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Brian Swartz · 06-09-2023, 07:09 PM

Year 105 Top Ten Rankings

1. Ben Faille (26, FRA, 89%, 9.38, -0.14) - 17,900

After two undefeated seasons, Faille dropped to 'only' 88-4 this year. Three Masters went to other players, and he also had a setback in the WTC quarterfinals. The evaluation also shows that he's past his peak, so it's just a question of hanging on to the top spot as long as he can; make no mistake, he's still a dominant #1.

The updated historical record:

Slams - 19, 4th all time
Tour Finals - 4, T-6th
Masters - 34, 4th
Weeks at #1 - 224, 8th
Prize Money - 62 million, unranked

Still well behind the trio of Adams/Kaspar/Gorritepe in most categories, although he could equal Gorritepe in Slams this year if he wins them all again. It all depends on how much he falls off how fast. Still favored in every event, but it's no longer a total shock if he loses here and there.

2. Ene Caballero (24, ESP, 93%, 9.24, +0.13) - 11,890

I've long predicted that Caballero wouldn't reach the top spot, but he's probably got another year of at least some improvement coming. It's possible he could narrowly surpass Faille before beginning his own descent. Either way the gap is much, much smaller between them than it was a year ago. This year his record was 87-12, so three times the losses that the French living legend had. They played eleven matches, with Caballero getting two wins. It'll be interesting to see how much that narrows.

3. Johann Przalowik (27, DEU, 90%, 8.96, -0.03) - 8,120

Przalowik posted a surprising first and quite possibly last Masters shield in Cincinatti, along with a runner-up earlier in the year in Miami. Overall his playing level appears to have peaked and he's likely at the start of his decline phase.

4. Jochen Weigle (30, SUI, 83%, 8.62, -0.07) - 5,210

Last season I said "Another one fading away ...". While that is true, it's also true that this year he reached his career-best ranking, and he's 30 years old. Those two facts going together are just weird, but three of the four players he passed up retired from singles play; Polychroniadis, Cananis, and Urazov. He's done well to keep from declining more quickly than he has, and taken advantage of the opening.

5. Goya Banqueria (26, ESP, 90%, 8.73, -0.03) - 5,120

Banqueria was 4th temporarily but didn't have a great finish. A bronze at the Olympics and four semifinals including Roland Garros highlighted his best year; he came in ranked 10th so it was quite a jump for him. Goya is in much the same situation as Przalowik. He's likely seen his best playing level and figures to watch that slowly drop now.

6. Jan Schleicher (22, AUT, 98%, 8.62, ??) - 4,935

Schleicher is the top-ranked new face, and right now second-ranked in the still-improving category. One figures he'll ascend further just due to those facts and being in the right place at the right time. Adding solid athleticism to now world-class technique, a weak mental game but strong endurance, Jan is ready to forge a successful prime and should have a few years of contention ahead yet. He had a handful of semifinals including the Tour Finals and a couple of Masters, and a few other quarterfinals. More consistency will be expected of him this year.

7. Davide de Laurentiis (26, DEU, 90%, 8.76, +0.02) - 4,000

Strange season for de Laurentiis; he stays right where he was with three players passing him in both directions. Lost almost a thousand points overall though. Davide was consistent most of the time, but early defeats at RG and USO hurt. A somewhat disappointing year overall, and he's another in that peaked-and-aging now bucket.

8. Chris King (24, GBR, 93%, 8.93, ??) - 3,885

Lots of similarities between King and Schleicher. The Brit is a faster-aging, mentally weaker, and more under-achieving variant. Semifinals at Wimbledon and Cincinatti were the highlight for him, and I'd expect another step upwards for our second newcomer to the Top 10.

9. Oleg Urazov (27, CAN, 89%, 8.97, -0.19) - 3,350

Technically Urazov is still around, but his doubles work continues and he'll be replaced soon.

10. Antoine Benth (25, FRA, 93%, 8.43, --) - 2,700

Benth is the personification of how far the standards have fallen for the first page. Overall rating under 4.5, skill is at 4.5, endurance of 2.4?? Very good athlete, but he's not the stuff that top players are made of. He's here though, because someone has to be.

Analysis

Polychroniadis and Cananis said their good-byes, Urazov following soon. Joss Fraikes literally took the majority of the year off and fell to 18th. He's back now, so .. we'll see there. Another pair of Americans, Rory Buckman and Mark Want, appear to be next on deck. Yet more from the USA, Kelvin Pinder and Alvin Fant, are 22 years old each and might be the best chance for young-ish players to rise up.

Average rating saw a fairly dramatic drop from 8.93 to 8.86. There's every reason to expect that trend to continue. The weak era isn't coming, it's officially here now. Cabellero, Schleicher, and for at least a year King will try to keep it afloat but they're fighting a falling tide.

