Well its been quite a while since I've updated this blog and alot has happened on the tennis front since then and this post will cover my pick of the men's favourites or contenders to win the French open.
So let's get cracking with this and have a look at who's got the best chance (or not so best) of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy at Roland Garros this year (please also note this post will be subject to being updated so it might a few changes here and there).
1. Novak Djokovic
OK so right at the top of the tree we once again have the undisputed World No.1 Novak Djokovic who has had a stellar season this year even by his own incredibly high standards and he has so far in 2015 wracked up a remarkable 22 match winning streak with only two losses so far to his name (in Doha and Dubai). Novak so far has claimed the first major of the year in Australia and went on to win the first three Masters titles on the trot in Indian Wells, Miami and also Monte Carlo before taking a break by not appearing in Madrid so its been quite a run so far and he had just added to it today by winning the Italian open in Rome defeating Roger Federer. Novak has had his chances at Roland Garros in the last three years or so but he has always come up short against Rafa in the key moments. This was especially noted in his two previous French open finals where he double faulted in both matches on championship point to hand the title to Rafa and he also squandered a key break in the 5th set of their epic semi final clash in 2013. But somewhere sooner or later something has to give and Rafa's stranglehold on the French can't last forever and if there is one man than can relinquish that title from Rafa's hands it is this man. So will Nole win it this year??? I think its not quite a done deal but it is a relatively safe bet and his form in 2015 so far would suggest so especially given that Rafa has been way below par this season, especially during the clay court season. So I think this could well be Novak's year and while there is always a chance he could lose again it might just be third time lucky this time around in Paris, but time will tell. Prediction: champion or finalist
2. Rafael Nadal
Next up is Rafa himself even though he has had his struggles in 2015 which so far has proved to be his worst season in what must be 10 years or so and it has seen his ranking plummet down to No.7 in the world. And after Rafa's surprise exit in Rome last week it has done nothing to help his seeding either at the French open and the organisers at the French have said they will not take his amazing record at Roland Garros into favour so there won't be any hope of Rafa being in the top four seeds. However his ranking has not gone down any further so he is still at No.7 in the world and if Milos Raonic pulls out (as he has had foot surgery but thought might recover in time for the French) then Rafa will go up to No.6 in the seedings. But this could still spell bad news for Rafa in Paris as he could very well face any of the the top three guys in the quarter finals and it would especially be unfortunate if he were to face an in form Novak Djokovic, which could spell the end of his unbeaten run there. And it is also worth noting that Rafa has failed to beat any of the other members of the big four so far as he has already fallen to Nole in Monte Carlo and suffered a surprise defeat to Andy Murray in Madrid. However there is something about the French open that invigorates Rafa even if he has struggled during the tour in the past when he get's to Roland Garros things just seem to click into place for him. So I think it would still be sillly to write off Rafa's chances because if he get's through a couple of tough first rounds and into the 2nd week that will give him confidence to push on and just maybe get himself into another final and from there anything is possible for him. So this year its harder to predict if Rafa will be the outright winner at the French but given his remarkable record there I still wouldn't write off his chances and he can definitely reach the 2nd week even if he does for the first time in six years come up short. But if Rafa does reach the final... I think he could still win it, such as his record there in the finals that 10th Roland Garros crown might yet be on the cards. Prediction: champion, finalist or quarter finals.
3. Andy Murray
Next is Andy Murray who so far has had a great 2015 as he reached the finals at the Australian open and Miami open even though he came up short to Djokovic in both it saw that he had fully recovered from his back surgery problems last year and he had found his form again. But even more impressively Andy has so far put together his best clay court season to date as he won his first clay court title in Munich against Philipp Kohlschreiber and last week he stunned Rafa at the Madrid open to claim his 2nd title on the red dirt. So the signs are looking very good so far for the British No.1 as he has continued to rack up the points this year and it sees him sit comfortably at No.3 in the world. Andy has also faired very well at the French open in the past having reached the semi finals on two occassions both last year and in 2011 where he came up short against Rafa both times. However Andy has proven so far this year to be a different animal on the red dirt and I think he will have his chances to claim the title for himself also. The only problem for Andy however is that he could still could lose out to one of the top clay court specialists on their day at the French such as maybe David Ferrer or Fabio Fognini, which might prove to be the one obstacle that might stop Andy in his tracks. But if Andy get's a favourable draw then I can definitely see him go deep into the 2nd week and while it has to be said I don't see him as the outright champ at Roland Garros he can still go far and you just never know. Prediction: semi finals or finalist.
4. Roger Federer
And next we have the final member of the "big four" Roger Federer who so far in 2015 has had a pretty good season although not quite as stellar as it was in 2014, Roger still has made an impression at some of the bigger tournaments. Roger also won the inaugural tournament at the Istanbul open earlier this month, which was his first clay court title in three years and he reached the final in Rome today but he was defeated in a convincing fashion however by Novak Djokovic. Roger however did struggle to do well at the Australian open this year as he was stunned by Andreas Seppi there in the 3rd round which does leave one or two question marks over Roger's ability to progress at the French. Roger also lost out last year as well at the French to an in form Ernest Gulbis in the fourth round, which shows that Roger lately at the slams has shown signs of vulnerability with age maybe also playing a factor here. However Roger is still perhaps the greatest player to have played the game and there will be no doubt that this year he will be incredibly motivated to do well at the French to make up for his early exit in Melbourne. So while I think it will be difficult to see Roger as the outright champion I still think that Roger can do pretty deep in Paris and I wouldn't be surprised if we see him in the final four at RG. Prediction: semi finals.
