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Brian Swartz · 04-13-2018, 05:15 PM

This brings us almost up to current time. Right now we are in the Paris Masters, or just over halfway between this set of rankings(post-USO) and the end of the year.

Top Player Rankings

1. Mateo Kaspar(FRA, 29) -- 14,710

After losing in the Canada final, Kaspar took Cincinatti off which was enough to freshen him up for a run through the USO in which he didn't lose a set. It was risky though -- if he'd lost there again he would have lost the #1 ranking. That lead ain't what it used to be. Another record he set recently is becoming the first player to win two singles Olympic gold.

2. Ritwik Dudwadkar(SRI, 27) -- 13,720

Despite the fatigue, Dudwadkar made the Olympic final and the same at the USO, where Pargeter and Teng both had a shot and both took him to five sets before losing. In between he got another victory over Kaspar to win in Canada, then took Cincinatti as top seed to close the gap. It's very possible, even likely now, that he'll actually ascend to #1 for at least a week -- if everything stays the same it'll happen right before the WTF when last year's points for it drop off. I never thought that would happen and it's not a sure thing, but Ritwik's done very well in taking advantage of a down year for the King.

3. Guus Dircx(NLD, 28) -- 6,480

Slowly starting to fade now.

4. Karl Kaspar(FRA, 23) -- 6,150

Another SF showing at the USO has Kaspar thinking year-end #3, and he's opened up a gap to solidify his placing.

5. Dick Blake(USA, 26) -- 5,330

6. Gilberto Chinaglia(ITA, 26) -- 5,315

Fallen off a bit after the RG triumph, but mostly others have just improved making it look worse than it is.

7. Gregory Mackenzie(27, USA) -- 4,920

8. Hsuang-tsung Teng(28, NZL) -- 4,775

Still a tightly-packed group here, with Teng 555 points short of 5th place.

9. Stuart Pargeter(26, USA) -- 4,360

Up and down, a disappointing year so far to an extent.

10. Cristian Castegali(26, MEX) -- 3,765

11. Tristan Allende(24, USA)

Still charging, and less than 400 points now from the Top 10. Allende could well make it by the end of the year.

14. Kenneth Brasher(23, GBR)

15. Serge Cardone(26, FRA)

16. Prakash Mooljee(34, SRI)

Made the fourth round at the USO, which he skipped last year. Mooljee refuses to totally go away.

17. Hugo Cordova(24, USA)

18. Veini Aikio(24, FIN)

19. Hamal Sbai(25, MOR)

Should still be improving, but was several spots higher. Has Sbai already seen his best days??

20. Adam Hagans(23, GBR)

21. Chad Duncan(24, GBR)

The youngsters continue to amass. Of the 11 players ranked 11-21st, 8 are still on the rise. Six, more than half, are yet to reach their 25th birthday. We'll find out over the next couple of years which of them are for real.

24. Lucas Kaspar(24, FRA)

26. Stanley Edleman(22, USA)

Two big challengers come off his points totals in the next month, but he's almost totally transitioned over. Hasn't broken through at anything bigger than a 250 -- he won Winston-Salem just before the USO. But no QF or better in any larger events.

27. Esteban Cortina(25, ESP)

30. Sushant Chiba(22, SRI)

The draws at the Slams haven't been great -- Pargeter at the USO, and also Edleman at the Winston-Salem semis, both brushed him aside easily. Third round at RG, Wimbledon, and USO. Right where he was supposed to get to, and no further. Getting through the horde of Americans with the favorable crowds they often have won't be easy. Neither will compensating for his cement feet. Partway through transitioning from challengers to the elite ranks and no breakthrough performances here yet either.

32. Leo Kaspar(23, FRA)

Gimme a break. There's no end to these guys.

38. Ugljesa Svajnovic(22, CRO)

The third wheel takes a step back, at least for the moment.

48. Mike Rhodes(20, PHI)

Top-50 at age 20. He's got a fine manager who is reloading with some new players(alablues, ranked 14th). Great power, clay specialist, mental game is poor and decent endurance. Serve is good for his age, but baseline play not so much. I'm sure we'll hear more from him in the future.

91. Jorge Henrikkson(19, SWE)

Latest in the Top-100 teenagers category. Looks like a versatile all-around player with a strong mentality. Too early to tell much more.

367. Anil Mehul(42, SRI)

307th doubles. Still slipping and plugging away.

154(J). Amrik Kasaravalli(16, SRI)

Fatigue is still an issue at the business end of full-length tournaments. Amrik is just about ready to boost up to JG3s, and has fully entered the standard training approach now.

