Everybody, they say, remembers a great champion. But few recollect for long the player who comes second, let alone the ones who come third or fourth.
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The claim is too sweeping, but carries a grain of truth. Today, the top half of the men’s draw is sprinkled with gallant finalists and semi-finalists, and many fans will recall the fight most of them put up before being conquered.
The exuberant Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, for instance, sprang a surprise in reaching the 2008 final, where he lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic. His third-round opponent this year, Germany’s Tommy Haas, is no stranger to hard-luck commiserations as he’s been a semi-finalist three times – in 1999, 2002 and 2007.
Lleyton Hewitt, who plays Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, was runner-up to Marat Safin in 2005. And Baghdatis himself bowed out to Roger Federer in the 2006 final.
Another player again hotly in contention is the swashbuckling Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who gave Rafael Nadal such a desperately close battle last year, and who fronts up today to meet Austrian Stefan Koubek.
All wanna-be champions hope to do better next time around. Some do. And some become just footnotes to history.
Trengove’s Fearless Forecasts
Federer (1) v Montanes
The Spaniard has won three clay-court titles, but his record on cement isn’t so hot. Federer in straight.
Davydenko (6) v Monaco (30)
After winning five titles in 2009, including the year-end ATP Tour Finals, Davydenko is beginning to assume an aura of greatness. He’s still to make his Grand Slam breakthrough, but it may be just a matter of time. Davydenko in straight.
Tsonga (10) v Haas (18)
A likely battle royal between two plucky fighters. Haas in five.
Hewitt (22) v Baghdatis
Hewitt always backs himself (figuratively) to beat anyone, and is playing well. Yet Baghdatis beat him soundly in Sydney, and again showed his mettle on Thursday in coming from two sets down to wear down Lleyton’s Spanish replica, the tenacious David Ferrer. Baghdatis in five.
S. Williams (1) v Suarez Navarro (32)
Serena has too much speed and power for the young Spaniard. Serena in straight.
V. Williams (6) v Dellacqua
After wins over Yakimova and Sprem, the Aussie wildcard is ready to cause an upset or two. Dellacqua in three.
Wozniacki (4) v Peer (29)
Both are good competitors with solid games. But Wozniacki, one of the rare Danes on the tennis circuit, has the x-factor. Wozniacki in three.
Stosur (13) v Brianti
The tennis world treats Italians differently since Italy won the 2009 Fed Cup. Brianti wasn’t on the team, but shared in the euphoria. Still, Stosur in straight.
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