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Brian Swartz · 08-13-2022, 01:43 PM

Rankings Update
Q2 2088

We'll take a fuller look at the up and comers and all that at the end of the year. For now, let's get to know the powers that be.

1. Leon Polychroniadis (25, GRC) - 15,755

Leon is a dominant #1, having taken the spot last summer, and won't peak for probably at least a year. He's the typical guy with above-average tools, high but not spectacular endurance, and appears to have been managed exceptionally well. Polychroniadis currently holds all four Slam titles. On the other hand, he just suffered a pair of semifinal defeats in Indian Wells and Miami, so perhaps he's not as impregnable as it looked when he went unbeaten from Roland Garros to after the US Open last year. It's easy to see why Greece has taken the mantle of top tennis country in the world with him around though.

2. Renke Cananis (26, DEU) - 10,580

Cananis has the strange distinction of having won more World Tour Finals (3) than Grand Slams (2). Cananis has the best serve in the game and is seemingly impervious to cracking under pressure, though he can't hang with the other top players when it comes to baseline play. He's still not quite reached his best tennis, so Renke ought to be a fixture for at least a couple years near the top of the heap.

3. Alexander Reimann (27, DEU) - 7,670

Exceptionally talented with good but not excellent supporting abilities, Reimann appears to have gone about as far as he can in what looks to be a strong era of champions. A couple years back it appears the competition wasn't quite as fearsome, and he won the Australian and French back-to-back. Last year it was a couple of runner-up finishes, and he looks to be about at his peak. Hanging onto a spot as a second-tier player is his most realistic aim.

4. Themis Xanthos (26, CYP) - 7,640

Right there with Reimann is a rare sight - a top player from Cyprus. Xanthos is the only Top 10 player in the island's history, the only Slam winner ('85 AO), and the only Masters titlist (5, including IW a couple weeks ago). Well-rounded is the term for his style of play, with a particular affinity for hardcourts. Purely from a personal standard point of view, this year or next are expected to be his finest.

5. Toni Bardales (25, ESP) - 5.090

You just knew there had to be a Spaniard around these parts; there always is. Managed by long-running success serrano, presently the 4th-ranked on this server, Bardales still has hopes of creeping closer and putting pressure on the Top 4. He's a clay specialist with a little bigger serve than you might expect, and the strong mental game and grinder mentality that you would.

6. Jochen Weigle (24, SUI) - 5,065

Weigle has a solid year of development in hand on any of the competition above him, and could well be the next #1. His work ethic is a cut above, and the only aspect of his game that isn't quite there yet is the first serve delivery. The mental side is quite good, although not nearly that of Cananis.

7. Solitris Papadias (26, GRC) - 4,650

Part B of Greece's glorious story, Papadias is the most dedicated player we've yet run into on this list, and it shows in technical abilities that overshoot some #1s I've seen. The raw power isn't there though, and while calling him a 'mental midget' would be a bit much, there's definitely quite a bit to be desired in his performance under pressure. Solitris was once ranked 5th and is still improving, but it's tough sledding right now.

8. Ben Faille (20, FRA) - 3,985

You read that right - there's a 20-year-old crashing this party. Faille is a shooting star that will burn out more quickly than the others, but it's hard to imagine him not reaching the top and staying there for a while regardless. He's got the most obsession devoting to improving his game that has ever been seen in the sport. Because of that, despite his youth he's almost caught up to some of the players ahead of him in shotmaking. Very good marks in speed, mentality, even reasonably strong - and when the tour visits his home country he feeds off the crowd well there also.

The amazing part here is, he was a free agent a few months ago. His former manager appears to have left the game, but he was snatched up wisely and immediately by pavlicker, one of the Anilophiles. The only question is how long his reign of terror will be, and how brutal for the rest of the tour.

9. Eddy Copperfield (27, AUS) - 3,610

Copperfield is responsible for upsetting Polychroniadis in Miami, vaulting him to a new career high. Talent and mental toughness he has. What he also has is an inability to compete at this level consistently from the back of the court, though his serve is certainly on point. This is pretty much Eddy's fifteen minutes of fame.

10. Klaus Schwarzkopf (30, AUT) - 3,520

Once upon a time, Schwarzkopf was the world #2. Now, he seems to have given up - the last time he was seen in a tournament of any kind was the Australian Open and he's been prematurely put out to pasture as a trainer (4.2) because reasons. So it's all free-fall here, making way for the next generation to rise.

The big questions as the tour turns to clay seem to be how quickly Faille will rise, whether Bardales especially and Weigle can inch further upwards, and whether the cracks in Polychroniadis's armor are temporary. As packed as it is at the top, the last couple of spots in this run-down could very well see some changes over the next few months if anyone can step up.

