Roger Federer: 10 Tournaments He Could Legitimately Win in 2012
Roger Federer has won only one tournament so far this year, in Doha. It was the first year since 2003 in which he did not win a Grand Slam title.
By the end of 2011 Federer will have played 17 tournaments plus two Davis Cup ties. He skipped Halle, where he is a regular, and pulled out of Shanghai.
With the eyes of the tennis world on Novak Djokovic and how well he will play in 2012, this will be the first year in which Roger Federer will truly fly under the radar, after dropping to No. 4 in the world in the ATP ranking.
Being smart as Roger Federer is and considering that he doesn’t have much else to prove as a tennis player, he could use the lack of pressure in his favor.
Great players such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi had great late career runs, and there is no reason why it should be different with the great Swiss.
Any analysis of what Fed can do in 2012, can only make sense if we consider that he will have a similar schedule as the one he is having in 2011 and lately in his career.
With that in mind let’s take a look at 10 tournaments that Roger Federer has a shot at winning next year, in chronological order according to the ATP calendar of events.
Qatar Exxonmobil Open: Doha, Qatar
1 of 10ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 3
2011 result: Winner (beat Nikolay Davydenko in two straight sets).
As the defending champion Roger could have a good run in his preparation for the Australian Open.
Australian Open: Melbourne, Australia
2 of 10Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 4
2011 result: Semifinalist (lost to Novak Djokovic in three straight sets).
Federer always starts the year strongly and his past results down under combined with the type of surface, can make him a candidate in 2012.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: Dubai, UEA
3 of 10ATP 500
Surface: Outdoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 4
2011 result: Finalist (lost to Novak Djokovic in two straight sets)/
Federer loves Dubai, has a house there and spends a lot of practice time in the city.
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Gerry Weber Open: Halle, Germany
4 of 10ATP 250
Surface: Grass
Total number of titles won: 5
2011 result: Did not play.
Halle is a place where Federer feels very comfortable and it is where he likes to do his tune up for Wimbledon.
Wimbledon: Wimbledon, Great Britain
5 of 10Grand Slam
Surface: Grass
Total number of titles won: 6
2011 result: Quarter-finalist (lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets).
This is the Grand Slam where Fed has his best chance, due to the history he has made there and for grass being his favorite surface.
Western & Southern Open: Cincinnati, USA
6 of 10Masters 1000
Surface: Outdoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 4
2011 result: Quarter-finalist (lost to Tomas Berdych in two straight sets).
Leading up to the US Open, "Cinci" should be Roger's safest bet in the American summer.
US Open: New York, USA
7 of 10Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 5
2011 result: Semifinalist (lost to Novak Djokovic in five sets).
Roger's US Open record speaks for itself. Five straight titles and six straight finals make him a contender.
Swiss Indoors: Basel, Switzerland
8 of 10ATP 500
Surface: Indoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 4
2011: Scheduled to play: Oct 30th to Nov 6th.
2010 result: Winner (beat Novak Djokovic in three sets).
This is Federer's home tournament and the surface fits his game greatly. He is always a favorite there for obvious reasons and is the defending champion in 2011.
BNP Paribas Masters: Paris, France
9 of 10Masters 1000
Surface: Indoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 0
2011: Scheduled to play: Nov 7th to Nov 13th.
2010 result: Semifinalist (lost to Gael Monfils in three sets).
The fact that Roger never reached the final of this one should be enough motivation for him to capture the only Masters 1000 title he is missing in his career.
Barclays World Tour ATP Finals: London, England
10 of 10Masters Cup
Surface: Indoor/hard
Total number of titles won: 5
2011: Scheduled to play: Nov 20th to Nov 27th.
2010 result: Winner (beat Rafael Nada in three sets).
The great Swiss loves to win this one and the fact that it is played indoors and in London increase his chances.
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