Top Men's Tennis Storylines to Follow Entering Spring
Spring is when the tennis season really heats up—in more ways than one.
The Masters Series events will commence in Indian Wells in a few short weeks, the prelude to Miami and the European clay-court season. With the French Open a mere three months away, the calendar will be absolutely jam-packed.
As always, lingering questions add the intrigue we love. Young players like Taylor Fritz, Nick Kyrgios and Dominic Thiem have flashed their potential this month. But how will they handle these bigger tournaments on the horizon?
Top stars like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal face their own share of uncertainties because of recent turmoil. Not so for Novak Djokovic, who looks more invincible than ever.
That's just scratching the surface of what's going on in the men's game. The following slides will present a deeper look at the most intriguing storylines to follow in the coming weeks.
The Rise of Taylor Fritz
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American teenager Taylor Fritz’s development is something U.S. tennis fans will be keen to follow this spring and beyond.
The 18-year-old reached his first ATP final at the recent Memphis Open, becoming the youngest American male to do so since 1989. He fell in the championship match to Kei Nishikori, but that result hasn’t stunted his progress.
This week, he cracked the Top 100 for the first time after an upset win over Jeremy Chardy in Acapulco. Just the latest in a line of impressive victories for Fritz.
As the spotlight on him grows with each passing week, the teenager doesn’t sound fazed by the extra attention.
“I’ve said it lots of times before, I play for myself, so I’m not worried about other people’s expectations,” Fritz told the New York Times' Andy Kent. “I’m doing it for me, so I just deal with the expectations I put on myself.”
With the hard-hitting Fritz’s trajectory pointing ever upward, he may have to alter those expectations.
Dominic Thiem's Emergence
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One young player who's been overlooked lately? Dominic Thiem.
With much of the attention going to Taylor Fritz and Nick Kyrgios in recent weeks, it's Thiem who's been just as impressive, if not more so.
The 22-year-old Austrian rose to a career-best mark of No. 15 in the world after strong results this month on the South American clay. At the Argentina Open, he surged to the title thanks to a three-set takedown of defending champion Rafael Nadal.
A signature win for Thiem, he had to fight past a determined Nicolas Almagro in the final. But he aced that test, using his blend of speed and power to take home the trophy.
Thiem is developing into a fine clay-court player, making him someone to watch at the French Open. Chances are we won't have to wait that long to hear more from him.
Juan Martin Del Potro's Comeback
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After numerous surgeries and setbacks involving his left wrist, Juan Martin Del Potro made his long-awaited return at last week's Delray Beach Open in Florida.
And he made the most of his opportunity to compete again. Sweeping through Denis Kudla, John-Patrick Smith and Jeremy Chardy in his first three matches, Del Potro's first action in nearly a year went better than expected. Though he'd lose in the semifinals to Sam Querrey, the Argentine kept perspective.
"I always try to win, that's for sure," Del Potro told ATPWorldTour.com. "But this week I won more than a tournament. I'm so glad to play tennis again."
Those three wins alone catapulted Del Potro 622 ranking spots. He now sits at No. 420, a number he's eager to improve when he takes the court in Indian Wells.
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Is Nick Kyrgios Ready to Be a Serious Contender?
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Talent isn't an issue for Nick Kyrgios—he's dripping with it. The main problem has been staying focused and putting all the tools together.
The volatile Aussie took an important step last week, winning his first career title in Marseille. He put on a scintillating display, failing to drop a set all tournament while beating three top-caliber players in Richard Gasquet, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic.
For a guy who often battles himself more than his opponents, the 20-year-old remained remarkably composed throughout the tournament. Maybe he's finally maturing into the player so many think he can be.
With so much athleticism and offensive firepower, Kyrgios should challenge for a spot in the Top 10 in the near future. The key is how he develops the mental aspects of his game. If he can do a better job keeping his emotions in check, bigger prizes could be within his reach.
Can Andy Murray Pressure Novak Djokovic?
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As Roger Federer deals with the aftermath of an injury and Rafael Nadal struggles to right his game, Andy Murray is presently the best man suited to challenge Novak Djokovic's monopoly.
"Challenge" is the operative word. It's becoming a herculean task these days with the world No. 1 occupying a stratosphere all his own. Not many players have made him sweat lately, and Murray has run head-on into that train often this past year.
Falling to Djokovic for the fourth time in an Australian Open final, the 28-year-old at least made his opponent work hard at the end. He didn't win a set, but his refusal to quit after a lackluster start is positive.
Murray and Djokovic are no strangers to semifinal and final showdowns against each other; they've met at those stages eight times since the start of 2015. But for the Scot to really step up and pressure Djokovic, he'll have to actually win more of those meetings.
Roger Federer’s Return from Injury
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Just three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Roger Federer is back on the practice courts.
The world No. 3 suffered the injury while playing with his kids following a semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. Though he offered few details about the exact nature of the situation, he sounded optimistic about a full recovery.
Federer subsequently pulled out of Dubai and Rotterdam, leaving a timetable for his return uncertain. But after posting an image of his training on his Facebook page, it appears he’s inching closer to playing again.
Whether or not he’ll compete in Indian Wells is still to be decided. That tournament begins March 7, leaving him precious little time to prepare.
When he does officially compete again, all eyes will be on Federer to see how he responds physically.
Will Rafael Nadal Turn Things Around?
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Looking far from regal lately, Rafael Nadal is still mired in a hole he hasn’t dug himself out from.
Motivated to silence critics after a less-than-stellar 2015, doubts have only intensified for the 29-year-old because of a lackluster start to this season. His play on the dirt hasn't inspired much hope either.
Recent semifinal losses on clay in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro to Dominic Thiem and Pablo Cuevas, respectively, dropped his overall record to 8-4. Even more alarming? Against top-50 foes, he’s 0-4.
Struggling to find consistency with his forehand (among other issues), Nadal’s game lacks the vigor that once made him so awe-inspiring. Opponents now walk onto the court believing they can beat the down-and-out champion, and he’s appeased them with poor play.
Nadal once ruled the clay with an iron fist, losing just 14 matches combined on the surface from 2005 through 2014. How the tables have turned. In the last year alone, he’s fallen eight times on the terre battue.
That rapid decline is troubling to say the least. Despite all his hard work, Nadal hasn’t turned the corner yet. If he can’t do so in the next few months, he may pass a point of no return.
Novak Djokovic Prepares French Open Title Run
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Taking several weeks off after another triumphant run at the Australian Open, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic has picked up right where he left off in Dubai.
Notching routine and quick wins over Tommy Robredo and Malek Jaziri, Djokovic is firing on all cylinders. How he manages to continually raise his game is extraordinary and a testament to his relentless work ethic.
With the French Open on the horizon, Djokovic won’t be lacking in motivation as he tries to win that title for the first time. These next few months, the Serbian will be focused like a hawk on achieving that goal, eager to devour the competition.
A four-time champion in Indian Wells and a five-time victor in Miami, Djokovic is seeking to sweep both events for the third straight year. Should he accomplish that unprecedented feat, his confidence will soar heading into the clay-court circuit.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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