[Dissident]

As I read some posts with misleading stats, I thought about writing this analysis for the Tennis Masters Cup.
Ill post stats and some personal opinions on each of the eight players, as follows.

 

[Dissident]

One more thing:
I add the hard and carpet head-to-head stats because the Masters Cup is played on indoor hard court.

 

[Dissident]

Lleyton Hewitt

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. San Jose (IS-HI) bt. Agassi
2. INDIAN WELLS (TMS-HO) bt. Henman
3. London/Queens (IS-G) bt. Henman
4. WIMBLEDON (GS-G) bt. Nalbandian

RUNNER-UP
1. CINCINNATI (TMS-HO) l. Moya
2. PARIS (TMS-IC) l. Safin

SEMIFINALIST
1. MIAMI (TMS-HO) l. Federer
2. Barcelona (ISG-C) l. Gaudio
3. USOPEN (GS-HO) l. Agassi

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - 1st Round
Roland Garros - Round-of-16
Wimbledon - WINNER
UsOpen - SEMIFINALIST

TMS
Indian Wells - WINNER
Miami - SEMIFINALIST
Monte Carlo - 1st Round
Roma - 2nd Round
Hamburgo - QUARTERFINALIST
Canada - 1st round
Cincinnati - RUNNER UP
Madrid - Did not play
Paris - RUNNER UP

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Agassi
4-3
2-1 this year
4-3 on hard court

vs Safin
3-4
1-2 this year
0-1 on carpet

vs Ferrero
2-2
no match this year
2-0 on hard court

vs Moya
2-4
1-3 this year
2-2 on hard court

vs Federer
5-2
1-1 this year
3-1 on carpet

vs Novak
4-0
2-0 this year
3-0 on hard court

vs Costa
4-1
no match this year
2-0 on hard court

ANALYSIS
Hewitt is the player to beat, since he is the defending champion. He was not at all on his best form, but then he reached the Paris final, and proved he is back on the most important time. If he gets some luck on the group and he can get a couple of wins under his belt, he will be the top contendor for sure.
He is still not where he should be though, and that can pay some important role on the tournament. Especially if he is not lucky and has to play someone who has his number (i.e. Carlos Moya) right away.

 

[Dissident]

Andre Agassi

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. Scottsdale (IS-HO) bt. Balcells
2. MIAMI (TMS-HO) bt. Federer
3. ROMA (TMS-C) bt. Haas
4. Los Angeles (IS-HO) bt. Gambill
5. MADRID (TMS-IH) bt. Novak

RUNNER UP
1. San Jose (IS-IH) l. Hewitt
2. USOPEN (GS-HO) l. Sampras

SEMIFINALIST
1. Houston (IS-C) l. Sampras
2. Washington (IS-HO) l. Blake

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - DNP
Roland Garros - QUARTERFINALIST
Wimbledon - 2nd Round
UsOpen - RUNNER UP

TMS
Indian Wells - 1st Round
Miami - WINNER
Monte Carlo - DNP
Roma - WINNER
Hamburgo - DNP
Canada - DNP
Cincinnati - QUARTERFINALIST
Madrid - WINNER
Paris - QUARTERFINALIST

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
3-4
1-2 this year
3-4 on hard court

vs Safin
3-1
no match this year
2-0 on hard court
1-0 on carpet

vs Ferrero
1-1
1-1 this year
1-0 on hard court

vs Moya
1-1
0-1 this year
0-1 on carpet

vs Federer
3-0
1-0 this year
3-0 on hard court

vs Novak
4-0
1-0 this year
3-0 on hard court

vs Costa
3-1
1-0 this year
2-0 on hard court

ANALYSIS
Agassi has an outstanding record in the Masters Series he cared to play. In all of them but the very first (IW), he was quarterfinalist or better, having won three in three different surfaces (clay, hard and indoor hard). And also, when he reaches the last 4 of big tournaments, he doesnt lose (except for the USOpen, but thats another story). Just for that, and for he showed many times he is willing to run after the number one spot in what will probably be his last chance, he is one of the top contendors.