06-09-2023, 07:09 PM	#1422
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Year 105 Top Ten Rankings 1. Ben Faille (26, FRA, 89%, 9.38, -0.14) - 17,900 After two undefeated seasons, Faille dropped to 'only' 88-4 this year. Three Masters went to other players, and he also had a setback in the WTC quarterfinals. The evaluation also shows that he's past his peak, so it's just a question of hanging on to the top spot as long as he can; make no mistake, he's still a dominant #1. The updated historical record: Slams - 19, 4th all time Tour Finals - 4, T-6th Masters - 34, 4th Weeks at #1 - 224, 8th Prize Money - 62 million, unranked Still well behind the trio of Adams/Kaspar/Gorritepe in most categories, although he could equal Gorritepe in Slams this year if he wins them all again. It all depends on how much he falls off how fast. Still favored in every event, but it's no longer a total shock if he loses here and there. 2. Ene Caballero (24, ESP, 93%, 9.24, +0.13) - 11,890 I've long predicted that Caballero wouldn't reach the top spot, but he's probably got another year of at least some improvement coming. It's possible he could narrowly surpass Faille before beginning his own descent. Either way the gap is much, much smaller between them than it was a year ago. This year his record was 87-12, so three times the losses that the French living legend had. They played eleven matches, with Caballero getting two wins. It'll be interesting to see how much that narrows. 3. Johann Przalowik (27, DEU, 90%, 8.96, -0.03) - 8,120 Przalowik posted a surprising first and quite possibly last Masters shield in Cincinatti, along with a runner-up earlier in the year in Miami. Overall his playing level appears to have peaked and he's likely at the start of his decline phase. 4. Jochen Weigle (30, SUI, 83%, 8.62, -0.07) - 5,210 Last season I said "Another one fading away ...". While that is true, it's also true that this year he reached his career-best ranking, and he's 30 years old. Those two facts going together are just weird, but three of the four players he passed up retired from singles play; Polychroniadis, Cananis, and Urazov. He's done well to keep from declining more quickly than he has, and taken advantage of the opening. 5. Goya Banqueria (26, ESP, 90%, 8.73, -0.03) - 5,120 Banqueria was 4th temporarily but didn't have a great finish. A bronze at the Olympics and four semifinals including Roland Garros highlighted his best year; he came in ranked 10th so it was quite a jump for him. Goya is in much the same situation as Przalowik. He's likely seen his best playing level and figures to watch that slowly drop now. 6. Jan Schleicher (22, AUT, 98%, 8.62, ??) - 4,935 Schleicher is the top-ranked new face, and right now second-ranked in the still-improving category. One figures he'll ascend further just due to those facts and being in the right place at the right time. Adding solid athleticism to now world-class technique, a weak mental game but strong endurance, Jan is ready to forge a successful prime and should have a few years of contention ahead yet. He had a handful of semifinals including the Tour Finals and a couple of Masters, and a few other quarterfinals. More consistency will be expected of him this year. 7. Davide de Laurentiis (26, DEU, 90%, 8.76, +0.02) - 4,000 Strange season for de Laurentiis; he stays right where he was with three players passing him in both directions. Lost almost a thousand points overall though. Davide was consistent most of the time, but early defeats at RG and USO hurt. A somewhat disappointing year overall, and he's another in that peaked-and-aging now bucket. 8. Chris King (24, GBR, 93%, 8.93, ??) - 3,885 Lots of similarities between King and Schleicher. The Brit is a faster-aging, mentally weaker, and more under-achieving variant. Semifinals at Wimbledon and Cincinatti were the highlight for him, and I'd expect another step upwards for our second newcomer to the Top 10. 9. Oleg Urazov (27, CAN, 89%, 8.97, -0.19) - 3,350 Technically Urazov is still around, but his doubles work continues and he'll be replaced soon. 10. Antoine Benth (25, FRA, 93%, 8.43, --) - 2,700 Benth is the personification of how far the standards have fallen for the first page. Overall rating under 4.5, skill is at 4.5, endurance of 2.4?? Very good athlete, but he's not the stuff that top players are made of. He's here though, because someone has to be. Analysis Polychroniadis and Cananis said their good-byes, Urazov following soon. Joss Fraikes literally took the majority of the year off and fell to 18th. He's back now, so .. we'll see there. Another pair of Americans, Rory Buckman and Mark Want, appear to be next on deck. Yet more from the USA, Kelvin Pinder and Alvin Fant, are 22 years old each and might be the best chance for young-ish players to rise up. Average rating saw a fairly dramatic drop from 8.93 to 8.86. There's every reason to expect that trend to continue. The weak era isn't coming, it's officially here now. Cabellero, Schleicher, and for at least a year King will try to keep it afloat but they're fighting a falling tide.