ARTICLE 2004 SEASON PREVIEW - Battle for No. 1 Wide Open in 2004
The new season lies just around the corner with a number of players with the potential to grab the headlines in 2004. Rarely has a season looked so open, and with so many players having the skill, expertise and experience under their belt, it is anyone's guess as to who will end up on top of the world rankings at the end of the year.
Will 2003's usual suspects, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Ferrero continue to make strides ahead of the pack? Can Andre Agassi still keep up with his young guns? Will Lleyton Hewitt stamp his authority back on the ATP circuit and again challenge for No.1? Are Marat Safin and Tommy Haas poised to make their long-awaited comebacks at the top of the tennis hierarchy? And will Argentine duo David Nalbandian and Guillermo Coria continue their charge?
The depth of talent at the top of men's tennis has rarely gone so deep, with the likes of Gustavo Kuerten, Tim Henman, Sebastien Grosjean and Mark Philippoussis all having the potential to pull out a big result when it counts.
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The leading clay courters will once again be in full force as the European clay court swing gets underway in the Spring with three Tennis Masters Series tournaments and Roland Garros. Ferrero, who won Tennis Masters Monte Carlo and Roland Garros in 2003, is threatening to become the most dominant clay court player since Thomas Muster in the mid-1990s. The Spaniard is likely to face a stiff challenge from Argentines Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, as well as compatriot Carlos Moya. And don't forget Gustavo Kuerten, who surprisingly failed to collect a title on clay in 2003, but showed signs of a return to form with some impressive wins in the late indoor season.
[...]
Who will finish as No. 1? It's anybody's guess, but the all-court games of Federer and Safin (if fit) immediately set them apart as players who have the potential to shine on all surfaces all season long. With so many contenders in the mix, next year is sure to be one of the most exciting tennis seasons in recent times.
>> full article
The new season lies just around the corner with a number of players with the potential to grab the headlines in 2004. Rarely has a season looked so open, and with so many players having the skill, expertise and experience under their belt, it is anyone's guess as to who will end up on top of the world rankings at the end of the year.
Will 2003's usual suspects, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Ferrero continue to make strides ahead of the pack? Can Andre Agassi still keep up with his young guns? Will Lleyton Hewitt stamp his authority back on the ATP circuit and again challenge for No.1? Are Marat Safin and Tommy Haas poised to make their long-awaited comebacks at the top of the tennis hierarchy? And will Argentine duo David Nalbandian and Guillermo Coria continue their charge?
The depth of talent at the top of men's tennis has rarely gone so deep, with the likes of Gustavo Kuerten, Tim Henman, Sebastien Grosjean and Mark Philippoussis all having the potential to pull out a big result when it counts.
[...]
The leading clay courters will once again be in full force as the European clay court swing gets underway in the Spring with three Tennis Masters Series tournaments and Roland Garros. Ferrero, who won Tennis Masters Monte Carlo and Roland Garros in 2003, is threatening to become the most dominant clay court player since Thomas Muster in the mid-1990s. The Spaniard is likely to face a stiff challenge from Argentines Guillermo Coria and David Nalbandian, as well as compatriot Carlos Moya. And don't forget Gustavo Kuerten, who surprisingly failed to collect a title on clay in 2003, but showed signs of a return to form with some impressive wins in the late indoor season.
[...]
Who will finish as No. 1? It's anybody's guess, but the all-court games of Federer and Safin (if fit) immediately set them apart as players who have the potential to shine on all surfaces all season long. With so many contenders in the mix, next year is sure to be one of the most exciting tennis seasons in recent times.
>> full article
