Soderling shocked and Ferrer threatening

Andy Murray bypassed Barcelona because of injury sustained during his impressive run in Monte Carlo, but another top ranked player had only his tennis to blame for early exit in Spain this week.

Ferrer Firing!

Robin Soderling's best has been excellent this season - 3 tournament wins, but punctuated sadly by unexpected defeats in tournaments that matter most, including the Australian Open when he was in control (4th round) and Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami (both 3rd round).  It was his sole Miami victim, Croatian Ivan Dodig, who sought and gained revenge, dispatching him from Barcelona reckoning - straights sets second round loss after first                                                                         round bye.

There is already a credible threat, to at least trouble Nadal in his bid for a 6th French title.  He is David Ferrer, who was the last player to defeat his countryman in a major, albeit with assistance of injury to Rafa in Melbourne.  Ferrer is timing his run beautifully, as are a number of Spanish players, and he did push Nadal in the Monte Carlo finale.

In Barcelona, home fans are in raptures, as Croatian Ivan Dodig is the only semi finalist not from Spain.  It could very well be a retake of Monte Carlo, because it's difficult to mount a case for Dodig knocking over Nadal in one semi, and I believe that Ferrer has momentum and the pedigree to resist a Nicolas Almagro push in the other.  He has yet to lose to Almagro on tour.

If a true clay courter is to challenge the master of the surface for the 2011 French Open, then it looks to be Ferrer for the job.  Unfortunately he may be seeded to meet one of the big 3 before the semis.  However, maybe it should be the top 3 to have concerns with that prospect.

Serbia Supreme!

The best Men's Tennis Team in the world as judged by Davis Cup glory is Serbia's.  And without a single shred of doubt, the best male player in 2011 comes from this country of only a shade over 7 million people.

Coming into the Australian Open earlier this year, most tennis followers and the supposed experts amongst them were wondering how the battle for number one would wage between Rafa and Roger, and which of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic would take a firm grip of the number 3 spot, albeit somewhat beneath the mighty two.

Well history tells us that Novak would destroy Federer on the way to a final that was as one sided as most of the Serena Williams ones have tended to be.  Andy Murray was blown away, and as his results have proven since he has been badly scarred mentally.

Roger too cannot pass the Djokovic hurdle - 3 times a loser to the Serb in 2011, but the most impressive stat is not the winning streak - that is fantastic don't get me wrong - it is how Novak has silenced his doubters by beating the best player (up until now that is) on the planet in finals at successive Masters events.

Indian Wells was a triumph because of the fight to come from a set down.  Miami was even more so because of the heat factor - something Novak has had problems dealing with in the past.  Additionally he opened the match abysmally giving Nadal every chance to build on the momentum and run away with a straight sets win.

We now have a more committed Djokovic - yes he fought back to a set all, but even at 5-6 in the decider he was facing 15-30.  Calm precise shot making forced a tie breaker and it was Nadal who felt the heat of Miami but more so from the Serbian shots. 

Rafa may yet prevail on clay (as has been his habit) later this year, but watch out for the new number 2 who is fast putting space between himself and Federer.  Number one is attainable.  Nadal has 3 Grand Slam titles to defend amongst the 11,000 or so points left from last year.  Djokovic only has to defend another 5200.

Fun times at the very top of mens tennis, and all sorts of movement in the ranks below. eg who'd have thought Mardy Fish 11 ahead of Andy Roddick 14 as the top ranked American?