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ATP: Early Season Success Stories

Apr 5th 2017

Roger Federer

The Swiss maestro is probably the greatest tennis player of all time and is enjoying an Indian summer in his career aged 35. At the beginning of 2017, fans and pundits were understandably doubtful that Federer would ever win his 18th Grand Slam. However, he defied expectations to win the Australian Open and then won the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami to show everyone he is back in top form. Now very few observers would bet against him adding a 19th major title to his collection this year.

Roger Federer

In Melbourne, Federer thrashed Tomas Berdych, ground out victories against Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka and overcame his greatest rival Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five-set final. Then he thrashed Nadal 6-2 6-3 in Indian Wells before overcoming Wawrinka in the final. What followed in Miami was just as impressive, as he held his nerve to beat rising star Nick Kyrgios 7-6 6-7 7-6 in the semi-final before beating Nadal again in the final. It seems like a throwback to the last decade when Federer dominated the sport. The Swiss said after victory in Miami that the French Open will probably be the only clay court tournament he enters but, once the grass season begins, how many would bet against the possibility of a record eighth Wimbledon title this summer becoming his next stunning achievement?

Nick Kyrgios

The Australian shot to prominence with a breathtaking win over Nadal at Wimbledon 2014 but, since then, his career has been blighted by a string of disciplinary issues, ranging from not trying in sets to making rude comments on court about the private lives of opponents. With all of that going on, it is sometimes easy to forget that the talented 21-year-old won three titles in 2016, in Marseille, Atlanta, and Tokyo, and has steadily improved his game the whole time.

Nick Kyrgios

Kyrgios has kicked on in 2017, and his performances and demeanor in Acapulco, Indian Wells and Miami could finally earn him some headlines for the right reasons. The talented youngster twice beat both world number two Novak Djokovic and fellow rising star Alexander Zverev before starring in a blockbuster semi-final clash with Federer at Crandon Park. The Australian played superbly throughout his 6-7 7-6 6-7 defeat and could have won the match. However, he missed a great opportunity to break Federer for a second time in the first set and win it 6-3, and then got distracted by a rowdy fan when up 5-4 and serving in the final-set tie-break.

Some tennis fans dislike Kyrgios, but considering how entertaining he is to watch, hopefully, the Miami match with Federer will be regarded in the future as an early preview to a glorious career packed full of great matches and Grand Slams wins.

Grigor Dimitrov

Although he faltered in Indian Wells and Miami, it has still been a good start to 2017 for the Bulgarian. He won the Brisbane title, then reached the second Grand Slam semi-final of his career in Melbourne and almost beat Nadal to make it to his first final. Then he returned to his home country to claim the title in Sofia, before notching up a quarter-final appearance in Rotterdam.

Grigor Dimitrov

Perhaps most encouragingly for Dimitrov, he demonstrated that is capable of producing big wins by beating three top ten players – Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori, and Dominic Thiem – en route to success in Brisbane. He also thrashed David Goffin in straight sets at the Australian Open, which is no mean feat. However, his disappointing early exits in Indian Wells and Miami suggest he is still searching for consistency – which is something he will need to achieve if he is to become a regular fixture in the top ten.

Jack Sock

American tennis fans might finally have a top male player to get behind. Sock has won two titles in 2017 – in Auckland and Delray Beach, Florida – and has now reached four consecutive Masters 1000 quarter-finals, so he seems to be heading for a place in the top ten. These performances demonstrate an impressive level of consistency, particularly as he is playing an exciting, attacking brand of tennis that can often seem high-risk.

Jack Sock

They also show that Sock has found a way to beat most players most of the time – which is a considerable achievement. However, improving beyond that stage is typically a greater challenge for any player, and the American’s straight-sets defeats to Federer and Nadal respectively in Indian Wells and Miami suggest he too will find it tough to make the next step up in his career.

But that does not mean he cannot do it, especially when you consider that it was never a certainty he would reach the heights he already has. To beat the best in the world, Sock will have to learn how to produce his best shots when he needs them most and to take opportunities when he gets them. For example, the American had break point chances to go up a double break in the second set of his Miami quarter-final with Nadal but was unable to convert any of them and eventually lost the set 6-3. Had he seized his moment when it arose, he would probably have won the set and may even have won the match.