The Rankings Thread (ATP)

[Moxie]

New career high Apr.24, 2017:

14. Lucas Pouille 23y
19. Albert Ramos-Vinolas 29y
34. Diego Schwartzman 24y
72. Frances Tiafoe 19y
95. Nicholas Kicker 24y

Is Lucas Pouille the future of French tennis? Seems so. Albert Ramos-Viñolas is certainly in the category of "late-bloomer." Hurray, Frances! And who is Nicholas Kicker?

 

[britbox]

Is Lucas Pouille the future of French tennis? Seems so. Albert Ramos-Viñolas is certainly in the category of "late-bloomer." Hurray, Frances! And who is Nicholas Kicker?

Don't know about Kicker, but it's a good kickass name. Taifoe starting to make inroads.

 

[Kieran]

Everytime I see Nicholas Kicker's name listed I read it as Nicholas Kiefer. He was a decent player back in the day.

I liked Kiefer, lovely stylist, small bloke, straw balls, but enjoyable to watch...

 

[El Dude]

I think Tiafoe is going to break through in a big way this year, maybe win a title and/or go deep in a Slam. I wouldn't be surprised to see a top 30 finish from him, ala Zverev last year.

I am curious to hear why do you think that would happen ?

Sorry, missed this one, herios. I think Tiafoe has improved a lot. A lot of the odd bits about his game seem to have smoothed out a bit. I was impressed with what I saw versus Federer - I saw a talented young player holding his own and on the verge of breakthrough. He's still a bit behind Zverev and Kyrgios, but he's closed the gap a bit, in my opinion.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The current top ten average age probably is about 28 -29 years of age. I assumed it higher in 2015 when Berdych, Cilic, JowillieTs,Nishokori were ranked in the top spots.

 

[El Dude]

I was actually doing a research project on average ages, so I can confirm that the year-end top 10 peaked in 2015 at 29.6 years old, after rising or staying the same every year from 2008 to 2015, then went down again in 2016, at 28.2.

It was pretty stable from about 1980 to 2009, ranging between 23.3 and 25.4, then got higher and higher after 2009. From the early years of the Open Era to 1980 saw it get younger and younger, with the first ATP years being quite hold: 1973 was 28.8. If we had ATP rankings for the late 60s, it would be even older, with 1969 probably averaging over 30, with players like Laver (31), Rosewall (34), Emerson (32), and Gonzales (41) all in the top 10.

 

[Moxie]

Roger is #4 and Rafa is #5. I've done the math. If Roger skips both Madrid and Rome and Rafa skips Madrid, he can't get to #4 even by winning Rome. Short just about 30 points. While the difference between 4 and 5 going into a Major is big, I don't think it's enough for Rafa to make the calculation and play Madrid. IMO, the rest is more useful. And if Roger decides to play Rome, playing Madrid might have been for nothing.

 

[britbox]