 

[Dissident]

Marat Safin

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. PARIS (TMS-IC) bt. Hewitt

RUNNER UP
1. AUSTRALIAN OPEN (GS-HO) l. Johansson
2. HAMBURG (TMS-C) l. Federer

SEMIFINALIST
1. ROLAND GARROS (GS-C) l. Ferrero
2. Moscow (IS-IC) l. Mathieu

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - RUNNER UP
Roland Garros - SEMIFINALIST
Wimbledon - 2nd Round
UsOpen - 2nd Round

TMS
Indian Wells - 3rd Round
Miami - QUARTERFINALIST
Monte Carlo - QUARTERFINALIST
Roma - 2nd Round
Hamburgo - RUNNER UP
Canada - QUARTERFINALIST
Cincinnati - 1st Round
Madrid - 2nd Round
Paris - WINNER

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
4-3
2-1 this year
1-0 on carpet

vs Agassi
1-3
no match this year
0-2 on hard court
0-1 on carpet

vs Ferrero
3-3
0-1 this year
1-0 on carpet
1-1 on hard court

vs Moya
2-1
1-1 this year
1-0 on carpet

vs Federer
1-3
1-2 this year
1-0 on carpet

vs Novak
1-1
no match this year
0-1 on hard court

vs Costa
1-0
no match this year
played on clay

ANALYSIS
Safin had an amazing start of season, having a problem to WIN the tournaments. He was among the final eight of two grand slams and four Masters Series. But he couldnt get that last jump. It started to grow on his mind, and the shaky year of 2001 seemed to be back. But he bounced back in Paris, winning in his last chance before the Masters Cup. He goes to Shangai as the best player of the moment. IF he can keep the cool and concentrate solely on the tournament, the future can be bright.

 

[Dissident]

Juan Carlos Ferrero

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. MONTE CARLO (TMS-C) bt. Moya
2. Hong Kong (IS-HO) bt. Moya

RUNNER UP
1. ROLAND GARROS (GS-C) l. Costa
2. Ktzbuhel (IS-C) l. Corretja

SEMIFINALIST
1. CINCINNATI (TMS-HO) l. Moya
2. Basel (IS-IC) l. Gonzalez

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - DNP
Roland Garros - RUNNER UP
Wimbledon - 2nd Round
UsOpen - 3nd Round

TMS
Indian Wells - 1st Round
Miami - 3rd Round
Monte Carlo - WINNER
Roma - 2nd Round
Hamburgo - 1st Round
Canada - 2nd Round
Cincinnati - SEMIFINALIST
Madrid - QUARTERFINALIST
Paris - 2nd Round

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
2-2
no match this year
0-2 on hard court

vs Agassi
1-1
1-1 this year
0-1 on hard court

vs Safin
3-3
1-0 this year
0-1 on carpet
1-1 on hard court

vs Moya
6-2
2-1 this year
2-1 on hard courts

vs Federer
2-0
no match this year
2-0 on hard courts

vs Novak
2-1
no match this year
2-0 on hard court

vs Costa
2-3
0-2 this year
played on clay

ANALYSIS
Juanqui will have to do more than he ever did indoor, if he wants to win this. Its not his better surface, and he is not exactly in the best moment right now.
On the other hand, on a recent past, he reached the final four in Basel (on indoor carpet), and Cincinnati (hard), and the last eight in Madrid, on indoor hard, similar surface to the Masters Cup.
He is a dangerous player, and if he gets a good enough group and manage to get a win in the opener, the confidence can grow and he can do big damage.

 

[Dissident]

I will post the rest tomorrow.

 

[TennisHack]

Ooh, great thread, hitman! Can't wait to see the rest of them

 

[Puss-in-Boots]

Thanks heaps, Hitman!! Great analyses!

