Much is being made of the rigours of the ATP schedule, and their impact on the current crop of young players on the tour. So it’s a really interesting time to highlight the progress of some of the not-so-young faces gracing the early tournaments of 2009.
There seems to be a rejuvenation in some players who’ve seen a year or two around the top ranks of the game, and this is adding a nice variety and an extra interest, particularly as the top two sit it out on the sidelines with injuries.
Radek Stepanek has now made it to the semis in Memphis hot on the heels of two ATP titles this year already. What’s more he won the doubles title in San Jose as well as the singles. Not bad at 30.
He broke back into the top 20 last week and, with few points to defend, is likely to continue to climb the rankings in the coming weeks. If his form continues, and he stays injury-free, he could do could do very well from the remainder of the hard-court season.
Not always a popular player—he lacks the gracious style we have come to expect from the more media-savvy players—he nevertheless produces, and always has, an exciting brand of all-court tennis, and is never less than a challenging opponent.
He will fare less well once the clay season begins but, as in 2008 when he was a late wild-card addition to the Masters in Shanghai, he may have a further resurgence in the latter part of the year.
Approaching his 27th birthday, Tommy Robredo is also hitting some of his best form with a win and a semi already under his belt on the south American clay. He’s also made the final in Buenos Aires. So sitting comfortably at 17, and with few points to defend until after Easter, he too could continue his upward trajectory.
He’s another man making an equal impact on the doubles tour, with win and semi places at the same tournaments as his singles successes, and has been rewarded with his top doubles ranking, at 25, in his career.
Robredo is also an asset to the aesthetics of the game. He is a fluid and elegant mover, able to bring enough variety of game to excel on clay and to make an impact on hard courts. Indeed, surprisingly for a Spaniard, his formative years were on the hard surface.
This is now his ninth year in the top 30 and he looks as though he’s still hungry for the challenge. Is a top 10 place beyond him? Probably, but that may depend on the fitness of the rest once we hit the clay season in earnest.
Robredo’s semi victory in Buenos Aires was against another fast riser in recent weeks, Jose Acasuso. He, too, has had a good start on clay this year, with one final and one semi to his name already.
With few points to defend in the first half of the year, he could climb a good many more places than the six of last week. Of course, at just 26, he’s one of the younger “oldies” to keep an eye on!
David Nalbandian is defending his title in his home country so stands to lose ranking points if he fails to win, but he has still been able to celebrate his 300th match win on the ATP tour. He also has a win at Sydney under his belt.
Now 27, Nalbandian seems to have been near the top of the rankings for years, though it is three years since his career high of No.3.
He’s one of those thrilling players—a little like Marat Safin—who has
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