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Miami Open: Top Mens Contenders

By Nate Slaymaker

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Mar 30, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Novak Djokovic (right) shakes hands with Rafael Nadal (left) after winning the men

Miami Open: Top Men’s Contenders

The big tournaments give order to the tennis season. After the Australian Open, we weren’t sure what to expect from the surprises or how the favorites would back up their results. Coming out of Indian Wells, we know who the big players are. We know who has fallen short of expectations. We know who the up-and-comers will be. The narrative for the 2015 tennis season is beginning to take shape. As we head into the second Masters 1000 event at the Miami Open, here are some brief, player-centered story lines:

1. Novak Djokovic is on top of the world. It is rare that a players can keep at such a high level of tennis consistently and for extended periods of time. Can anyone stop him from pulling the difficult Indian Wells-Miami Open double?

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2. Comeback time! Two former top ten players make the 2015 debuts at the Miami Open. Juan Martin del Potro is returning unseeded after an injury plagued 2014. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will see his first tournament action since Paris, coming off a right arm injury.

3. Big Four Dominance. Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer have won 40 of the last 44 Masters 1000 tournaments. Federer is not in the draw. Can the other three keep that dominance going?

4. Youngsters unite! Tennagers Borna Coric, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Nick Kyrgios look to continue their splash on tour.

It is shaping up to be a terrific couple of weeks at the Miami Open. The draw has been released. As the last major hard court event before the clay court season kicks off, here’s a look at the top contenders to take home the trophy.

Next: Miami Open: Top Contender #8

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