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Points leaders: Breaking down the best of '07

Nadal, Jankovic lead lists

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer and Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal

Mark Lyons

Rafa Nadal has got the edge on Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko has no edge, as he continues to stand pat in the Top 4.

After five-and-a-half months, the ATP and WTA points races begin to have relevance. The following analysis is based on the list of Top-10 points leaders on June 11.

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1. RAFAEL NADAL: If you toss aside the Aussie Open, Miami and Hamburg, the Spaniard is off to his best start ever. He's maturing, has improved his backhand and his serve and is as mentally composed as anyone on tour. With his three Masters Series crowns (IW, MC and Rome,) plus his third straight Roland Garros crown, he's 134 points ahead of Fed in the race, plus he's 2-1 against the Swiss this year. Rafa is the tour's main man during the first five months, but he still has a tremendous amount to prove on grass and on hard courts.

2. ROGER FEDERER: Flash back to last year: Federer went down in four sets to Nadal at the French and then whipped him in four in the Wimbledon final. That scenario could happen again if the Spaniard can claw his way to last Sunday at SW19. Fed is going for five straight in an attempt to tie Bjorn Borg's Open Era mark and is a substantial favorite at the tournament, where he would like to put a mediocre last three months behind him. Second in the points race with his AO and Hamburg crowns, he's really been the world's second best player this year – and no more.

3. NOVAK DJOKOVIC: The young Serb made serious hay on hard courts, winning Miami, and then had a very respectable clay season, taking Estoril and reaching the RG semis. His grass-court credentials are spotty, but if he keeps playing at the same level, he'll be the third most talked about man going into the US Open.

4. NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO: An excellent Roland Garros for the Russian, save for his inability to win the big points against Federer. He doesn't understand how to play on turf, but is lethal on hard courts and should be a major US Open Series threat. The phone is already buzzing of the hook in Cincy.

5. FERNANDO GONZALEZ: Hopefully, Ana Ivanovic hasn't been paying attention to what's happened to Gonzo, who's done next to nothing since his stirring Aussie Open run. He's tired from head to toe and is quickly sinking. What gives, coach Stefanki?

6. ANDY RODDICK: The clear No. 3 pick at Wimbledon, A-Rod is thrilled to be out of the red mud. He's had a competitive yet unspectacular year, failing to win a title. The next three months is when Jimmy Connors is really going to earn his money.

7. IVAN LJUBICIC: Will this talented and big serving Croat ever show up huge at a Slam? He was ineffective in Melbourne and Paris, but is still the source of cozy features about his fine leadership of the ATP Players Council.

8. TOMMY ROBREDO: Mr. Consistency finally one-ups Rafa by posing near-nude for Cosmo. That outbreak of extroverted behavior should land him in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

9. GUILLERMO CANAS: Looked so good heading into the RG quarters, where Davydenko pushed him around. Forget the clay … Willy is a hard courter who can't wait to touch down on US soil once again.

10. MIKHAIL YOUZHNY: A bit of a surprise here, as most folks would have expected Marat Safin to be the one Russian making a push. But the wizard of the one-handed backhand rules the practice courts and has been quite steady at big events. But he'll never win a Slam.

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