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Wawrinka seems more and more like a one hit wonder. When was the last time a Grand Slam winner lost at the first round at the next Grand Slam after he just won the pervious one, when there are no external factors, such as injuries, death in family, etc.?
Over the last few years prior to the emergence of Stan Wawrinka, it definitely would be:
Top group - Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Second group - Ferrer, del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych
Right now (and I type this after Wawrinka was upset in the 1st round of the French Open), Wawrinka has to be in the top eight, probably replacing either del Potro (who obviously is not playing right now) or Tsonga. Tsonga also hasn't shown his pre-late 2013 injury form yet, so someone else should also be in the top eight for the time being until (if?) Tsonga gets back into the top eight or shows his pre-injury form. Murray and Ferrer (especially Murray) haven't played up to their previous levels in the last few months, but both are still top eight players at this point.
Over the last few years prior to the emergence of Stan Wawrinka, it definitely would be:
Top group - Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Second group - Ferrer, del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych
Right now (and I type this after Wawrinka was upset in the 1st round of the French Open), Wawrinka has to be in the top eight, probably replacing either del Potro (who obviously is not playing right now) or Tsonga. Tsonga also hasn't shown his pre-late 2013 injury form yet, so someone else should also be in the top eight for the time being until (if?) Tsonga gets back into the top eight or shows his pre-injury form. Murray and Ferrer (especially Murray) haven't played up to their previous levels in the last few months, but both are still top eight players at this point.
Pre-late 2013?
From memory Tsonga butchered a chance to make the Top 8 and WTFs late last year.
His form in 2014 has been inconsistent as well.
It is ambitious to still regard him as Top 8 material as I have previously alluded to, but was comparing him to John Isner at that stage.
I would no longer rate him in the 2nd tier group of chasers now.
Going on to Stan, he earned his previous Slam and Top 8 position, regardless of Rafas injury in the Final.
Interesting he rates clay his best surface - which is overly ambitious, hard courts he are much more his style.
I probably should have said mid-2013 regarding Tsonga's injury, which occurred during Wimbledon (I think it was on the day when there were about a half-dozen major upsets, including Federer and Sharapova) and kept him out of the U.S. Open. Tsonga hasn't played as well since that injury.
Over the last few years prior to the emergence of Stan Wawrinka, it definitely would be:
Top group - Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Second group - Ferrer, del Potro, Tsonga, Berdych
Right now (and I type this after Wawrinka was upset in the 1st round of the French Open), Wawrinka has to be in the top eight, probably replacing either del Potro (who obviously is not playing right now) or Tsonga. Tsonga also hasn't shown his pre-late 2013 injury form yet, so someone else should also be in the top eight for the time being until (if?) Tsonga gets back into the top eight or shows his pre-injury form. Murray and Ferrer (especially Murray) haven't played up to their previous levels in the last few months, but both are still top eight players at this point.
Based on what you wrote, the only undeniable certain and solid members of the top 8 are Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, and Berdych.
I said no such thing Quaker15 (aka the poster formerly known as Timing2012).
What is clear is the 3-4 year period where the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray) and Second Four (Ferrer, del Potro, Berdych, and Tsonga) were solidly entrenched in their groupings above all the other players has been broken, at least temporarily but more likely permanently (at least in terms of those exact players being in those exact groupings).
I said no such thing Quaker15 (aka the poster formerly known as Timing2012).
What is clear is the 3-4 year period where the Big Four (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray) and Second Four (Ferrer, del Potro, Berdych, and Tsonga) were solidly entrenched in their groupings above all the other players has been broken, at least temporarily but more likely permanently (at least in terms of those exact players being in those exact groupings).
Wawrinka seems more and more like a one hit wonder. When was the last time a Grand Slam winner lost at the first round at the next Grand Slam after he just won the pervious one, when there are no external factors, such as injuries, death in family, etc.?
Must say this is equally a big surprise, given how well he was playing in Madrid.
Djoker fans are breathing a sigh of relief I can assure you, Kei looked like he was developing the right mix of flair and Michael Chang's tenacity, dangerous to say the least.
Milos Raonic will now probably be the first real test, Djoker for some reason has trouble against monster servers like Raonic and Isner -who has tagged him a more than once in recent times.
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