Federer has started to decline, though he'll stick around a few more years and will win atleast 2 more slams.
Nadal's tendinitis has started to catch up to him, as his play style is very straining on his body, especially on hardcourts.
Nadal will burn out in 3 years max and Federer won't be anywhere near what he is atm in 3 years...
This leaves the domination of tennis up for grabs for a few players: Djokovic, Tsonga, Soderling, Berdych, Del potro, Murray, Cilic etc.
Players that have their best ahead of them and are still to reach their prime. Most big hitters with big serves.
Out of all these there are two that are top players, but I think only one will dominate the tour for years to come: Andy Murray.
He has already showed how good he can be, but he still hasn't reached his prime.
Murray still has a long way to come on clay, but is very comfortable on grass and hardcourt. He has 3 slams he could win, but I think he could be a threat for the RG title if he gets better on clay.
I think Murray is one of the heavy favourites for the hardcourt titles. I think he could get his first slam in 2011. Next year, both will be here, but it is unknown if Del Potro will get back to his best. I don't think so, so Murray will have one less player in the way. He can win it. Since Nadal isn't a threat to him on hard, and Federer isn't at his best anymore (though he's a still great and will win a few more slams), I think Murray will win the Oz Open. RG will be Nadal's again, Wimbledon will be Federer's, then back to hardcourt slams, which will be either Federer or Murray's.
This is the timeline of how I think the next few slam winners will be:
2011
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal?
Wimbledon Championships: Roger Federer
United States Open: Andy Murray
2012
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal???
Wimbledon Championships: Roger Federer
Olympic Gold: Andy Murray
United States Open: Andy Murray
2013
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Andy Murray
Wimbledon Championships: Andy Murray
United States Open: Andy Murray
2014
????
2015
??????
This is how I think the next few years will go in the slams, Murray dominating hardcourt with Federer sticking around winning some slams, Murray dominating grass and Nadal continuing to dominate clay. Nadal will win the next few Roland Garros titles, and I have no idea who will take over from him. Murray could win Roland Garros sometime if he plays well enough. Federer will win another two Wimbledon's and a few hardcourt slams.
The hardcourt masters will go to mostly Murray.
The claycourt masters will go to Nadal, obviously.
Now, Soderling could win a slam somewhere there I think, most likely on hardcourt in my opinion. And he could win an MS every now and then (Soderling won his first in Paris), but for a few years I think the dominating force of tennis (at least on hardcourt and grass) will be Murray. Of course a new player could come along and dominate just like Federer did, but it looks unlikely at the moment.
2013 will be Murray's peak year. He will have developed and improved greatly on clay and I see him winning all of the slams that year...that will be Murray's year.
Discuss...
Nadal's tendinitis has started to catch up to him, as his play style is very straining on his body, especially on hardcourts.
Nadal will burn out in 3 years max and Federer won't be anywhere near what he is atm in 3 years...
This leaves the domination of tennis up for grabs for a few players: Djokovic, Tsonga, Soderling, Berdych, Del potro, Murray, Cilic etc.
Players that have their best ahead of them and are still to reach their prime. Most big hitters with big serves.
Out of all these there are two that are top players, but I think only one will dominate the tour for years to come: Andy Murray.
He has already showed how good he can be, but he still hasn't reached his prime.
Murray still has a long way to come on clay, but is very comfortable on grass and hardcourt. He has 3 slams he could win, but I think he could be a threat for the RG title if he gets better on clay.
I think Murray is one of the heavy favourites for the hardcourt titles. I think he could get his first slam in 2011. Next year, both will be here, but it is unknown if Del Potro will get back to his best. I don't think so, so Murray will have one less player in the way. He can win it. Since Nadal isn't a threat to him on hard, and Federer isn't at his best anymore (though he's a still great and will win a few more slams), I think Murray will win the Oz Open. RG will be Nadal's again, Wimbledon will be Federer's, then back to hardcourt slams, which will be either Federer or Murray's.
This is the timeline of how I think the next few slam winners will be:
2011
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal?
Wimbledon Championships: Roger Federer
United States Open: Andy Murray
2012
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal???
Wimbledon Championships: Roger Federer
Olympic Gold: Andy Murray
United States Open: Andy Murray
2013
Australian Open: Andy Murray
Roland Garros: Andy Murray
Wimbledon Championships: Andy Murray
United States Open: Andy Murray
2014
????
2015
??????
This is how I think the next few years will go in the slams, Murray dominating hardcourt with Federer sticking around winning some slams, Murray dominating grass and Nadal continuing to dominate clay. Nadal will win the next few Roland Garros titles, and I have no idea who will take over from him. Murray could win Roland Garros sometime if he plays well enough. Federer will win another two Wimbledon's and a few hardcourt slams.
The hardcourt masters will go to mostly Murray.
The claycourt masters will go to Nadal, obviously.
Now, Soderling could win a slam somewhere there I think, most likely on hardcourt in my opinion. And he could win an MS every now and then (Soderling won his first in Paris), but for a few years I think the dominating force of tennis (at least on hardcourt and grass) will be Murray. Of course a new player could come along and dominate just like Federer did, but it looks unlikely at the moment.
2013 will be Murray's peak year. He will have developed and improved greatly on clay and I see him winning all of the slams that year...that will be Murray's year.
Discuss...