Battle for the top

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

RE: Battle for the top

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
christ wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
... Djoko is outside the top 8 in the race;
His non-participation in Australia probably explains Mr Djokovic's position.
indeed - agreed. And in general he has had a slow start to the year with IW and Miami being an issue for him.

He's already projected to fall to WR 7 in the rankings once 2021 Wimbledon points come off in addition to 2021 French Open points.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
christ wrote:
JonH comes home wrote:
... Djoko is outside the top 8 in the race;
His non-participation in Australia probably explains Mr Djokovic's position.
indeed - agreed. And in general he has had a slow start to the year with IW and Miami being an issue for him.
He's already projected to fall to WR 7 in the rankings once 2021 Wimbledon points come off in addition to 2021 French Open points.

I hadnt checked the 5 week list but yes, it looks like:

1. Medvedev 7280

2. Zverev 6850

3. Nadal 6165

4. Ruud 5050

5. Tsitsipas 4945

6. Alcaraz 4845

7. Djokovic 4770

8. Rublev 3700

9. FAA 3333

10. Sinner 3185

11. Cam 3133

I see Jack D is live 98, shame he isnt playing this week to try and defend that as there are a lot of players behind him who could pass him again, nonetheless a virtual top 100 is a good start!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Apparently Zverev will miss being number one by 125 points on Monday and then immediately drops 1000 to fall way behind. Nadal is confirmed as in Cinci and if he wins and Medvedev loses early in Cinci, Nadal will be number one.

indiana · Tennis legend

So, of the 5 players that could have been WR 1 post the US Open, Tsitsipas fell by the wayside very early and now the existing WR 1 Medvedev has also dropped out of contention.

Nadal is live #1 but now of course out.

So the 3 contenders for WR 1 are currently :

Nadal : 5630 - 0 + 180 = 5810 - OUT

Alcaraz : 5100 - 360 + 360 = 5100
Ruud : 4695 - 45 + 360 = 5010

Both Alcaraz and Ruud would move ahead of Nadal if they reach the final. If they both do, clearly they will be playing for not only the title but the WR 1 spot.

Alcaraz has clearly been thought about for a while as the next big thing, and would be the youngest WR 1 in ATP rankings history, but although a former junior WR 1 who would have thought Casper Ruud might be senior WR 1 at this stage?

Hopefully, if one is to become the post US Open WR 1, they do so as champion, especially if that is Ruud, to really give him recognition.

christ · Futures level

So is Ruud the last knockings of the 90's cohort before they give way to the 2000's lot?

indiana · Tennis legend

And so it transpired ...

WR at 12/09/22

1. Alcaraz : 5100 - 360 + 2000 = 6740
2. Ruud : 4695 - 45 + 1200 = 5850
3. Nadal : 5630 - 0 + 180 = 5810

And at a new CH ...

8. Norrie : 3415 - 45 + 180 = 3550

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

The changing of the guard ? I think the guard has well and truly changed.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

tennisabstract.com/reports/atp_elo_ratings.html

I noticed Alcaraz has got to the top of the ELO ratings at last, Djoko down to 4. The interesting one was in the Brits , that Evo seems to consistently be below his actual atp ranking in these lists, 37 versus 25 at the moment. Does that imply Evo wins many matches versus lower rated players and maybe plays more comfortable events ? Or wins early rounds quite often but never really makes it through as he hits the bigger boys end of the event ? Presumably the latter?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Although Cam has work to do to in making Turin, the Italians also do - Sinner and Berrettini outside the top 8 by a little way and the top doubles pair also - not sure that no Italians qualifying was in the ATP business case for taking this event to Italy?!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

For what it is worth, the last match between the number one and two players was in Paris Masters in late 2021 , 18 months ago. Djokovic v Medvedev

The last time the two top women played was Nov 2019, 3 1/2 years ago, barty played pliskova in tour finals.

Im not sure it is good for the respective tours for the top players to not play. Prior to 2021, there had been 32 matches in the previous 9 years for the men. For women , there have been only 32 matches between top 2 since year 2000.

Stats courtesy of Jeff Sackmann on tennis abstract twitter

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Not really what this thread was intended for but thought it was better that a new thread!

The ITF world champions have been announced and as well as Joe and Rajeev in mens doubles, for a second time, Djoko gets the mens singles for an 8th time.

Tennis Abstract have also published that in their best ever list from last season, Novaks record this year would lift him to 3rd best all time of either sex, Rod Laver leads that list still.

www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2023/12/13/iga-swiatek-and-the-updated-tennis-128/

In the womens ITF world champions announcement , Sabalenka has taken it over Swiatek.

www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/sabalenka-named-womens-itf-world-champion-for-first-time/

And finally, Tennis Abstract have used the ELO ratings to predict what 2024 year end might look like - Jannik Sinner will be next year endings number one!

www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2023/12/14/predicting-next-years-elo-ratings/

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Rafa

x.com/gasparlanca/status/1746958880070930856

Really?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Not sure where to put this , but it felt relevant

tennistonic.com/tennis-news/670085/for-the-first-time-ever-there-are-no-one-handed-backhand-players-in-the-atp-top-10/

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

x.com/josemorgado/status/1761087222265102817

Guy in the background - is that Roger now hes a bit older!?