Where have you gone, Novak and Andy?

With the first quarter of the season coming to a close, Rafael Nadal is still alive in Miami, but two men who have had huge success on hardcourt before — Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray — are gone with their winter and early spring seasons lying in tatters and world No. 1 Roger Federer is out too.

Coming into 2010, the Scot and the Serbian were looking to make serious pushes at the No. 1 spot, but during the first part of the season, neither has shown that they have the willpower to make a sustained challenge.

Former Aussie Open champion and second-ranked Djokovic has had one outstanding tournament this season, when he won Dubai over Mikhail Youzhny in February.

Murray has had one significant result, too, reaching the final of the Aussie Open with gigantic wins over Nadal and Marin Cilic, but then he froze up against Roger Federer in the final. Since then, he's taken three losses — to Janko Tipsarevic in Dubai, to Robin Soderling at Indian Wells, and to a swarming Mardy Fish in Miami — that very well could have been victories for an ambitious man who has been saying for the past two years that he feels like he's ready to take over the sport.

“I haven't been tough enough on the court, and that's what's most disappointing,” said Murray, who hasn't won a title since last fall in Valencia. “You can kind of get away with playing badly. I don't really mind that. But mentally the last few weeks I've been really poor and unacceptable. It's not been great since Australia.”

Murray also said that he's not enjoying himself on court, which isn't surprising given that the harrowing loss to Federer is still fresh in his mind. It's no fun to go on court again after completely underperforming on one of the world's biggest stages.

Indian Wells and Miami were at least small chances at redemption, where Murray could have shown that he had shaken off the loss and possibly have received another crack at Federer, where maybe he could have found a way to trouble him again.

But if his heart isn't in it, and his mind is confused, than he's not going to find a way to battle admirably, and now he's falling back to the pack. The clay court season could be less than kind to him, and although it's only March, the hand-wringing at Wimbledon has already begun.

The same could be said of Djokovic, who once again fell part physically at a major, this time to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Australia. Tired after a fine Davis Cup effort, he fell to eventual champ Ivan Ljubicic at Indian Wells and then almost inexplicably, let Belgian veteran Olivier Rochus run him to near death early in Miami.

“I don't feel great on the court, and everybody could see that,” he said. “Life goes on. I've gotta rest now and try to make up for these defeats on clay courts.”

Djokovic might say that he's worn out after a busy first quarter, but his scheduling is entirely his decision. If he's not peaking for the big events, maybe he should rethink how he's approaching the sport. At this point, it doesn't appear that's he's improved enough to consistently take on Federer and Nadal. While those two haven't exactly been perfect either, you rarely hear them getting so down on themselves and both have shown the ability to pick themselves off the mat after head-scratching defeats.

Going into Wednesday's play in Miami, three other members of the top 10 who are still alive could end up leaving the tournament feeling very good about their prospects with deep runs — Soderling, Andy Roddick and Tsonga.

After his surprising run to the 2009 French Open final, Soderling has managed to keep his head up and round out the rough edges of his game. This year, he's won Rotterdam and reached the semifinals of Indian Wells. Roddick has been fairly solid too, winning Brisbane, and reaching the San Jose and Indian Wells finals. He hasn't won a Masters Series crown since 2006, but he's always liked Miami (which he won in 2004) and in a two- of three-set match, has to be given at least a puncher's chance against Federer and Nadal.

Tsonga hasn't been heard from much since reaching the Aussie Open semis, and given that the powerballer doesn't have much hope to do damage on clay, Miami is a perfect opportunity for him to let the world know he'll be heard from the rest of the season.

Belgian women ruling again

Belgium has a population of 10.7 million people, while Russia has some 141 million residents and the U.S. about 307 million. So how is it that Belgium now has the best trio of WTA players with Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Yanina Wickmayer all reaching the Miami quarters?

Russia has no players in the quarters in Miami and many of its elite competitors are struggling (i.e. Kuznetsova, Elena Dementieva and Maria Sharapova). The U.S. has only one in the final eight — Venus Williams — who along with her injured sister, Serena, are the only two American women ranked in the top 40.

U.S. Open champ Clijsters destroyed defending champion Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-0 in the fourth round in Miami, seven-time Slam champion Henin took apart Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-4, and the 20-year-old Wickmayer crushed Timea Bacsinszky 6-0, 6-1.

Wickmayer, who ended up losing to Marion Bartoli in the quarters, has had very few lousy tournaments since reaching the 2009 U.S. Open semis and is on the verge of cracking the top 10. Clijsters, who will face Australian Samantha Stosur on Wednesday, is guaranteed to crack the top 15 again just eight months into her comeback. Aussie Open finalist Henin, who will face Indian Wells finalist and second-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the quarters Wednesday, will at least bust into the top 30 in just her fourth tournament since ending her retirement.

Now that's unmatched quality.