Pick four players, one for each Slam, who you think are going to surprise us all by their performances next year. They must be ranked outside the top 80 and you can't choose someone like Victor Hanescu, who is under ranked due to injury.
US Open - Sam Querrey.
Wimbly - Mischa Zverev.
Roland Garros - Juan Martin del Potro.
Australian Open - Nick Lindahl. A bit of a gamble, I know. But he reached the finals of the Junior AO this year and finished the year at 323 in seniors - up 331 places from the start.
Wimbledon: I can't choose between 2 players: Karlovic/Boggo Karlovic is due a good run at Wimbledon, he's done it at Surbiton and Queens but has been a little unlucky with draws at Wimby.
US Open: Querrey
Korolev could also make an impact in either the Aussie or US Opens. I've chosen Querrey ahead of him for both as Querrey's game is better suited to the courts
Wimbledon: Tsvetana Pironkova (you didn't say it had to be male :P ) Edit: Whoops! She's in the top 80 now! So I'll go for...Tim Henman (he'll be outside the top 80 by the time Wimbledon comes round :) )....sorry, I'm not playing this game very well
Healey is a good choice I'd forgotten about him. He's had a great 2006, made rd3 of the Aussie Open as a wildcard and took a set off Davydenko before losing in 4. Had a strange run of 11 straight losses from February to June but since then he's made 2 challenger semis and 4 quarters aswell as two futures finals. Seems to be at his best on slowish outdoor hard so could cause some upsets again in Melbourne with a good draw.
Delic might also be a surprise at the Aussie Open if he gets a good draw, he's dominated the North American challengers in the 2nd half of the year ! 6 finals and 2 semis !!!
JMDP is the clay-slow hard type of player. I was really impressed by him when I saw him beat Moya in Bombay. What really struck me was his movement, which is unbelievably good for someone as tall as him.
I think that he will give Nadal some competition on clay in 2008.
JMDP may well make the top 50 this year but he will have to pick his events well...clay is so tough on the body....he may well have to have the odd good run on hard and/or grass !!!
I'd forgotten about him. He's had a great 2006, made rd3 of the Aussie Open as a wildcard and took a set off Davydenko before losing in 4. Had a strange run of 11 straight losses from February to June but since then he's made 2 challenger semis and 4 quarters aswell as two futures finals.