08-13-2022, 01:43 PM	#1256
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Rankings Update Q2 2088 We'll take a fuller look at the up and comers and all that at the end of the year. For now, let's get to know the powers that be. 1. Leon Polychroniadis (25, GRC) - 15,755 Leon is a dominant #1, having taken the spot last summer, and won't peak for probably at least a year. He's the typical guy with above-average tools, high but not spectacular endurance, and appears to have been managed exceptionally well. Polychroniadis currently holds all four Slam titles. On the other hand, he just suffered a pair of semifinal defeats in Indian Wells and Miami, so perhaps he's not as impregnable as it looked when he went unbeaten from Roland Garros to after the US Open last year. It's easy to see why Greece has taken the mantle of top tennis country in the world with him around though. 2. Renke Cananis (26, DEU) - 10,580 Cananis has the strange distinction of having won more World Tour Finals (3) than Grand Slams (2). Cananis has the best serve in the game and is seemingly impervious to cracking under pressure, though he can't hang with the other top players when it comes to baseline play. He's still not quite reached his best tennis, so Renke ought to be a fixture for at least a couple years near the top of the heap. 3. Alexander Reimann (27, DEU) - 7,670 Exceptionally talented with good but not excellent supporting abilities, Reimann appears to have gone about as far as he can in what looks to be a strong era of champions. A couple years back it appears the competition wasn't quite as fearsome, and he won the Australian and French back-to-back. Last year it was a couple of runner-up finishes, and he looks to be about at his peak. Hanging onto a spot as a second-tier player is his most realistic aim. 4. Themis Xanthos (26, CYP) - 7,640 Right there with Reimann is a rare sight - a top player from Cyprus. Xanthos is the only Top 10 player in the island's history, the only Slam winner ('85 AO), and the only Masters titlist (5, including IW a couple weeks ago). Well-rounded is the term for his style of play, with a particular affinity for hardcourts. Purely from a personal standard point of view, this year or next are expected to be his finest. 5. Toni Bardales (25, ESP) - 5.090 You just knew there had to be a Spaniard around these parts; there always is. Managed by long-running success serrano, presently the 4th-ranked on this server, Bardales still has hopes of creeping closer and putting pressure on the Top 4. He's a clay specialist with a little bigger serve than you might expect, and the strong mental game and grinder mentality that you would. 6. Jochen Weigle (24, SUI) - 5,065 Weigle has a solid year of development in hand on any of the competition above him, and could well be the next #1. His work ethic is a cut above, and the only aspect of his game that isn't quite there yet is the first serve delivery. The mental side is quite good, although not nearly that of Cananis. 7. Solitris Papadias (26, GRC) - 4,650 Part B of Greece's glorious story, Papadias is the most dedicated player we've yet run into on this list, and it shows in technical abilities that overshoot some #1s I've seen. The raw power isn't there though, and while calling him a 'mental midget' would be a bit much, there's definitely quite a bit to be desired in his performance under pressure. Solitris was once ranked 5th and is still improving, but it's tough sledding right now. 8. Ben Faille (20, FRA) - 3,985 You read that right - there's a 20-year-old crashing this party. Faille is a shooting star that will burn out more quickly than the others, but it's hard to imagine him not reaching the top and staying there for a while regardless. He's got the most obsession devoting to improving his game that has ever been seen in the sport. Because of that, despite his youth he's almost caught up to some of the players ahead of him in shotmaking. Very good marks in speed, mentality, even reasonably strong - and when the tour visits his home country he feeds off the crowd well there also. The amazing part here is, he was a free agent a few months ago. His former manager appears to have left the game, but he was snatched up wisely and immediately by pavlicker, one of the Anilophiles. The only question is how long his reign of terror will be, and how brutal for the rest of the tour. 9. Eddy Copperfield (27, AUS) - 3,610 Copperfield is responsible for upsetting Polychroniadis in Miami, vaulting him to a new career high. Talent and mental toughness he has. What he also has is an inability to compete at this level consistently from the back of the court, though his serve is certainly on point. This is pretty much Eddy's fifteen minutes of fame. 10. Klaus Schwarzkopf (30, AUT) - 3,520 Once upon a time, Schwarzkopf was the world #2. Now, he seems to have given up - the last time he was seen in a tournament of any kind was the Australian Open and he's been prematurely put out to pasture as a trainer (4.2) because reasons. So it's all free-fall here, making way for the next generation to rise. The big questions as the tour turns to clay seem to be how quickly Faille will rise, whether Bardales especially and Weigle can inch further upwards, and whether the cracks in Polychroniadis's armor are temporary. As packed as it is at the top, the last couple of spots in this run-down could very well see some changes over the next few months if anyone can step up.