Forget About Fed…At Your Own Peril!

While I am admittedly one of the biggest Roger Federer fans on the face of the planet, in no way, do I let that fact cloud my judgment as a longtime member of the media and fully realize that the days of Fed’s total domination, are now, a thing of the past. With so many younger, bigger, stronger and yes, faster, opponents beginning to make names for themselves, Federer will undeniably have a tougher time in winning a major than at any time in his career.

Having said that…I also genuinely believe that Federer can and ultimately will, add at least one more major title to his already impressive cache whether that title comes in 2014 or beyond. While it is true that Federer now faces more top-notch competition than ever, I think it’s also a fact that, outside of NovakDjokovic, Rafael Nadal and a returning Andy Murray, not many tennis fans in their right minds would pick someone other than Federer to hoist one of next season’s four major titles, so basically, people still expect to see Federer in semifinals of majors and that says something in and of itself.

Are these expectations realistic?

I think they are and I can see him managing to reach at least one grand slam final in 2014, if not two.  If you thought this past season was telling as Federer fell to No. 7 in the world, then think again. The fact of the matter is that 2014 will almost assuredly be a far more telling year for the incomparable Roger Federer, whether good or bad. 

2014 Aussie Open Prediction!

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic delivered a 

strong message in winning the 2013 ATP 

World Tour Finals this month.

Call me crazy, but I’m picking the Djoker to back up the powerful message he sent to Nadal and everyone else in the World Tour Finals by plowing through his half of the field to meet none other than Roger Federer (okay…or someone else) in the Aussie Open finals, which, by the way, he will win on four commanding sets.

“This was the best possible ending” to the ATP season, said Djokovic, who won his seventh title of the year. “I really feel that now [after the fall run] my season was really good. This is definitely a great confidence boost for the start of next season.”

Novak Djokovic DYK Moment!

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

Did You Know that Novak Djokovic has won 22 consecutive matches since losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2013 U.S. Open Finals?

Not this year Novak!

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has already suffered two
losses this season and  has 'come back to earth'
after winning three grand slams a year ago.

While I’ve still got mad love for World No. 3 Novak Djokovic and fully believe he will likely win another grand slam tournament this season, I said it at the end of last year and prior to this year’s Australian Open … there was no way possible that the Djoker could continue playing at the insanely high level he played at a year ago.

I said Djokovic was bound to “come back to earth” a bit this year and sure enough, he has – if only a little. Djokovic did manage to win the first grand slam title in Australia this year, but he’s also suffered a pair of recent losses to John Isner and – believe it or not – World No. 4 Andy Murray.

Now, I’m not going to say that Djokovic is going to even lose his No. 1 ranking this season, but he’s clearly going to have a bit tougher time winning titles this season!

Things Looking Fine Thanks to Ivan!

Ivan Lendl has Andy Murray looking a lot better mentally
 in no time at all!

Things are definitely on the upswing for World No. 4 Andy Murray thanks to the contributions of eight-time grand slam title winner Ivan Lendl. The former superstar agreed to coach Murray early this year and has the formerly fragile Murray like a rock of mental stability in no time at all. Murray refrained from the often childish displays of anger, confusion and frustration that have both, marked and plagued his career.

Andy Looking Fine and Dandy!

Andy Murray looks like a new man with eight-time grand slam 

champion Ivan Lendl now coaching him.

As a longtime Andy Murray critic, I’m now going to go on record and say that I really liked the mental improvements that I saw in the World No. 4 and I now believe that he has a more than legitimate chance to win a grand slam title in the very near future if he can maintain and improve on the mental aspects of the game.

Andy Murray-Ivan Lendl Marriage at Work!

While I abhor Andy Murray (not nearly as much as my daughter though) I’ve got to say that something looks different about Murray since the start of the Aussie Open and I swear it’s all because of Ivan Lendl’s mentoring. 

Hell, to keep it totally honest with you, Murray has looked a lot like the stoic Lendl in beating the hell out of every opponent he’s faced so far this season. It should be very interesting to see hw Murray handles the upper echelon players this coming week, but as of right now – all systems are definitely go for the enigmatic Scot. 

Murray Hires Lendl, But …

World No. 4 Andy Murray is finally getting away from Mummy’s tutelage in order to break his career winless grand slam streak in 2012. To this end, the much-maligned native of Scotland has hired former ATP World Tour legend and eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl in order to help him get over the proverbial ‘hump’ and finally win his elusive first grand slam title.

However, I’m going on record right now Eye on Sports readers, to say that Lendl’s greatest task will be helping the emotional Murray master the mental aspects of the game ..  and it’s an unenviable task I’m not sure even the great Lendl can pull off, particularly seeing as how this is his first attempt at coaching a high level professional player.