A quick grades column as our racket-toting heroes try to conquer Rome:
Head of the Class
Not much has changed for Novak Djokovic since my last column. He still hasn?t lost a match this year (32-0). He beat Rafael Nadal in another final, this one on clay, and this time he needed just two sets to do it. He won two more titles. And he all but guaranteed that he?ll ascend to the No. 1 ranking sometime this year, and perhaps as early as next week. By any measure, it has been a remarkable year for Djokovic?as in a full year, all in the span of four months.
Honor Roll
Rafael Nadal, for his continued clay-court excellence. Yes, he lost the Madrid final. But I see this as a benefit for Nadal. He has never played quite as well in Madrid, with its faster courts and high altitude, and the match against Djokovic will give him a lot to think about. He?s going to have to change his tactics a bit if (when?) these two meet again, serve better, and venture to the net a little more often. This year?s French Open presents the biggest challenge of his career, and I have no doubt he?ll respond.
French Open contenders: Congrats to Julia Goerges (won Stuttgart, plus two wins over No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki) and Petra Kvitova (won Madrid). I?ll say what the rest of you are thinking: This year?s French Open is the most truly open?as in, absolutely unpredictable?women?s tournament in many, many years, maybe ever.
Most Improved
Roger Federer, there?s a first time for everything?so here?s your first appearance in this category. Federer played his best tennis of the year?and maybe since last year?s Australian Open?in Madrid last week. The magic is still there, even if he can?t show it quite as consistently. Here?s saying he has enough of it to win another major, maybe more than one. But I?d be shocked if that win comes in Paris.
Most Charitable
Kei Nishikori for his continued efforts to raise money for Japan.
Overdue Assignment
It?s difficult to see Andy Roddick having much confidence at Wimbledon this year after a rough stretch of niggling injuries, illnesses and struggles on clay. I?d argue he has at least one thrilling Wimbledon run in him, but he needs a few breaks, and quick, for that to happen this year.
Stand in the Corner
Svetlana Kuznetsova, what?s wrong? You should be thriving in this new WTA world of inexperienced, Slamless seeds. Instead, you lose your first match in Rome to Greta Arn in over three hours.
Skip a Grade
Christina McHale continues to impress. She qualified for Rome and then won a round against Peng Shuai before losing to Francesca Schiavone, the defending French Open champion, in the second round.
Doctor?s Notes
Does Caroline Wozniacki have the game for clay? I thought for sure, but so far this season, she has struggled far more than she did on the hard courts. Wozniacki is a counter-puncher, and her brand of defense seems to work better on hard courts, where she moves better and can use her opponent?s power to her advantage. Still, she has a great chance to win this year?s French Open considering the weak field.
Juan Martin Del Potro, on the road back from wrist surgery, looks likely to miss the French Open with a muscle tear in his leg.
Department of Excellence
Thanks much to Tennis Channel for the relentless coverage of the clay court season.
Department of Books
A shameless plug for two books from two colleagues: High Strung by Steve Tignor (get it here) and Epic by Matt Cronin (get it here). The world needs more good tennis books, so 2011 is off to a fine start.
Department of Anagrams
Three cheers for Paul Smith, who was the first to solve last month?s Tennisgram: If Tomas Berdych had managed to beat Rafael Nadal in Miami and break up the first Federer-Nadal meeting in the U.S. in six years, the hopes of the Miami tournament organizers?and tennis fans?would have been Crashed by Tom.
Here?s this month?s puzzle. Say Gaston Gaudio, who won the 2004 French Open, came out of retirement and beat Roger Federer at this year?s French Open in the first round. (Obviously, not going to happen, but we?re having fun here, right?) The name for such a shock beating would be __________________.
Send your answers to me via email.
Tom Perrotta is an editor-at-large at TENNIS. Follow him on Twitter.
Source: http://feeds.tennis.com/~r/tenniscom-features/~3/Jo9E-5OPysY/
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