Tennis 2009! Can It Get Any Better?

As you all know, Roger Federer recently won a fifth straight US Open title. Congratulations Rog! He was written off all year and to finally got something in his trophy cabinet for 2008; it was richly deserved.

Tennis in 2008 was fantastic and produced some of the greatest rivalries in sport today. Barely anyone would have predicted last year's tennis outcomes. I'm going to try and do so for 2009.

The 2008 season has just finished, bar the Masters Cup, so predicting for 2009 will not be easy. I expect the year to be dominated by the big four as its now known.

Rafa, Rog, Nole and Andy are the big boys of the game and will be the main contestants for all major titles. I also see Juan Martin Del Potro to move into the top six rankings by the end of the year.

Australian Open

Maybe the most unpredictable slam of the year as it is the first. Rafa Nadal will beat his semi final 2008 best and make his first Aussie final. The other Semi is a sub final of sorts.

If Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were seeded in opposite sides of the draw, I would say this is the final. The defending champion will battle hard but eventually lose to the Fed. Rafa vs. Roger episode 1 will end in a 14th Slam title for Roger... just! Andy Murray will exit in the quarters. P.S If Federer wins does he move back to No. 1?

French Open

Most will see this as a foregone conclusion... and so do I. Rafael Nadal will inevitably win a fifth consecutive and record-breaking French Open title.

Roger has the game to win it, but facing the best clay courter ever is a bit of a downer. He will exit in the semis and depending on the draw, Nole or Murray will make the final, where I predict they will lose.

Wimbledon

Being English, this is my favourite Slam event. Del Potro will really make his mark. I think he will make a semi appearance along with Rafa, Federer and Djokovic (I don't know who alongside with him).

Roger vs. Rafa episode 2 will be another great match. It can go either way, but Roger's health let him down in 2008 and he was still points away from a sixth straight win at SW19.

I think he will regain his title and move into No. 1 in the world if he hasn't already and to No. 1 on the all-time Slam winners list. Unlucky Rafa!

US Open

I feel that Rafa may not win this for two reasons, he will be extremely tired. Two hard courts do not favour his knees. Andy Murray will stay at No. 4 in the world after making another Semi appearance. Novak vs Federer as a final.

They have equal chances, but I think Novak Djokovic is the man to take Roger's US Open crown. Novak Djokovic wins a second career slam on his favoured hard courts.

This article could turn out to be completely pointless if none of this happens but... they're only predictions. Please feel free to comment or respond with your own article, and as my good old uncle used to say, Eat your greens ;)

Over -