Standings - Apr 30,2017 ATP Tour

1 (1) Andy Murray(Britain) 11870
2 (2) Novak Djokovic(Serbia) 8085
3 (3) Stan Wawrinka(Switzerland) 5695
4 (4) Roger Federer(Switzerland) 5125
5 (5) Rafa Nadal(Spain) 4735
6 (6) Milos Raonic(Canada) 4165
7 (7) Kei Nishikori(Japan) 4010
8 (8) Marin Cilic(Croatia) 3565
9 (9) Dominic Thiem(Austria) 3535
10 (10) David Goffin(Belgium) 2975
11 (11) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(France) 2915
12 (13) Tomas Berdych(Czech Republic) 2870
13 (12) Grigor Dimitrov(Bulgaria) 2820
14 (14) Lucas Pouille(France) 2746
15 (15) Jack Sock(U.S.) 2450
16 (17) Gael Monfils(France) 2410
17 (16) Nick Kyrgios(Australia) 2335
18 (18) Roberto Bautista(Spain) 2145
19 (19) Albert Ramos(Spain) 2135
20 (21) Alexander Zverev(Germany) 2005
21 (20) Pablo Carreno(Spain) 1965
22 (22) Ivo Karlovic(Croatia) 1795
23 (23) Richard Gasquet(France) 1740
24 (24) John Isner(U.S.) 1705
25 (25) Steve Johnson(U.S.) 1585
26 (26) Pablo Cuevas(Uruguay) 1560
27 (27) Sam Querrey(U.S.) 1480
28 (28) Gilles Muller(Luxembourg) 1425
29 (29) Fabio Fognini(Italy) 1270
30 (30) Gilles Simon(France) 1255
31 (32) David Ferrer(Spain) 1230
32 (35) Mischa Zverev(Germany) 1159
33 (33) Juan Martin Del Potro(Argentina) 1150
34 (36) Fernando Verdasco(Spain) 1120
35 (38) Paolo Lorenzi(Italy) 1120
36 (37) Joao Sousa(Portugal) 1080
37 (40) Feliciano Lopez(Spain) 1070
38 (39) Viktor Troicki(Serbia) 1055
39 (31) Philipp Kohlschreiber(Germany) 1035
40 (41) Bernard Tomic(Australia) 980
41 (42) Kyle Edmund(Britain) 958
42 (56) Karen Khachanov(Russia) 937
43 (45) Nicolas Mahut(France) 935
44 (46) Robin Haase(Netherlands) 933
45 (44) Donald Young(U.S.) 932
46 (34) Diego Schwartzman(Argentina) 912
47 (51) Adrian Mannarino(France) 911
48 (52) Jan-Lennard Struff(Germany) 908
49 (53) Steve Darcis(Belgium) 901
50 (47) Florian Mayer(Germany) 901
51 (43) Daniel Evans(Britain) 899
52 (50) Ryan Harrison(U.S.) 893
53 (59) Martin Klizan(Slovakia) 880
54 (48) Borna Coric(Croatia) 870
55 (49) Benoit Paire(France) 870
56 (55) Lu Yen-Hsun(Taiwan) 868
57 (54) Thomaz Bellucci(Brazil) 866
58 (68) Aljaz Bedene(Britain) 863
59 (58) Jiri Vesely(Czech Republic) 828
60 (60) Marcos Baghdatis(Cyprus) 825
61 (61) Nikoloz Basilashvili(Georgia) 821
62 (71) Janko Tipsarevic(Serbia) 820
63 (84) Horacio Zeballos(Argentina) 796
64 (62) Carlos Berlocq(Argentina) 792
65 (63) Daniil Medvedev(Russia) 789
66 (66) Kevin Anderson(South Africa) 775
67 (64) Yoshihito Nishioka(Japan) 748
68 (67) Malek Jaziri(Tunisia) 726
69 (69) Rogerio Dutra Silva(Brazil) 715
70 (65) Marcel Granollers(Spain) 711
71 (70) Jeremy Chardy(France) 710
72 (74) Andreas Seppi(Italy) 705
73 (91) Yuichi Sugita(Japan) 689
74 (73) Denis Istomin(Uzbekistan) 688
75 (75) Dustin Brown(Germany) 685
76 (87) Andrey Kuznetsov(Russia) 670
77 (76) Mikhail Kukushkin(Kazakhstan) 661
78 (94) Chung Hyeon(South Korea) 659
79 (78) Jared Donaldson(U.S.) 655
80 (72) Frances Tiafoe(U.S.) 654
81 (80) Thiago Monteiro(Brazil) 645
82 (81) Radu Albot(Moldova) 643
83 (82) Alexandr Dolgopolov(Ukraine) 640
84 (79) Dusan Lajovic(Serbia) 635
85 (85) Ernesto Escobedo(U.S.) 632
86 (57) Nicolas Almagro(Spain) 630
87 (86) Pierre-Hugues Herbert(France) 627
88 (89) Mikhail Youzhny(Russia) 620
89 (88) Renzo Olivo(Argentina) 619
90 (83) Victor Estrella(Dominican Republic) 615
91 (77) Jordan Thompson(Australia) 588
92 (90) Damir Dzumhur(Bosnia and Herzegovina) 580
93 (95) Nicolas Kicker(Argentina) 575
94 (92) Stephane Robert(France) 560
95 (96) Evgeny Donskoy(Russia) 558
96 (101) Sergiy Stakhovsky(Ukraine) 552
97 (100) Facundo Bagnis(Argentina) 544
98 (102) James Duckworth(Australia) 538
99 (97) Dudi Sela(Israel) 537
100 (99) Santiago Giraldo(Colombia) 536

 

[MartyB]

Roger is #4 and Rafa is #5. I've done the math. If Roger skips both Madrid and Rome and Rafa skips Madrid, he can't get to #4 even by winning Rome. Short just about 30 points. While the difference between 4 and 5 going into a Major is big, I don't think it's enough for Rafa to make the calculation and play Madrid. IMO, the rest is more useful. And if Roger decides to play Rome, playing Madrid might have been for nothing.

