Has anybody else noticed that reaching #1 seems to be the kiss of death for anybody but the old guard (Sampras, Agassi, Kafelnikov)? Of the younger players in recent years, the ones to reach #1 (if anybody remembers others, feel free to correct me)
Marcelo Rios - may be undergoing a revival, but
still ranked #48
Magnus Norman - hasn't won a title since Oct 2000 and is now ranked #57
Marat Safin - stumbled through last year, falling out of the top 10 - may redeem himself this week, of course
Gustavo Kuerten - I think has only one one match since last year's US open.
Lleyton Hewitt - the newest victim lost in the first round, and is now expected to miss Davis Cup in February.
Zaac
Jan 20 2002, 06:06 PM
All of those guys just got hot. In order to remain #1 in the men's game, the #1 player in the world has got to have some consistent weapons. Recently, all of the #1s have been weak imitators who just happened to be playing more consistently than anyone else. No weapons, just consistent. Once they get to the top, they don't have the arsenal to kinda muscle their way to win matches they shouldn't be winning. Agassi and Sampras had it. Lendl had it. McEnroe had it. Even that awful Jimmy Connors had it. Roddick may have it, but he lacks the concentration and seasoning.
At present, the top tier of men's players is weak and unexciting. The women are much more interesting to watch. The men's side needs a dominant player who can cause the other players to raise the level of their games.
[ January 20, 2002: Message edited by: Zaac ]