 

[Darkheart]

hitman, nice analyses. Thanks for all the work

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

thanx hitman

 

[Lee]

Thanks for the analysis hitman! You are really good in multi tasking!

 

[vaiva]

Thank you hitman

 

[maratski]

Thanks
You're quicker than the mastercup.com. They do one player a day.

 

[Dissident]

Carlos Moya

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. Acapulco (ISG-C) bt. Meligeni
2. Bastad (IS-C) bt. El Aynaoui
3. Umag (IS-C) bt. Ferrer
4. CINCINNATI (TMS-HO) bt. Hewitt

RUNNER UP
1. MONTE CARLO (TMS-C) l. Ferrero
2. Hong Kong (IS-HO) l. Ferrero

SEMIFINALIST
1. Estoril (IS-C) l. Nalbandian
2. Sopot (IS-C) l. Acasuso
3. Vienna (ISG-IH) l. Federer
4. PARIS (TMS-IC) l. Safin

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - 2nd Round
Roland Garros - 3rd Round
Wimbledon - DNP
UsOpen - 2nd Round

TMS
Indian Wells - 1st Round
Miami - 2nd Round
Monte Carlo - RUNNER UP
Roma - QUARTERFINALIST
Hamburgo - 2nd Round
Canada - 2nd Round
Cincinnati - WINNER
Madrid - 3rd Round
Paris - SEMIFINALIST

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
4-2
3-1 this year
2-2 on hard court

vs Agassi
1-1
1-0 this year
1-0 on carpet

vs Safin
1-2
1-1 this year
0-1 on carpet


vs Ferrero
2-6
1-2 this year
1-2 on hard courts

vs Federer
0-2
0-1 this year
0-2 on hard courts

vs Novak
4-4
0-1 this year
2-2 on hard court

vs Costa
3-1
no match this year
2-0 on hard courts

ANALYSIS
Carlos proved in some moments that he´s not only a clay-courter, although his extreme grip and style of play would indicate so. He clinched some very good wins this year, especially over Hewitt (3-1), but he doesnt hold the best records on the head-to-heads. He has to keep the focus rolling, like he did in Paris, to make the fight interesting. He also has the motivation from the fact he is coming back from obscurity, and is finally again into the top ten, which is his place. Another player who will depend a lot of his first match(es).

 

[Dissident]

Roger Federer

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. Sydney (IS-HO) bt. Chela
2. HAMBURG (TMS-C) bt. Safin
3. Vienna (ISG-IH) bt. Novak

RUNNER UP
1. Milan (IS-CI) l. Sanguinetti
2. MIAMI (TMS-HO) l. Agassi

SEMIFINALIST
1. Halle (IS-G) l. Kiefer
2. Basel (IS-CI) l. Nalbandian

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - Round-of-16
Roland Garros - 1st Round
Wimbledon - 1st Round
UsOpen - Round-of-16

TMS
Indian Wells - 3rd Round
Miami - RUNNER UP
Monte Carlo - 2nd Round
Roma - 1st Round
Hamburg - WINNER
Canada - 1st Round
Cincinnati - 1st Round
Madrid - QUARTERFINALIST
Paris - QUARTERFINALIST

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
2-5
1-1 this year
1-3 on carpet

vs Agassi
0-3
0-1 this year
0-1 on hard courts

vs Safin
3-1
2-1 this year
0-1 on carpet

vs Ferrero
0-2
no match this year
0-2 on hard courts (both played before 2000)

vs Moya
2-0
1-0 this year
2-0 on hard courts

vs Novak
2-3
1-0 this year
0-1 on carpet
2-0 on hard court

vs Costa
2-0
no match this year
1-0 on hard courts
1-0 on carpet

ANALYSIS
Roger was on a huge slump for a big part of the season. Two Grand Slam first round exits were the big reason why his ranking is not that high, considering the fair performances at the other two Slams and some Masters Series. He had a very big last run, though, clinching his berth with two quarterfinals on the last two Masters, played on indoor, and the Vienna win and the Basel semi. The indoor season is probably one of the strongest of the field, and that´s something playing for him. Against him are the inconsistency and the poor head-to-heads.

