2007 ATP Top 10 Predictions

Unlike with the WTA, forecasting the ATP in 2007 isn't a matter of determining which players will walk away with the slam crowns... but instead it's all about how many slams that Roger Federer will win THIS year.

Federer seems focused on adding Roland Garros to the collection of trophy "pelts" on his wall. So is this the year that the "RogerSlam" becomes a reality? The Swiss Mister might actually NEED to pull off the first men's Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969 if he's to ever rise above the world's other male athletes and finally claim a few of those "Athlete/Sportsman of the Year" awards for which he's been undeservedly passed over the past couple of years.

Hmmm, that being the case, maybe the better question should be which of THESE two guys will win the most slams/majors in 2007?




Now THAT is a true conundrum.

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Here's my early predictions for the 2007's Top 10 male players:

1. Roger Federer... come on, who else am I going to choose?
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2. Rafael Nadal... it's tough holding up your half of a rivalry when the other side is being held up by the King of Kings. Right, Rafa?
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3. Andy Roddick... is another slam final in A-Rodd's future now that Jimmy Connors is along for the ride? Problem is, Roger owns all the freeways.
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4. Nikolay Davydenko... he needs to reach a slam final if he's going to make a name for himself outside the serious tennis circles
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5. James Blake... how much longer can he hold off the Roddick/Connors combo and remain the USA's top-ranked player?
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6. Mario Ancic... it's about time he made a major move at a slam, isn't it?
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7. Ivan Ljubicic... '06 was a good step up, but the next one will be even tougher with Roger & Rafa guarding the door.
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8. Novak Djokovic... I may regret not putting him up a little higher than this when things are all said and done.
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9. David Nalbandian... the Argentine is always hovering, so I can hardly leave him out.
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10. Dmitry Tursunov... when you challenge Safin for the title of "most entertaining" Russian, that's saying something.
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DON'T FORGET... Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Marat Safin, Marcos Baghdatis
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LOOK OUT FOR... Joachim Johansson & Thomas Johansson
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IS THE TIME FINALLY RIGHT FOR... Richard Gasquet?
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AND IF LATE 2006 MOMENTUM COUNTS FOR ANYTHING... Fernando Gonzalez
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For a second opinion, here's what Tennisrulz Head Honcho Pierre Cantin says:

1-Roger Federer (ok, could anyone really do otherwise? Seriously?
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2-Rafael Nadal (hate to sound obvious here but...)
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3-James Blake (been on the rise for a couple of years, 2007 will be no exception)
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4-Andy Roddick (back in rythm with his new coach, he'll be back up there battling for US #1
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5-Nikolay Davydenko (good on all surfaces, plays so much)
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6-David Nalbandian (seems dedicated to proving his doubters wrong)
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7-Ivan Ljubicic (still solid but will have injury problems)
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8-Andy Murray (constant improvement thanks in part to coach Brad Gilbert)
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9-Mario Ancic (moments of greatness followed by a few consecutive losses)
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10-Marat Safin (need I add anything?)
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Of course, we could be wrong. Well, on pretty much everything except for Federer finishing at #1, of course.

All for now.

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