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12/26/10 8:02 PM | Johan Lindahl
From his tennis pundit position, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have failed to fulfill expectations this season for Boris Becker.
The three-time Wimbledon winner and current television commentator grades the world No. 4 and 3 respectively as "could do better" for 2010.
"Murray and Djokovic have been showing potential for the last few years but neither of them really progressed this season," the 43-year-old German told ESPN. "Obviously it is difficult with (Rafael) Nadal and (Roger) Federer ahead of them but I would hope they will make more of an impact next year."
Becker says neither of the young guns made a breakthrough amid the continuing dominance of the top pair. Murray lost to Federer in the Australian open final, then only won a pair of Masters 1000 events during the rest of a so-so season. Djokovic lost the US Open final to Nadal after briefly standing second in the world behind Nadal - as did Murray - during
the season.
Becker credits surprise Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych - another Grand Slam finals loser against Nadal - as a breakthrough player, though his run of form died off abruptly after Wimbledon, when the Czech lost 11 of his final 15 matches of the season.
And the Becker dream of a German somehow following in his footsteps of two decades ago will also have to wait indefinitely. "I'd love to say that a young German will make the breakthrough into the top ten next year, but sadly I don't think it will happen," he said.
"Obviously (Swede Robin) Soderling (losing finalist at Roland Garros at the last two editions) made the jump last year and it was Berdych this season. But I don't expect the current group of players to change much in 2011."
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Nole got to #2 right after Wimbledon and right after New York. Both times the very next tournament that Roger played he regained #2. So Nole was only there for a short time, not half the season.
Boris can talk all he wants. Barring injury, the top 2 of Rafa and Roger will dominate again this year.
numero , 12/30/10 9:56 PM
I will concede that whilst I love what the Nadal-Federer rivalry has done for sport as well as tennis, either one or both from Murray or Djokovic definitely need to step it up next year.
lebsta2 , 12/31/10 2:08 AM
@numero,
"In 2010, Djokovic also managed to break ? albeit temporarily ? the stronghold of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the top two spots in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, holding down the No. 2 position for 26 weeks during the season and entering Roland Garros in a three-way battle for the No. 1 ranking."
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/12/Other/Top -5-Players-Djokovic-Murray-Soderling.aspx
danica , 1/2/11 3:49 AM
I agree, in part, with Becker. They are pretty much at the prime of their tennis career. If they want to be remembered in tennis history then they need to win the grand slams. The ranking will sort itself out.
cable , 1/2/11 1:11 PM
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" Djokovic lost the US Open final to Nadal after briefly standing second in the world behind Nadal - as did Murray - during
the season."
Correct me if I am wrong, but Novak has been number two for about half the season, either in front of Roger or in front of Rafa. Tod Martin really screw up his serve which made the first few months of the season a miserable affair. Novak doesn't defend too much until summer, so I expect a much more competitive season.
Good luck to all and hope they will all be injury free.
danica , 12/27/10 1:44 AM