I don't recall Nadal skipping any clay tournaments in Spain while healthy? Is it your opinion or belief that he will skp Madrid? On a selfish note I'm just hoping Fed isn't in Nada's draw at the French...LoL

 

[Moxie]

I don't recall Nadal skipping any clay tournaments in Spain while healthy? Is it your opinion or belief that he will skp Madrid? On a selfish note I'm just hoping Fed isn't in Nada's draw at the French...LoL

He has skipped Barcelona before, because with Madrid it was crowding his schedule, but he wasn't happy about it. He's acting like he's going to Madrid, so that's just me thinking that a rest would be better than more match play before Paris.

 

[herios]

New career high May 1, 2017:

42. Karen Khachanov 20y
73. Yuichi Sugita 28y
93. Nicolas Kicker 24y

 

[herios]

New career high May 1, 2017:

42. Karen Khachanov 20y
73. Yuichi Sugita 28y
93. Nicolas Kicker 24y

For those who keep wondering who is Kicker, he is an Argentinean player, featuring mainly on the challenger tour.

 

[herios]

I think Tiafoe is going to break through in a big way this year, maybe win a title and/or go deep in a Slam. I wouldn't be surprised to see a top 30 finish from him, ala Zverev last year.

I am curious to hear why do you think that would happen ?

Sorry, missed this one, herios. I think Tiafoe has improved a lot. A lot of the odd bits about his game seem to have smoothed out a bit. I was impressed with what I saw versus Federer - I saw a talented young player holding his own and on the verge of breakthrough. He's still a bit behind Zverev and Kyrgios, but he's closed the gap a bit, in my opinion.

Considering you base your projection based on a single match, I think you are way too optimistic.
While has improved in consistency on the Challenger tour thus his improvement in rankings, to date his ATP level results are very poor.
The highest ranked player he has ever defeated was 66 ranked John Millman.
His record on the ATP tour is 4 wins - 15 losses ( not good ) and he reached only once second round in a slam.
Therefore it is a big stretch to believe that he would pull something anywhere close to what Zverev did.
I am expecting him to end up 2017 in the 60-100 ranking range and I would be shocked to see him breaking into the top 50.

 

[El Dude]

OK, we shall see. At this point, who knows. I'm really only saying that he is a breakout candidate and I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the year in the top 30. I also wouldn't be surprised to see finish in the 50-100 range and breakout next year.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

OK, we shall see. At this point, who knows. I'm really only saying that he is a breakout candidate and I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the year in the top 30. I also wouldn't be surprised to see finish in the 50-100 range and breakout next year.

So, it looks like the only time you will be surprised is if he finishes between 30 and 50. :snicker

 

[herios]

OK, we shall see. At this point, who knows. I'm really only saying that he is a breakout candidate and I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the year in the top 30. I also wouldn't be surprised to see finish in the 50-100 range and breakout next year.

Of course he is a break out candidate, as he is the current leader of the teenagers on tour. I just found your projection way too optimistic, considering his stats to date.
By the way, your boy Rublev has done nothing in the last few months.

 

[herios]

New career high on May 8, 2017:

17. Albert Ramos-Vinolas 29y
18. Pablo Carreno-Busta 25y
26. Gilles Muller 33y
43. Steve Darcis 33y
44. Jan-Lenard Struff 27y
92. Nicolas Kicker 24y

This week some veterans and late bloomers are on the move. Also Carreno Busta again on the move, after winning his 3 career title.

 

[El Dude]

Man, some folks just want someone to disagree with.

 

[Ricardo]

Nothing can change in the top slots this week, as Rafa won this tournament last year. And his #4 into RG probably depends on whether or not Roger plays.

can't feel good for Nadal fans, that his ranking position is dependent on whether Federer cuts his holiday short.

 

[britbox]

