Topic: Best hardcourt player so far this year (Sept 2008)

[jeffrx]

OK guys, it has been a good year of tennis so far.  Now the hardcourt season is basically over.  I posted a similar poll to this one a couple of months ago and many of you wanted to wait until after the US Open to answer.  Well, we certainly did learn a lot at the Open!  But, don't forget, there were plenty of other hard court tournaments this year.  Here is a recap of what each player has won on the surface:

Federer - W: US Open SF: Australian Open, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells QF: Beijing Olympics, ATP Masters Series Miami

Djokovic - W: ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, Australian Open F: ATP Masters Series Cincinnati SF: Dubai, US Open, Beijing Olympics, QF: ATP Masters Series Canada

Nadal - W: Beijing Olympics, ATP Masters Series Canada F: Chennai, ATP Masters Series Miami SF: ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, US Open, Australian Open QF: Dubai

Murray - W: ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, Doha, F: US Open SF: ATP Masters Series Canada QF: Dubai

So, cast your vote and lets pick a winner!

[kittens25]

I will wait until November to cast my vote.

[jeffrx]

I will wait until November to cast my vote.

Oh...come on Kittens!  We need answers now.    Let's go man!

[kittens25]

Oh...come on Kittens!  We need answers now.    Let's go man!

If it were for the entire year I would go with Djokovic by a hair.   However considering winter season performance when we are talking about "best now" in September doesnt make all that much sense to me.   If your question was best hard court player of 2009 I would pick Djokovic based on the overall year, his dominance of the winter hard court season, and his very strong summer hard court season (despite being outdone by all of Nadal, Murray, and Federer).   Nadal has the most consistently strong performance of the summer, but his two losses he looked quite overpowered in, and he didnt make the final of the biggest event of the summer.   Federer was impressive at the U.S Open but something just doesnt sit too well with me picking a guy who has only 1 hard court title all season (even if it is the biggest one of all) as the best hard court player right now.   So I went with Murray.

[jeffrx]

If it were for the entire year I would go with Djokovic by a hair.   However considering winter season performance when we are talking about "best now" in September doesnt make all that much sense to me.   If your question was best hard court player of 2009 I would pick Djokovic based on the overall year, his dominance of the winter hard court season, and his very strong summer hard court season (despite being outdone by all of Nadal, Murray, and Federer).   Nadal has the most consistently strong performance of the summer, but his two losses he looked quite overpowered in, and he didnt make the final of the biggest event of the summer.   Federer was impressive at the U.S Open but something just doesnt sit too well with me picking a guy who has only 1 hard court title all season (even if it is the biggest one of all) as the best hard court player right now.   So I went with Murray.

What i really mean is SO FAR THIS YEAR.  I'll try to change the question.  Thanks for pointing that out.

[kittens25]

What i really mean is SO FAR THIS YEAR.  I'll try to change the question.  Thanks for pointing that out.

OK thanks.   In that case I would have voted for Djokovic by a bit.

[Pamqnx]

I voted Djokovic too, even it it doesn't make that much sense.

[Babblelot]

I voted for Djokovic, too. It's been a very strange hc season. Novak started out on fire, then fizzled. Roger hardly got on the board this summer until the Olympics. Maybe I should have voted for Nadal since he won the Olympics, but I haven't figured out what that feat is comparable to, i.e., is it greater or less than an AMS?

[pawan89]

I think I'd have to go with Djokovic fairly easily.

AO and ATP masters title, in addition to semifinals at another ATP masters series and USO and Olympic Silver. That's the best hardcourt resume on tour so far this year.

[Pamqnx]

I think I'd have to go with Djokovic fairly easily.

AO and ATP masters title, in addition to semifinals at another ATP masters series and USO and Olympic Silver. That's the best hardcourt resume on tour so far this year.

bronze

[DirtyKash]

Head-to-head:
Djokovic beat Federer at the Australian Open and Federer beat Djokovic at the US Open.
Edge: Equal

Season record:
Djokovic is 27-6 on hardcourt this year while Federer is 18-6.
Edge: Djokovic

Titles:
Djokovic has 2 titles on hard (Australian + Indian Wells) versus 1 for Federer (US Open).
Edge: Djokovic

Seeded opponents defeated on hard courts:
Djokovic has beaten Hewitt, Ferrer, Federer, Nadal twice, Cilic, Robredo, Roddick
Federer has beaten Berdych, Blake, Ljubicic, Stepanek, Djokovic, Murray
Edge: Slightly Djokovic

Hard court losses:
Djokovic has lost to Simon, Roddick, Federer, Murray twice, Kevin Anderson
Federer has lost to Simon, Roddick, Djokovic, Murray, Fish, Karlovic
Edge: Equal

Final ruling:
Djokovic slightly over Federer. But it's close.

[Borovnia]

My vote went for Nadal, clear one IMO, considering results given at the initial post (2 wins, 2 finals, 4 semifinals) just a little over Djokovic (2-1-3) and alot over Federer (1-0-2) I know no slams, but olympics plus 1-1-2 in MS is not bad at all. I'm sure somehow, and right seeing previous posts, the majority will forget again about Nadal and will focus on Djoko-Fed. It's also true kittens statment, better judging once the whole season is over.

[Dallas]

Well you know I can not be objective... so guess who got my vote!?

[Chris1987]

Well you know I can not be objective... so guess who got my vote!?

Other?? 

[ruddy]

My vote is tied between Murray and Nadal.
I expect that Federer will come back again strong by the end of the season to match with Murray.

[Dallas]

Other?? 

 

[jeffrx]

Well you know I can not be objective... so guess who got my vote!?

Stanislas?   

[alchemist]

Stanislas?   

James Blake? 

[Dallas]

James Blake? 

Very funny guys....

Well those players would have gotten a vote from me IF Roger wasn't around.

I actually think Stan has taken over as my #2 man from James.  James has been dropped to #3.

[Chris1987]

Very funny guys....

Well those players would have gotten a vote from me IF Roger wasn't around.

I actually think Stan has taken over as my #2 man from James.  James has been dropped to #3.

Look what you've done to James now Dallas 
No wonder he couldn't face the Davis Cup- he's feeling unloved now