 

[Dissident]

Jiri Novak

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
NONE

RUNNER UP
1. Vienna (ISG-IH) l. Federer
2. MADRID (TMS-IH) l. Agassi

SEMIFINALIST
1. Auckland (IS-HO) l. Rusedski
2. AUSTRALIAN OPEN (GS-HO) l. Johansson
3. Dubai (ISG-HO) l. Santoro
4. ROMA (TMS-C) l. Agassi
5. Stuttgart Outdoors (IS-C) l. Canas
6. CANADA (TMS-HO) l. Roddick

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - SEMIFINALIST
Roland Garros - 3rd Round
Wimbledon - 2nd Round
UsOpen - Round-of-16

TMS
Indian Wells - 2nd Round
Miami - 3rd Round
Monte Carlo - 3rd Round
Roma - SEMIFINALIST
Hamburg - 3rd Round
Canada - SEMIFINALIST
Cincinnati - 1st Round
Madrid - RUNNER UP
Paris - 2nd Round

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
0-4
0-2 this year
0-3 on hard courts

vs Agassi
0-4
0-1 this year
0-3 on hard courts

vs Safin
1-1
no match this year
1-0 on hard courts

vs Ferrero
1-2
no match this year
0-2 on hard courts

vs Moya
4-4
1-0 this year
2-2 on hard courts

vs Federer
3-2
0-1 this year
1-0 on carpet
0-2 on hard courts

vs Costa
1-4
no match this year
1-1 on hard courts

ANALYSIS
Jiri Novak is the only one to play the Masters Cup wiithout having won a tournament the whole year. He is in Shangai because of his consistency throughout the year, as his style of play is so that he is always waiting for a chance to come, keeping the ball in play. If you don´t beat him, he won´t give it to you either. That characteristic could be enough to fool some of the players on the Cup, especially the unconsistent ones. The big IF is Jiri´s health. Is he really good enough to play?

 

[Dissident]

Albert Costa

YEAR IN REVIEW

WINNER
1. ROLAND GARROS (GS-C)

RUNNER UP
1. Barcelona (ISG-C) l. Gaudio
2. Amersfoot (IS-C) l. Chela

SEMIFINALIST
NONE

GRAND SLAMS
AusOpen - Round-of-16
Roland Garros - WINNER
Wimbledon - DNP
UsOpen - 2nd Round

TMS
Indian Wells - 2nd Round
Miami - 2nd Round
Monte Carlo - QUARTERFINALIST
Roma - QUARTERFINALIST
Hamburg - 2nd Round
Canada - 1st Round
Cincinnati - 2nd Round
Madrid - 2nd Round
Paris - 2nd Round

HEAD-TO-HEADS

vs Hewitt
1-4
no match this year
0-2 on hard courts

vs Agassi
1-3
0-1 this year
0-2 on hard courts

vs Safin
0-1
no match this year
played on clay

vs Ferrero
3-2
2-0 this year
all on clay

vs Moya
1-3
no match this year
0-2 on hard courts

vs Federer
0-2
no match this year
0-1 on carpet
0-1 on hard courts

vs Novak
4-1
no match this year
1-1 on hard courts

ANALYSIS
Albert is running from outside. His ground is the clay, and there´s no doubt about it. He can play one or two good matches on a hard court, but usually not more than that. We can see clearly that he didnt go farther than second round in neither of the big tournaments not-on-clay, except for the Australian Open 4th round. His records are not that good either, but he is a Grand Slam winner, and he should be respected for that. But I won´t go any farther.

 

[Dissident]

Ok, thats enough.
Im glad some people read it and liked. Thanks.

Now I can go and read the groups of the Masters Cup. I didnt want to know before I finished with this.

 

[mmm!marat]

thanks