Tennis season 2008 - ATP Tour

Change on the Top

Season that is just behind us brought the switch on the top of ATP ranking list. Phenomenal Rafael Nadal has proved his superiority in the mid-year and moved from the throne non-formal king Roger Federer. Swiss has a task to do a good preparation for the next season and attempt to return to the No.1, but now he has more competitors - Novak ?okovi? is just behind, and very strong rivals are rising stars - Andy Murray as first, but also Del Potro, Simon, Tsonga... ATP calendar is still a problem for many players, and injuries were numerous, but there is only one change certain on that map - from May 2009 ATP tournament is moving from Amersfort (Netherlands) to the capital of Serbia - Belgrade!


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


The last tennis tournament in men's competition (ATP Tour 2008) was played in Shanghai (China). As well as the girls did it, final Masters was organized in two groups and gathered at one place eight best tennis players in the world - with one, but crucial absence - the current No.1, Rafael Nadal, who had to cancel because of injury. It turned out later that he could not play for the national team of Spain also, in the Davis Cup final against Argentina. With his absence the main favorites have become Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, with Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro, who were in great form last weeks, even months. From the second line, Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Andy Roddick have been waiting for their chance.

Novak Djokovic had a great tournament, he lost only one match, without significance for the final ranking (third round in the group). Unlike previous year, when he left without any single win on the final tournament, he presented his big progress in all aspects and he made his form very well scheduled. Confirmation for this statement comes with a view on the final ATP ranking list - the end of 2008 - Novak is only 10 points far from recently "unreachable" Swiss player Roger Federer. Djokovic will have an opportunity to jump one step more already at the beginning of next season, in Australia.

Federer did a poor performance in Shanghai, was defeated by Gilles Simon, then by British Murray and failed to reach the semifinals. It is evident fall in his play, proved with the number of titles won this year. After a long period he lost the leading position on the ATP ranking list, allowing Nadal to win both Rolan Garos and Wimbledon, and leaving himself as a task for the next season to keep even No.2 position in the world.

Nikolay Davydenko made a great come-back in China. After a period of poor results and withdrawing from some tournaments, he came to Shanghai and deserved honorable defeat in the finals. Russian number one had a partly-successfull season, but some occasional crisis also, and this was certainly not the best year since he plays in pro-tour. On the other hand, Andy Murray started rising his form since the U.S. tour in the mid-year, won a couple of big tournaments in a row and very ambitiously arrived to the best players summit. He won all three matches in his group (Roddick, Simon and Federer), but in the semifinal he could not beat Davydenko, so he had not a chance for the crown at the end of this season. However, he reached his best position in ATP list this year - fourth in the world, and experts predictions for him is to make even better results in 2009. He also hopes to become a part of "Big Four" of men's tennis.

Two French players - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon also had a lot of success this season. Tsonga played his first final of Grand Slam tournament in his career - Australian Open. He was defeated by ?okovi? then, but later he won against the same opponent in some quite important tournaments. He joined the top club, but whether he will succeed and do something more there is forthcoming period to show. Gilles Simon arrived to Shanghai as the first substitute - because of Nadal's absence - but it's far from that he did not deserve to play here. As well as his compatriot, he had very good periods during the season, and some important results against the best players. Anyway, for the next step he will have to eliminate some unforced errors in matches he just had to win, and should maybe get a little more self-confidence in the decisive moments.

Juan Martin del Potro started with a series of good results at the same time like Andy Murray did - during the tournaments in North America. He won the first ATP tournament in his career then, and immediately after that two more in a row. Very tall Argentinian player was using all the force of his service, and then he improved the other elements of the game as well, so he reached the top players. Some small injuries stopped him at the end of season, to make his best, but there is enough time for this guy. Andy Roddick was the only American in the final Masters Cup and the last to "get a ticket" to China. He started solid, but then was injured and Czech Radek Stepanek had to take his place, but he failed to reach more than group phase. In this way, as well as in women's competition, both reserves got their chance at the final tournament.

Season that is just behind us brought the switch on the top of ATP ranking list. Phenomenal Rafael Nadal has proved his superiority in the mid-year and moved from the throne non-formal king Roger Federer. He won Paris and Wimbledon, played very well for Spain till the Davis Cup finals, and he deserved attention of experts and numerous tennis fans. Swiss has a task to do a good preparation for the next season and attempt to return to the No.1, but now he has more competitors - Novak ?okovi? is just behind, and very strong rivals are rising stars - Andy Murray as first, but also Del Potro, Simon, Tsonga... ATP calendar is still a problem for many players, and injuries were numerous, because of non-stop playing week after week. There are no significant changes announced about this but there is one certain change about the map - from May 2009 ATP tournament is moving from Amersfort (Netherlands) to the capital of Serbia - Belgrade!


(Published: 10.12.2008.)