04-13-2018, 05:15 PM	#771
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	This brings us almost up to current time. Right now we are in the Paris Masters, or just over halfway between this set of rankings(post-USO) and the end of the year. Top Player Rankings 1. Mateo Kaspar(FRA, 29) -- 14,710 After losing in the Canada final, Kaspar took Cincinatti off which was enough to freshen him up for a run through the USO in which he didn't lose a set. It was risky though -- if he'd lost there again he would have lost the #1 ranking. That lead ain't what it used to be. Another record he set recently is becoming the first player to win two singles Olympic gold. 2. Ritwik Dudwadkar(SRI, 27) -- 13,720 Despite the fatigue, Dudwadkar made the Olympic final and the same at the USO, where Pargeter and Teng both had a shot and both took him to five sets before losing. In between he got another victory over Kaspar to win in Canada, then took Cincinatti as top seed to close the gap. It's very possible, even likely now, that he'll actually ascend to #1 for at least a week -- if everything stays the same it'll happen right before the WTF when last year's points for it drop off. I never thought that would happen and it's not a sure thing, but Ritwik's done very well in taking advantage of a down year for the King. 3. Guus Dircx(NLD, 28) -- 6,480 Slowly starting to fade now. 4. Karl Kaspar(FRA, 23) -- 6,150 Another SF showing at the USO has Kaspar thinking year-end #3, and he's opened up a gap to solidify his placing. 5. Dick Blake(USA, 26) -- 5,330 6. Gilberto Chinaglia(ITA, 26) -- 5,315 Fallen off a bit after the RG triumph, but mostly others have just improved making it look worse than it is. 7. Gregory Mackenzie(27, USA) -- 4,920 8. Hsuang-tsung Teng(28, NZL) -- 4,775 Still a tightly-packed group here, with Teng 555 points short of 5th place. 9. Stuart Pargeter(26, USA) -- 4,360 Up and down, a disappointing year so far to an extent. 10. Cristian Castegali(26, MEX) -- 3,765 11. Tristan Allende(24, USA) Still charging, and less than 400 points now from the Top 10. Allende could well make it by the end of the year. 14. Kenneth Brasher(23, GBR) 15. Serge Cardone(26, FRA) 16. Prakash Mooljee(34, SRI) Made the fourth round at the USO, which he skipped last year. Mooljee refuses to totally go away. 17. Hugo Cordova(24, USA) 18. Veini Aikio(24, FIN) 19. Hamal Sbai(25, MOR) Should still be improving, but was several spots higher. Has Sbai already seen his best days?? 20. Adam Hagans(23, GBR) 21. Chad Duncan(24, GBR) The youngsters continue to amass. Of the 11 players ranked 11-21st, 8 are still on the rise. Six, more than half, are yet to reach their 25th birthday. We'll find out over the next couple of years which of them are for real. 24. Lucas Kaspar(24, FRA) 26. Stanley Edleman(22, USA) Two big challengers come off his points totals in the next month, but he's almost totally transitioned over. Hasn't broken through at anything bigger than a 250 -- he won Winston-Salem just before the USO. But no QF or better in any larger events. 27. Esteban Cortina(25, ESP) 30. Sushant Chiba(22, SRI) The draws at the Slams haven't been great -- Pargeter at the USO, and also Edleman at the Winston-Salem semis, both brushed him aside easily. Third round at RG, Wimbledon, and USO. Right where he was supposed to get to, and no further. Getting through the horde of Americans with the favorable crowds they often have won't be easy. Neither will compensating for his cement feet. Partway through transitioning from challengers to the elite ranks and no breakthrough performances here yet either. 32. Leo Kaspar(23, FRA) Gimme a break. There's no end to these guys. 38. Ugljesa Svajnovic(22, CRO) The third wheel takes a step back, at least for the moment. 48. Mike Rhodes(20, PHI) Top-50 at age 20. He's got a fine manager who is reloading with some new players(alablues, ranked 14th). Great power, clay specialist, mental game is poor and decent endurance. Serve is good for his age, but baseline play not so much. I'm sure we'll hear more from him in the future. 91. Jorge Henrikkson(19, SWE) Latest in the Top-100 teenagers category. Looks like a versatile all-around player with a strong mentality. Too early to tell much more. 367. Anil Mehul(42, SRI) 307th doubles. Still slipping and plugging away. 154(J). Amrik Kasaravalli(16, SRI) Fatigue is still an issue at the business end of full-length tournaments. Amrik is just about ready to boost up to JG3s, and has fully entered the standard training approach now.