Battle for the top

steven · Tennis legend

Battle for the top three

GavinUK · Lower Club Player

I'm not sure there is much significance of being number 3 or 4, but surely there is a big difference between those places and being ranked 2. It impacts where you are in the draw. If Murray were ranked second during the clay court season he wouldn't have to meet Nadal until the finals, so he stands a better chance of picking up more points and getting closer to being number 1.

Mikeduke · County player

Not playing Nadal is obviously an advantage, but I would think that Murray would be doing much better than expected if he made it to the semi final anyway.

Who do you think the number 2 player on clay is? There dont seem to be any stand out players in Mote Carlo!

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Fed probably should be the no2 on clay, but he seems to have gone to pot recently. after him who knows?

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

On clay, I'd say Federer or Djokovic are the 2nd best players - their results on the surface don't lie, but given Federer's recent form, then it's probably Djokovic even though he doesn't seem 100% suited to it.

Davydenko is pretty good as well.

GavinUK · Lower Club Player

I'm sure Steven could tell us who's the second best clay court player. It does seem like a surface that produces some very odd results. High ranking players sometimes seem to drop out early and players ranked much lower suddenly do well. So it's easy to see why they say some players are clay court specialist.

Mikeduke · County player

I thought the same, but it was interesting to see that Verdasco started as a slight favourite against Djokovic. Although perhaps that was more based on his Davis Cup performances than on the actual form of Djokovic.

It's great to see qualifiers getting so far in the draw though, Beck has had a lovely draw (as well as playing v well)

GavinUK · Lower Club Player

I've never seen Andreas Beck play, so will be good to watch. He's done well to get this far. Djokovic is playing annoyingly well today just when Murray is nipping at his heels in the rankings. But there is still a chance for Murray to progress as Davydenko is likely to be feeling a bit knackerd after such a tough match.

Vandenburg · Futures level

mmm im suprised know one is brining up nicholas almagro, very dangerous on this surface.

steven · Tennis legend

GavinUK wrote:
I'm sure Steven could tell us who's the second best clay court player. It does seem like a surface that produces some very odd results. High ranking players sometimes seem to drop out early and players ranked much lower suddenly do well. So it's easy to see why they say some players are clay court specialist.

If we're just talking points scored on clay in the last 12 months (not including this week), the top 14 (those with over 1000 clay points) are:

4610 Rafa
3400 Fed
2800 Nole
1860 Robredo
1840 Davydenko
1835 Almagro (83% of his total points)
1830 Ferrer
1510 Monfils
1350 Wawrinka
1299 Montanes (84% of his total points)
1250 Gonzo
1210 Verdasco
1110 Potty
1108 Vass-Arg. (89% of his total points - pray that a GB WC draws him in R1 at Wimby! wink

) edit: he actually beat Minar in 5 sets at last year's Wimby LOL

Robredo through to Ferrer in 4th to 7th are almost level with each other.

Muzza was way down at no. 67, but that will improve a fair bit after this week. smile

-- Edited by steven on Friday 17th of April 2009 12:06:13 PM

GavinUK · Lower Club Player

I knew you'd have the information at your finger tips. Thanks.

Andy does have a bit of ground to make up. He's been fairly lucky with his draw so far this week.

Mikeduke · County player

Interesting times, Verdasco levels it up against Nole

seagull · Hall of fame

If Verdasco wins Andy will be Number 3 the week after next

(Unless Djoko gets a WC into Barcelona!)

Count Zero · Tennis legend

the amount of info Steven has at his finger tips. all i can say is that man must have big fingers.

well in fact he does, i have met Steven in the really real world and his hands are like those giant foam hands, except all the fingers are like it not just one

(don't even ask about the size of his keyboard)

-- Edited by Count Zero on Friday 17th of April 2009 12:49:08 PM

Mikeduke · County player

Nole breaks, although there was an element of verdasco wasting some of those points as well.

Nole is playing pretty well, especially on serve. Verdasco is playing some silly shots including some Murray type drop shots from well behind the base line.