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Bold predictions for the ATP’s return to play in 2020

By Brandon Daniels

Austria's Dominic Thiem reacts after winning a set against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 2, 2020. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Austria's Dominic Thiem reacts after winning a set against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 2, 2020. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) /
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MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses on the court as he holds the winners trophy following the men’s singles final against Stefano Tsitsipas of Greece during day 9 of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses on the court as he holds the winners trophy following the men’s singles final against Stefano Tsitsipas of Greece during day 9 of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Aliaga/MB Media/Getty Images) /

3. Djokovic’s 2020 season as a whole – Titles galore but no undefeated season

Djokovic is going to have an incredible 2020 season. He finished 18-0 before the shutdown captured two titles in Australia and Dubai. Questions were raised throughout the sport on whether or not he could be beaten at all. With everyone well rested and ready to go at their highest levels, the competition is back for the World #1.

Unfortunately for him, he won’t finish the season undefeated. His 18-0 record spanned over two tournaments, which isn’t anywhere close to the 80-90 matches he usually plays in a given year. The season will be shortened but it still doesn’t justify him winning every match moving forward.

He’ll likely capture at least one of the two Masters 1000 tournaments on clay this year. He’s had more competitive match experiences than Nadal in the last few months. Because of this, he’ll take the crown in Madrid.

The Rome tournament is up in the air; Nadal should be back in full form by then if he decides to play but no one can confirm that until he plays. With that said, I’ll leave the Rome title undecided between the two. Given that I’ve predicted Djokovic to skip the US Open, I’ll give him the win in Kitzbuhel.

In terms of the hard-court swing, it’s also up in the air whether or not he’ll play any of the events leading up to New York if he isn’t going to play the major held there. My prediction here is that he’ll remain in Europe until Roland Garros is completed.

This gives him 2 titles in the return and 4 total for the year. The ATP hasn’t announced an official schedule following Roland Garros. All that has been announced is that the Asian hard-court swing is projected to be played in October (if government restrictions allow for it) and the ATP Finals swing to finish in November.

Djokovic, if the tour is cleared to play in Asia, should enter those events as the favorite due to his hard-court prowess.

Next. 3 reasons why Roger Federer will succeed in his 2021 return. dark

Whatever the case, 2020 has been, and will continue to be, a wild season in tennis.

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