5. David Ferrer
Next is the former FO 2013 finalist David Ferrer who so far has had quite an impressive season in 2015 and outside Rafa (well his poor form of late permitting that is) and Novak, he is the second best clay court player in the world just now. And that is why Ferrer sits here at No.5 as he has proven he can really go deep in any clay court event and if it wasn't for Rafa in 2013 he would have won his first grand slam in Paris and its maybe a sad fact that Ferrer may well go down in history as the best player to never have won a slam. But that is not to say that Ferrer won't have his chances and with a favourable draw Ferrer could have the opportunity to really go deep in Paris yet again and while I don't see him as the champion in the city of lights I still see him reach the final four or at least the last eight. Prediction: quarter finals or semi final.
6. Kei Nishikori
Up next is Kei Nishikori who last year really broke out onto the scene as he made it into the top ten for the first time and reached his first grand slam final at the US Open where he came up short against Marin Cilic. But since then Nishikori has largely still maintained that impressive momentum even though he hasn't quite backed up those results to the same extent. Nishikori did also put together a good run on clay this year as he defended his Barcelona title successfully and he reached the semi finals of Madrid before being beaten by Andy Murray there. And Nishikori definitely remains one of the dangerous contenders just outside the big four who has a real shot at winning a grand slam and I think one day he might just do it. However I still don't quite see Kei winning his first major at Paris this year but I think a trip to the last eight or final four is likely. Prediction: quarter finals or semi finals.
7. Tomas Berdych
Next we have Tomas Berdych who so far has also had a pretty good season this year as he has reached three finals so far this year and consistently gone deep in most of the other tournaments he has played. The problem however for Tomas so far is his record in finals as he has lost more than he has won having reached 27 finals he has lost 17 of them which isn't too enviable a stat. Berdych also while he is known for having a very powerful game with potent groundstrokes and a big serve he is also one of the more mentally flaky players on the tour as he often lacks the edge needed to give him that final push he needs to win titles. So while I think Berdych has a good chance of going quite far in Paris again I don't see him winning his maiden grand slam here either, but the last eight or semi finals is still a safe bet. Prediction: quarter finals or semi finals.
8. Milos Raonic
Then we have the big Canadian server, Milos Raonic, who so far has had a pretty consistent season so far this year but hasn't won any titles as of yet having reached three finals. But Raonic so far has proven to be one of the most consistent players on the tour and his serve is one of the best in game and has often been a real weapon that has gotten him out of trouble. On top of that Raonic has worked hard to improve his game and added a few elements to it as he is a decent returner and also a competent vollyer at the net. Raonic has also clocked some pretty good wins already this year as he beat Nishikori in Brisbane and most notably stunned Rafa at Indian wells as he defeated the mighty Spaniard for the first time in his career there. However Raonic has often proven in the past to not be the best mover on the court and he often can have the top players run rings around him when it comes to playing long rallies which can leave him at a real disadvantage and his game is also still very much a work in progress. So can Raonic win the French? In short: no, but I still think he will make a decent run of things there and the last eight is a safe bet. Prediction: quarter finals.
9. Nick Kygrios
Next there is the young rising star from Australia, Nick Kygrios who really announced himself last year to the tennis world after he upset Rafa at Wimbledon in the fourth round to reach his first major quarter final. But Nick went on to prove he was no one trick pony either as he reached the quarter finals this year at his own home slam in Melbourne showing that this young guy could very well become a force to be reckoned with in the future. Nick also pulled of a stunning win this year against Roger Federer in Madrid as he toppled him in three tight sets, which shows that Nick is a big match player who loves the big stage. And this is what makes Nick very dangerous at the French open this year as although he is still very much a work in progress he is also a fearless and hungry player with nothing to lose. So I think its safe to say that the young Aussie could do quite well in Paris and although I don't see him break his maiden slam duck here I do think he will reach the 2nd week and the last 16 or eight. Prediction: 4th round or quarter finals.
10. Grigor Dimitrov
And last of all we have Grigor Dimitrov who is strangely enough right at the bottom here even though he is still very much a contender. But it has to be said that 2015 so far hasn't been the best year for Grigor as he has endured some early exits and even though he put in a fairly good showing in Australia before he was finally upended by Andy Murray in the 4th round (which prompted one of the most spectacular racquet breaks in history by Dimitrov!). Dimitrov also suffered a 1st round exit at the French last year which was a big disappointment given his impressive showing down under in Melbourne where he reached his first quarter final. However despite that I'm sure Dimitrov will be determined to put in a better showing this year at the French and I can see him probably make the 2nd week but I don't see him being the eventual champion, however the last 16 or 8 is still possible. Prediction: 4th round or quarter finals.
So that's it for my look at the pick of the men's contenders for the French open crown and I'm sure at least one or two of them will be accurate but however it goes it will be interesting as no doubt there might a few upsets in there.
And that's it for now and I will be back next week to start my coverage of the French open on this blog.
Until then bye for now!
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