Ranking - 15 May

1 (1) Andy Murray(Britain) 10360
2 (2) Novak Djokovic(Serbia) 6845
3 (3) Stan Wawrinka(Switzerland) 5605
4 (5) Rafa Nadal(Spain) 5195
5 (4) Roger Federer(Switzerland) 5035
6 (6) Milos Raonic(Canada) 4180
7 (9) Dominic Thiem(Austria) 4035
8 (7) Marin Cilic(Croatia) 3735
9 (8) Kei Nishikori(Japan) 3470
10 (10) David Goffin(Belgium) 3055
11 (12) Grigor Dimitrov(Bulgaria) 2900
12 (11) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(France) 2870
13 (14) Tomas Berdych(Czech Republic) 2690
14 (15) Jack Sock(U.S.) 2370
15 (16) Gael Monfils(France) 2365
16 (13) Lucas Pouille(France) 2330
17 (19) Alexander Zverev(Germany) 2300
18 (20) Nick Kyrgios(Australia) 2155
19 (17) Albert Ramos(Spain) 2145
20 (21) Roberto Bautista(Spain) 2110
21 (18) Pablo Carreno(Spain) 2090
22 (22) Ivo Karlovic(Croatia) 1865
23 (27) Pablo Cuevas(Uruguay) 1840
24 (23) John Isner(U.S.) 1705
25 (25) Steve Johnson(U.S.) 1610
26 (24) Richard Gasquet(France) 1605
27 (26) Gilles Muller(Luxembourg) 1530
28 (28) Sam Querrey(U.S.) 1400
29 (29) Fabio Fognini(Italy) 1270
30 (30) David Ferrer(Spain) 1230
31 (32) Gilles Simon(France) 1210
32 (31) Mischa Zverev(Germany) 1167
33 (36) Paolo Lorenzi(Italy) 1153
34 (34) Juan Martin Del Potro(Argentina) 1125
35 (38) Feliciano Lopez(Spain) 1125
36 (33) Viktor Troicki(Serbia) 1110
37 (35) Fernando Verdasco(Spain) 1085
38 (37) Philipp Kohlschreiber(Germany) 1035
39 (40) Diego Schwartzman(Argentina) 1027
40 (39) Bernard Tomic(Australia) 1015
41 (59) Borna Coric(Croatia) 1011
42 (47) Ryan Harrison(U.S.) 963
43 (45) Robin Haase(Netherlands) 958
44 (52) Benoit Paire(France) 945
45 (46) Donald Young(U.S.) 932
46 (51) Florian Mayer(Germany) 928
47 (50) Adrian Mannarino(France) 926
48 (48) Nicolas Mahut(France) 925
49 (49) Martin Klizan(Slovakia) 925
50 (43) Steve Darcis(Belgium) 916
51 (41) Joao Sousa(Portugal) 910
52 (44) Jan-Lennard Struff(Germany) 893
53 (53) Kyle Edmund(Britain) 878
54 (42) Karen Khachanov(Russia) 860
55 (56) Aljaz Bedene(Britain) 848
56 (58) Daniel Evans(Britain) 844
57 (64) Marcos Baghdatis(Cyprus) 825
58 (55) Lu Yen-Hsun(Taiwan) 823
59 (54) Thomaz Bellucci(Brazil) 821
60 (60) Horacio Zeballos(Argentina) 821
61 (62) Janko Tipsarevic(Serbia) 820
62 (63) Jiri Vesely(Czech Republic) 815
63 (57) Kevin Anderson(South Africa) 810
64 (65) Daniil Medvedev(Russia) 782
65 (79) Frances Tiafoe(U.S.) 769
66 (66) Chung Hyeon(South Korea) 749
67 (67) Yoshihito Nishioka(Japan) 748
68 (68) Carlos Berlocq(Argentina) 746
69 (69) Malek Jaziri(Tunisia) 741
70 (61) Nikoloz Basilashvili(Georgia) 731
71 (78) Jared Donaldson(U.S.) 707
72 (70) Jeremy Chardy(France) 705
73 (76) Nicolas Almagro(Spain) 703
74 (73) Marcel Granollers(Spain) 695
75 (74) Dustin Brown(Germany) 685
76 (72) Andreas Seppi(Italy) 676
77 (75) Yuichi Sugita(Japan) 674
78 (81) Ernesto Escobedo(U.S.) 667
79 (77) Dusan Lajovic(Serbia) 664
80 (88) Pierre-Hugues Herbert(France) 662
81 (82) Andrey Kuznetsov(Russia) 660
82 (85) Denis Istomin(Uzbekistan) 653
83 (83) Mikhail Youzhny(Russia) 624
84 (71) Rogerio Dutra Silva(Brazil) 622
85 (86) Victor Estrella(Dominican Republic) 615
86 (84) Radu Albot(Moldova) 613
87 (80) Mikhail Kukushkin(Kazakhstan) 610
88 (90) Jordan Thompson(Australia) 590
89 (87) Alexandr Dolgopolov(Ukraine) 585
90 (104) Marius Copil(Romania) 577
91 (92) Nicolas Kicker(Argentina) 575
92 (91) Renzo Olivo(Argentina) 571
93 (89) Damir Dzumhur(Bosnia and Herzegovina) 565
94 (95) Adam Pavlasek(Czech Republic) 565
95 (94) Evgeny Donskoy(Russia) 558
96 (97) Facundo Bagnis(Argentina) 544
97 (98) Taro Daniel(Japan) 544
98 (100) Thiago Monteiro(Brazil) 543
99 (101) James Duckworth(Australia) 538
100 (103) Norbert Gombos(Slovakia) 536