[Nimi]

Russia?
Spain?
France?
USA?
Argentina?
Australia?
Britain?

I would have to say Spain on clay, France indoors, & USA in the rest.

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

you missed out Sweden indoors

Enqvist at full force indoors is one of best 2-3 in world
no one comes close really apart from those he hates to play.
plus then you got Johansson, Norman too with Bjorkman in doubles.

on clay
1-Spain
2-Argentina

LMAO at GB in list
they couldn't win against girls

 

[Nimi]

Thats why the next to them

& yes, i did forget Sweden

 

[Nacho]

On clay: Spain, Argentina & Guga Brazil

Hardcourts and Carpet: USA, France & Australia

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

Hardcourts: Marat (Russia) vs anyone

 

[Nimi]

Russia arent the best on hardcourts, right now Yevgeny is no one on hardcourts & though Marat is the absolute best when hes on, he cant lift Russia alone.

Or maybe he can...

 

[Lindsayfan]

strongest DC nation is the one who is ranked #1 in DC ranking : France

 

[Lisbeth]

Well a quick glance at the field in Shanghai would suggest Spain and recent years' results would suggest France (I think?).

Never write off any team with super patriot Lleyton Hewitt on it, so the Aussies have to be up there. Same deal for Russia.

Then of course there's Sweden who always rise to the occasion. I wonder what they put in that blue and yellow paint?

USA is always good on paper but some reason the stars never bother to play, or if they do it seems half hearted ... if they could solve that little problem they would be top contenders for sure (no offence to Todd Martin who does turn up and play his heart out).

In other words, now I look at it I have no idea!

 

[Vera]

France, taking into considering that they have players for all surfaces.

 

[Jackie]

Australia currently have:
Lleyton Hewitt (#1 player)
Mark Philippousis (we all know what he would be capable of if he stopped getting injured)
Todd Woodbridge (#2 in doubles)

...so we have a pretty strong team even after the retirement (he hasn't said it's official yet, but I doubt that he will come back) of Rafter

 

[Jackie]

On clay: Spain, Argentina & Guga Brazil

LMAO!

 

[esther]

France France France France France France France...not being biased or nething...

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

but ....but... where is Canada on that list?

 

[Catriel]

Well, this year Argentina returned to the Word group, and reached semifinals.... and loss to Russia for a... for.... for little.

Next year I think Argentina will win Davis Cup. We don´t have a top ten, but we have 9 players between the best 100 and any of them can play:
12- Nalbandian
15- Cañas
21- Gaudio
23- Chela
41- Acasuso
45- Coria
50- Calleri
53- Zabaleta
82- Squillari

(US has 10 players and Spain 13, but these countries have advantage, many tournaments, money, sponsors, etc)

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

You will have a top ten before Wimbledon hopefully

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

I might also add that Aregentina has youth on it's side - Nalbandian, Chela, Gaudio, Coria... are all under 25.

 

[Catriel]

You will have a top ten before Wimbledon hopefully

I hope so!!

Argentinians won many tournaments (all of them) in many places, many times, but they are failing the big tournaments...
2002 was our best year for a long time, and we got a Masters Series (Cañas in Toronto) since 10 years more or less, and a GS final (Nalbandian in Wimbledon).

But you can see, many good players, but the last Top Ten was Alberto Mancini in 1992 (more or less).
I think (sincerly) that 2003 will be a great year for argentinians, they are being respected and feared by all the players and they are more confidente, they won Word Team Cup Dusseldord and semis in Davis Cup

 

[Catriel]

I might also add that Aregentina has youth on it's side - Nalbandian, Chela, Gaudio, Coria... are all under 25.

But it will stop...........:sad: :sad:

They were juniors ten years ago, and we have excellent juniors now, like Brian Dabul and Luciano Vitullo, but the economic meltdown, the crisis we have here will make this good production to stop

Is is almost impossible now for a junior to take a plane for europe, the companies that were sponsors some time ago are now trying to survive, the goverment doesn´t apport a $ for sports....
They have to be from a rich family, like Vilas, Sabatini, Nalbandian, Gaudio, not like Chela, Coria, Acasuso...

poor Argentina.... :sad:

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

:sad:

I hadn't thought about what effect that would have on production of tennis players, but you are right. Overall the entire situation just sucks (and i'm not just talking tennis).

David will drop a little after Wimbledon, unless he repeats his run from this year. However he stands a great chance of getting into the top ten before then, and has lots of time to do it. He doesn't defend much untill Estoril, where he is defending.

The great thing about these guys is that they are destroying the stereotypes about Argentines, and South American players in general.

Guga has done his part, winning some big hard court titles. Now Canas has chipped in, and David is doing his part at Wimbledon and with an indoor title (where he played another S American, Gonzalez in the finals).