Best shots for 2012 (according to Bess)

Posted by Bess: I'm overdue making my predictions for 2012. And some of you may find it sketchy that I'm making my predictions with the 2012 tennis season underway. Rest assured that I have avoided reading any other bloggers' or writers' tennis predictions (even Dave's!). And while I've seen some tennis news through Twitter, I have yet to actually watch any of the action.

Thank goodness I'll be able to read about and watch tennis now without any guilt!

Prediction #1: 2012 men's grand slam winners. I predict we will see a more even distribution of the grand slam "wealth" this year (and for the sake of the argument, I'm viewing the Olympics as a fifth slam).

My rationale: 2010 was the year of Nadal. 2011 was Nole's year. And many of the years before that were Federer's. But I don't think Djokovic can maintain the same level of play throughout 2012 as he did in 2011. I don't think Nadal can be as consistently great as we've seen him, either. I *do* think Roger has at least another win in him (this was reinforced when I saw him play in London in November--more on that in my next post.)

But there are also a number of talented players waiting to pounce. And with the Olympics thrown into the mix, I think different players are going to try to peak at different times, and preparations during the relatively short window that will encompass the French Open, Wimbledon, the Olympics and the U.S. Open will be mighty interesting.

Prediction #2: 2012 women's grand slam winners. Much tougher category, this. I'll only say that, much as we saw in 2011, I expect a number of players in the mix. Who? Sheesh. I don't know. I'd love to see Clijsters, Sharapova, Zvonareva, Li Na and Wozniacki have great seasons. I'd like to see Ivanovic cobble together a string of wins. I'd kind of like to see Azarenka do well just to drum up all the debate about screeching again. Because that didn't get old. And I'd really like Sam Stosur to get a win she can savor just a little bit more (i.e. not tainted by the shenanigans of her opponent.) This feels like a prediction-less prediction. But so be it.

Prediction #3: Olympic champions. I'm going to go out on a huge, ridiculous limb here and pick two Olympic gold medalists. Although it's most likely to only cause me grief later when my picks are woefully mistaken and Dave won't let me forget it.

Men's Olympic gold medalist: Roger Federer. I know. But this has got to be TOPS on Roger's list this year. It's just about the only thing in tennis he hasn't won. (Yes, he has an Olympic doubles title, but let's get real--he wants a gold in singles badly.) He's expressed interest for several years. And the Olympic tennis matches will be played on the grass at Wimbledon where Roger is more than comfortable. ... Many things working in his favor. Plus, I would just like to see him cap off his remarkable career in that way. It would be one Roger win that wouldn't feel simply like "another win."

Women's Olympic gold medalist: And this? This is the "ridiculous limb" part of the prediction. Who can really say?! Yes, it could be Serena, but I'm feeling a little iffy about her 2012 season for some reason. And if she's indeed playing mixed doubles with Roddick, perhaps she'll be a bit distracted? (Unless it just means she's in even better shape. Yikes!) Hmmm... For no really strategic reason other than I'd like to see it happen, I'll pick Sharapova. I believe she deserves some kind of medal for the long, slow battle she's waged to come back from her shoulder injury. Might as well be Olympic gold.

Prediction #4: Agassi in the mix. Likely just wishful thinking on my part, but I predict Andre Agassi will offer some sort of surprise this year, putting him more in the mix again. Not as a player (talk about ridiculous limbs...) but... somehow. Just hopefully not a second Tell-All. ;-) (Don't get me wrong, it was a fantastic book. But I don't think we need any more shocking revelations or swipes at Sampras.) Is it so wrong to want more Agassi!?

Prediction #5: The year of Dave. Here's a self-involved prediction if I ever saw one. But I predict Dave will be the grand slam (+Olympics) overall winner when it comes to our 2012 bracket challenges. I can only hope he picks good places for me to buy his victory meals.

Prediction #6: Retirements. Might James Blake bow out? Might Venus Williams be forced to retire due to her medical issues? Will Clijsters call it quits after the Olympics or one final U.S. Open? Time will tell. But I predict we'll see a few retirements this year that will tug at my heartstrings and add to the ever-increasing amount of evidence that I am old.

There you have it. Let's reconvene here in December and break down my prediction-making skillz.