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The men's draw operates like clockwork, time and again. This time is no exception. We're always faced with the same handful of guys who make a run to the semis. Once in a great while something will happen by chance and eliminate one of them, but then the others will fill the gap. This is what makes men's tennis so interesting to watch. Skill and technique always persevere. Women's tennis is all over the place. Of course there are a few more-dominant players, but for the most part the draw is wide open. All of the time, every major really, we see some "breakout" player making a dash to the semis, finals, or even winning.
It is a safe bet that Djo, Federer, or Murray will take it. I would list it in that order even, Djo, Fed, Murray. It's also a safe bet that the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open will all have the same outcome, one of those three. There is certainly the possibility that Nadal will come back and crush, and the remte possibility that one of the other Top 10 players will make a mark. Tsonga has a remarkable game that is just a shade off the Big 4. The same can be said for a few other players. Exciting tennis! There are very few other sports where the top is so solidly dominated by so few players.
I disagree with this. Best of 5 is where the truly elite players shine. How many times have we seen Federer or Nadal come back from two sets down? It is always possible for a good (but not great) player to give it his all and absolutely power through the first set or even first two sets. This player will play a very aggressive game, chasing down every shot, and putting on a fantastic show for the crowd. This wears the player down a tremendous amount. The more conservative, precise player who has impeccable technique and conserves energy is often able to come back in the third, fourth, and fifth sets.
Olympic tennis, being only three sets, really skews things. It makes it more of a wildcard match. Five sets really allows technique and true mastery of the sport to shine through. Perhaps this does effect women's tennis, but keep in mind that as a general rule women do not possess the same stamina that men do. A very few women may be able to play a five set match, but it would be a narrow field. Can you picture Li Na in a fifth set? Some of the women's bodies are simply too frail to support four or five hours of solid physical play.
