With the 2014 tennis season barely behind us, there’s no time like the present to look ahead to 2015 and the five biggest tennis storylines to follow in the coming twelve months.
Del Potro’s return– Don’t call it a comeback, call it a last chance. Juan Martin Del Potro has shown flashes of brilliance and has definitely shown that he can compete with the games top players. But staying healthy is a different matter. After missing the entire 2010 season with a career threatening injury to his right wrist, he’s been sidelined pretty much all of 2014 with an injury to his left wrist. The question is, can he prove that he can play an entire season without bowing out to injury. “The Tower Of Tandil” put off returning in 2014 to further his recovery efforts and make sure this time there are no set backs. But can he come back after a significant amount of time off and compete at that same level that won him a U.S. Open? Will he alter his booming style of play to ensure that he survives a grueling year on tour?
Nadal’s return– The same storyline as Del Potro, but with slightly more at stake. Rafael Nadal has beaten his opponents into submission in the past based on his aggressive, physical style of play. This style has taken him to the top of the tennis world, but may be his undoing. Can he physically maintain this style at this stage in his career? Is he willing to alter his style of play to prolong his career and better his chances of catching back up with Novak Djokovic? All signs seem to point towards yes, as Nadal has been willing in the past to alter his style based on the type of court surface.
Can Caroline Wozniacki breakthrough? – She has put Rory McElroy in her rearview mirror. She had a great second half of the year on the tour. And to top all of that she finished a marathon in a time that would put most seasoned runners to shame. Can she ride this wave of positive energy into 2015 and take a grand slam title? Hard courts have proved her best surface as of late and she does have a great track record at the Australian Open. The only two things that need to happen for Caroline to really have a career defining year and win a major are if Serena Williams loses early, and Caroline embraces a more attacking style of game.
Which Canadian has a better year? – There’s a lot more than hockey going on in Canada these days. Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard have both proved that they can be staples in the top ten of their respective tours. But who has the better year? Bouchard is a good bet to win a major, or worst case at least make a final. Milos will continue to dominate lower to mid-level tour events, and could very well have his break though year at the majors. My guess is that Bouchard has the better year, but really what are they putting in the water up north?
Who’s looking towards retirement? – Lleyton Hewitt has genuinely said that retirement is not even on his mind, and at 33 he is still holding his own and producing decent results sporadically. Roger Federer has hinted that he will stay on the tour in some capacity until the next summer Olympics. As for Ivo Karlovic, he has towered over the tour for years, but the question here is “how much longer can this big server continue playing?
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