Men's Tennis Players with the Most to Prove in March
Now is the time for the men on the ATP Tour to be hitting their stride with the Davis Cup, Masters 1000 events and French Open all in the not-too-distant future. Such is the nature of tennis, though, that there are still players with something to prove in March.
There was a feeling of juxtaposition about Andy Murray's Australian Open final efforts; an excellent run to the last two ended with an evidently frustrated Scot berating himself on court.
Rafael Nadal's undulating form needs leveling out sooner rather than later if he is to secure an unprecedented 10th French Open.
The following slides will analyse the form of four of the men on tour and what they must do to make March a merry month.
Grigor Dimitrov
1 of 4
Grigor Dimitrov has the unenviable task of living up to a major billing this year.
The comparisons to Roger Federer will mean less and less unless Dimitrov can make a statement of intent this year.
An unconvincing start to the year has seen the Bulgarian lose to Gilles Muller in Rotterdam and Ryan Harrison in Acapulco.
He rallied and pushed Murray in the Australian Open, but ultimately fell short. A strong run prior to the season's second Slam in May will give him the confidence to make bold pundits' Federer comparisons accurate.
Simon Briggs of the Telegraph referred to Dimitrov as "tennis's crown prince" last year. If Dimitrov doesn't start reaching more finals and lifting titles, he might find the crown no longer fits.
Andy Murray
2 of 4
If Murray wanted an easy life, devoid of close inspection, then by now he knows the role of Great Britain's unrivaled No. 1 promises no such luxuries.
It's only two months into 2015, and already the fire has been stoked.
After an incomprehensible collapse against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, analysis was preoccupied with Murray's on-court attitude.
On the topic of his not-so-subtle frustration, Murray told the Mail's Oliver Holt, "It's not like I dismiss it and say it was nothing."
Few would disagree. Some of Murray's blow-ups must be worthy of detailed essays for sports psychologists.
That is why March is a crucial month for Murray. It's a chance to show that steady progression is being made and that the defeat to Borna Coric in Dubai was a blip.
Rafael Nadal
3 of 4
If ever a week suggested logic was open to manipulation and change, look no further than the last seven days.
Rafael Nadal slipped one place in the ATP rankings and lost on clay. Sound bizarre enough yet?
Fabio Fognini, a perennial enigma, ensured Nadal had an unwelcome reminder of what it means to lose a semi-final on clay. The defeat in Rio was his first final-four loss on the surface in 12 years.
Such is the complexity and contradiction of Nadal's presence in the last year that it was no surprise that he won Sunday's final in Buenos Aires. A complicated 2014 still resulted in one Grand Slam title and another final.
How Nadal will continue 2015 is anyone's guess.
The win in Argentina could be the catalyst for a more consistent month. Yet the Spaniard's form this year suggests bold proclamations are ill-advised.
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James Ward
4 of 4
James Ward's eyes must have lit up when he knew Great Britain would play the United States in the Davis Cup.
Last February, Ward sawed off American Sam Querrey 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the competition to raise his stock as well as eyebrows.
Ward is on the verge of cracking the top 100 in the rankings and now has a chance to repeat his heroics of last year. A similar performance could set him up for a strong remainder of the season.
Although Ward might take some satisfaction from becoming a Davis Cup specialist, in the way Ian Poulter lifts his game for Ryder Cups, the top 100 will be his aim.
He will need more confident performances to prove that qualifying for last year's French Open was no fluke. Another few days crushing the United States should get him in the mood.
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