ATWT Discussion Group

Topic: Do you think Roger Federer has a chance to keep his No. 1 ranking this year?

In the ATP 2008 Race Nadal has 955 points after winning the classic Wimbledon match, Federer has 685 points (but barely still No. 1 in the world rankings entry system), and Djokovic has 649 points.  Now we turn to the hard court season again.  The Canadian Open is a very prestigious masters event and the winner takes 100 points.  Roger almost has to win this event to have any chance at all to keep or reclaim his No. 1 ranking at year's end if he loses it before the Masters Cup in China.  After this event, we travel to Ohio to play in another masters' event at Cincinnati.  Roger Federer also has to win this event to add another 100 points.  It would help him also if also Raphael Nadal loss before the finals because a finalist in a masters' event gets 70 points.  Then in early and mid August we have the Olympic Games.  I don't know if professional tennis players get any points for winning; I could be wrong.  I don't even know what surface they will be playing on in China.  Then in late August and early September we have the last Grand Slam of the year.  This is a must for Roger.  He absolutely must win this grand slam to have any chance at being No. 1 this year.  In October we have an Indoor masters event in Spain with the winner getting 100 points and in November (early) is the Masters Cup in China.  If the winner goes undefeated and wins every match they receive 200 points, the same as you would in a grand slam event.

What do you tennis fans think?  Do you think Raphael Nadal and Novak Djokovik woke up Roger Federer this year?  Or do you think he has loss the No. 1 ranking for good this year?  Do you think Nadal can win a grand slam event on hard courts?  Do you think Djokovic will rebound from his early Wimbledon exit and finish the year strong?