\n

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We were probably all correct when we believed that this generation of tennis players included the best that ever played. But, we may have all been too quick to figure out who was "The One"<\/p><\/div>\n

is coming off a dominating performance in Paris to record his 6th French Open and 10th career Grand Slam title.\u00a0 He is the #1 seed and has already won this tournament twice.\u00a0 So, how is he the 3rd most likely to win it this year?\u00a0 Well, I have no idea – and I am the one that made these rankings.\u00a0 See, THIS is why this tournament is going to be so great!\u00a0 The separation between the top 3 players on this surface, coming into this tournament is razor thin<\/em>.\u00a0 I have Nadal #3 not because of anything he can’t do (or hasn’t done), but just because I think that one of the other guys is playing slightly better tennis and one of the other guys is slightly better on this surface.\u00a0 Would I bet against Rafa?\u00a0 Hell no.\u00a0 And, for the record, that Lead Tennis Correspondent I referred to above, he replied to my simple question with a simple answer, “I guess it’s gotta be Rafa.”\u00a0 And, this from the biggest Federer fan I know.<\/p>\n

2). Novak Djokovic<\/em><\/p>\n

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While this country was busy ignoring the world of tennis, Nole became the best player in the world<\/p><\/div>\n

John McEnroe won 43 straight matches to open the 1984 tennis season, which still stands as the longest winning streak to open a season.\u00a0 Djokovic was 42-0 this year entering his semifinal match against Roger Federer at the French Open last month.\u00a0 Beaten by the great Federer left Novak one short of McEnroe’s record to open a season and only\u00a0four shy of the overall match winning streak of Guillermo Villas in the summer of 1977.\u00a0 Needless to say, the Djoker has been playing, far and away, the best tennis in the world.\u00a0 If Djokovic had beaten Federer – win or lose in the finals to Nadal – he would enter this tournament #1 in the world and, probably, a somewhat clear favorite to take down his first Wimbledon title.\u00a0 But, he didn’t.\u00a0 So, despite playing undoubtably the best tennis in the world right now and enjoying a much-improved grass game, Djokovic has still never won this tournament, while some other guy has won it, oh, SIX times.<\/p>\n

1). Roger Federer<\/em>
\nIt is strange to me that saying “Roger Federer is the favorite to win Wimbledon this year” would<\/p>\n

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He's only won this thing six times, why would we think he can do it again?<\/p><\/div>\n

probably be greeted – by actual tennis fans – as a “bold statement.”\u00a0 But, with Djokovic’s play this year and Nadal’s youth and health, the general consensus is that The Federer – the #3 seed – is probably the #3 choice for this title.\u00a0 But, I saw something in the old champ at Roland Garros this year.\u00a0 He looks, to me, like he has said to himself, “alright, Roger, let’s put together one last great season before forever relinquishing the world #1 to the ‘next generation’.”\u00a0 And, with Wimbledon being his best surface, you have to believe that he is revved up and ready to make a run at a 17th major title next week.\u00a0 I am not yet ready to throw dirt on the greatest player to ever play.\u00a0 Let us, for one last time, treat this legend as the pre-tournament favorite – not for sentimental reasons, but for logical, emotionless, actual tennis reasons.<\/p>\n

And…The Draw<\/em>
\nWhile there are four players that seem a level above the rest of the world, the top three have probably all separated themselves from Andy Murray a little bit, as well.\u00a0 That means that the 1-seed earned by Rafa really pays off because Federer and Djokovic are lined up in the semis again here in Wimbledon.\u00a0 Let’s take a look at the draws, starting with the third-round, assuming none of these guys loses to an unseeded player:<\/p>\n

RAFA:<\/span><\/p>\n