2011 preview

After the 2010 season, which I think was satisfying for most fans, it is now time to look forward to 2011 and try to answer a few questions.
 
Who will win the Grand Slams?
 
Frankly, I don't expect any big surprises. The Slams will be won by Nadal and Federer, just like during the previous seasons, given that they're both fully fit. The other players just don't have that little extra to beat the two of them yet.
 
Nadal should have no problems at Roland Garros, and he will most likely win one or two more Slams, which could be any one of the others.
 
I think Federer wouldn't be Federer without at least one major/year, and 2011 should be no different. He has a good chance to defend his title in Melbourne, and he must be hungry for revenge and a record seventh title at Wimbledon.
 
Will Rafa retain his dominance and his world Nr. 1 ranking?
 
I guess this is the most important question of them all. The answer will of course depend on himself and Roger - and their performances at the Slams.
 
The spring season will be crucial in this battle - Nadal has a huge amount of points to defend during the clay and grass season, while Fed can gain a whole lot of points if he is fully motivated and in good form.
 
More simply - If Nadal defends both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and does well also at the US Open, he will most likely remain as Nr. 1. If Roger gets to the Roland Garros semifinal, wins Wimbledon and the US Open, he will overtake Rafa in the rankings.
 
Will Federer's star finally start to fade?
 
I don't think so. Many experts thought in 2008 that his time was up, but he surprised them all by bouncing back impressively in 2009.
 
His game is not as good as it was 4-5 years ago and he also experienced his weakest spring season this year, but he seems to have found new motivation since then with Paul Annacone who's urging him to be more aggressive on court.
 
This new element to his game has already resulted in a strong second half of the season, culminating in his impressive win at the World Tour finals in London. If he can keep this kind of form up, he will be as tough to beat as ever.
 
His effortless playing style over the years also grants him a great fitness level even at the age of 30. I think he will remain in the top 3 for at least 2 more seasons, even if he no longer can dominate the game like he used to.
 
Will Murray finally break through?
 
Andy Murray has been somewhat of an enigma for several years now - the talent is obviously there, but he would really need a Grand Slam victory to finally believe that he is a top player.
 
I don't really see this happening in 2011, unless he really puts in a spirited, flawless effort against the two greats, at the same time as he overcomes the huge pressure from his home country. If that should happen, he might become a completely new and improved player afterwards.
 
What about the Djoker?
 
I somehow feel sorry for Novak in many ways. We all know how good a tennis player he is - with his qualities, he should have won 4-5 majors by now and he should have gotten to Nr. 1, if only for a short time.
 
He is really the Andy Roddick of his generation - unlucky to be pinned down in the shadow of two superstars throughout most of his career. His development as a player also seems to have come to a halt - he's at a very good level, but I'm afraid it won't be enough to get no Nr. 1. during next season.
 
Will the power hitters hit their way to the top?
 
There's a whole generation of power players out there - Söderling, Berdych, Del Potro, Cilic... all very talented, all capable of producing massive results. But as of now, they all lack the necessary consistency to really break through.
 
While the top players possess the ability to change their games when they need to, these guys mostly don't have a plan B, they try to win every match by blowing their opponent off court. On a good day, it works, but all days can't be good, not even for them.
 
I think that the one from the group above that can add an extra dimension of variation to his game has a good chance to become the future Nr. 1. At the moment, I see most potential in Robin Söderling. But this will not happen in 2011.
 
Any other surprises?
 
No. Men's top tennis is pretty much predictable at the moment, especially since Fabrice Santoro has stopped playing. Those times are also gone when Mikael Pernfors could win the Canadian Masters event by beating both Jim Courier and Todd Martin, using a completely powerless but awkward game and a first serve speed of around 120 km/h.