Truths, Lies and Tennis Statistics / Simon Mundie / 24 February 2009 /

Andy Roddick, Leyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian have all been around for a long time at the top level and know how to win. With the game changing, Simon Mundie wonders what lies in store for these "old timers" this season?

We may only be two months into 2009, but already a few themes are dominating the agenda for followers of men's tennis.

The first is the ongoing rivalry between Rafa and Roger, and whether or not the Spaniard has well and truly broken the spirit of the 13-time Grand Slam champion after another crushing win in Australia. Time will tell. The second includes the other members of the big four - Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, and whether this could be the year they overhaul Nadal and Federer at the top of the rankings. The third centres on the emergence of the band of emerging talents; players like Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo Wilfred Tsonga, Ernests Gulbis and Gilles Simon.

With all that in mind, you could be forgiven for forgetting that there are still a group of players who've been around for a long time at the top level, and know how to win, but who are probably not quite the forces of old. Players like Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt.

It's true that none of them are likely to challenge for a top three spot, but can we expect them to have a successful year nevertheless?

A successful year in this instance doesn't necessarily mean challenging for number one, or even Grand Slam titles, although you can't totally rule out Andy Roddick completely; he showed in Australia that his game is in good working order. For these seasoned pros it could mean a few tour titles, maybe a Masters Series shield, a decent run in one or more of the majors, and perhaps even a spot at the season ending Masters Cup, this year held in London.

But before their 2009 credentials are assessed, it's worth considering why none of the four I've mentioned are still considered to be genuine contenders for number one; after all Roddick, Safin and Hewitt have all been ranked as the world's best during their careers, while Nalbandian peaked at number three. You can't put it totally down to age; Roddick is only 26-years-old, Nalbandian is 27, Hewitt is 28 and Safin is the eldest at 29. While they are all considered to be of relatively advanced years for a professional tennis player, it doesn't necessarily spell the end, as Andre Agassi proved by winning five of his Grand Slam titles after his 29th birthday.

More of an issue than their advancing years is the way the game has developed since the early 2000s, when they were in their pomp. Leyton Hewitt's best years were in 2001 and 2002, when he won the US Open as well as Wimbledon, and finished both years ranked number one. In winning the US Open he dismantled a net rushing Pete Sampras in the final with ease. Hewitt's strength has always been his return of serve, and on that occasion he continually dipped the ball at Sampras' feet, before unleashing a laser like pass past the hapless American.

Hewitt also used a similar approach to beat Tim Henman time and time again, but since then the number of net rushers have dwindled dramatically, to be replaced by baseliners with more power at their disposal than the plucky Australian. His counter punching style has proved more and more toothless over the years, and his opponents have taken advantage of his lack of a truly match winning shot.

As for Roddick, world number one in 2003, despite having two great strengths in his serve and forehand, he has been hindered by two equally glaring weaknesses. While his backhand is solid, he has never mastered the art of rolling over the top of the ball on that wing, which means passing an opponent at the net is extremely difficult, as he is unable to get the ball up and down in time to create any testing angles.

His volleying skills have also been exposed, and opponents know if he does rush the net, they will often get a second bite of the cherry at passing the American. With such obvious weaknesses, his adversaries have been able to formulate specific tactics to nullify his more obvious strengths.

Marat Safin's problems have been less to do with on court weaknesses, and more to do with problems between his ears. At his best, he isn't far behind Roger Federer in terms of talent, but he has lacked the dedication and patience to fulfil that ability. Nowadays, his movement isn't as fluid either, although he is still capable of impressive displays as he showed in beating Djokovic at Wimbledon last year.

David Nalbandian is a perennial underachiever, capable of destroying even the very best when firing on all cylinders. However, his problems are three-fold, his serve is not enough of a weapon, he spends too much time engaged in grinding out wins in earlier rounds, particularly in Grand Slam events, and he has been unable to perform at his best whenever a lot was expected of him.

So what could they each achieve in 2009? Roddick is unsurprisingly the man you should expect the most from. He's started the season in better shape than for several years under the tutelage of Larry Stefanki, who has made the player more mobile as he was during his brief spell as world number one in 2003. If he were to win a Grand Slam, he would need for other players to take care of Federer, Nadal and Murray for him, and that is unlikely. A Masters shield though, is well within his reach.

Lleyton Hewitt is also looking somewhat revitalised, reaching his first ATP semi-final since 2007 in Memphis last week. He has had a lean few years, but if he can rediscover his inner fire and get a bit more zip off the ground, he should finish in the top 20 at least. We will find out a lot about his form during the American hardcourt season, at tournaments like Miami and Indian Wells, but don't be surprised if he makes his presence felt with a few impressive wins.

David Nalbandian has made a career out of disappointing his supporters, and the start of this year has been no different. However, he is still capable of outstanding performances, particularly indoors, which is why he often finishes the year in such style. He could feasibly win any tournament he enters this year, but I wouldn't bet on it, it's far more likely he will simply stay in his comfort zone, hovering around the lower reaches of the top 10.

So that leaves the popular Russian Marat Safin, who has announced this year will be his last on tour. He showed he wasn't completely washed up by reaching the last four at Wimbledon last year, and could post a few decent results in 2009, particularly as he has nothing to lose and will come out swinging.

He won't be bagging his third Grand Slam title but none of the big players will want to face him in front of an adoring crowd looking to bid farewell to the charismatic Russian. That could bring the best out of Marat, and then it would be a case of expect the unexpected - a fitting end to what has been an entertaining, if sporadically successful, career.

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