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2038 Final Rankings -- Top Ten
While there is technically another week yet to go, there are no events in which the top players can participate, only futures and below, so these are set.
1. Gabriel Alastra(29, ARG) -- 11,280
It's very unlikely he'll lose the top spot before the summer with a 2,000-point cushion. He'll enter the year with 62 weeks spent as #1, while Elder/Prieto/Almagro have 47 combined. If this is the year for age to catch up with the four-time defending Wimbledon champion, there's little evidence of it right now.
2. Mick Elder(27, USA) -- 9,210
Despite a poor end to the year, this was by far the best season to date for the youngest of his generation's quartet of challengers. He was 5th a year ago with more than 1600 fewer points to his name including eight titles. Three of those were in Masters events, yet he was unimpressive at the Slams prior to taking the US Open title. He'll need to be more consistent if he wants to add to the two months he spent at the top of the rankings towards the end of the year.
3. David Almagro(28, ESP) -- 8,320
Almagro had a title on all four surfaces this year, and could well be in the mix again providing his manager doesn't go AWOL during a slam like during the US Open this past year.
4. Bjorn Benda(24, DEU) -- 8,210
Benda became the best in the world on clay, taking four of his five titles on the dirt including a maiden Slam title at the French Open. Too many early exits in Masters events contributed to an uneven showing on other surfaces though, a flaw which will need to be addressed if he is to reach the summit of the sport.
5. David Prieto(28, ESP) -- 7,370
After a lightning-fast start produced four titles in the first quarter(Chennai, Sydney, Australian Open, Miami Masters), Prieto added just two more the rest of the season, including a second straight winless effort at the tour finals. If he doesn't repeat in Australia, a tumble from the ranks of the contenders seems very likely.
6. Perry Hogue(24, USA) -- 6,240
For most of the year it looked like the meteoric American had peaked, but a great finish indicates otherwhise. He made the quarters of only one Slam(Australia) and won nothing larger than two 500-level events in the fall. If he can follow up his WTF run with better performances on the big stages early in the year, Hogue might well become a legitimate member of the group chasing Alastra.
7. Evgeni Topolski(25, RUS) -- 4,845
Missing the US Open wasn't a great moment, but all three of his tournament titles came after that(Canada Masters, Kremlin Cup, China Open). Add a semifinal run at the tour finals and there's no question that the one new member of this year's Top 10 is a hot commodity.
8. Oliver Challenger(29, USA) -- 4,425
Down from fourth last year, it's clear he no longer has what it takes to compete at the highest level. He's still got his moments, as he showed in a semifinal appearance at the tour finals.
9. Eric Gorritepe(33, ESP) -- 3,935
The ageless wonder actually moved up a spot. At this rate he might never retire.
10. Spasoje Kucerovic(28, SRB) -- 3,850
A stunning win at the Paris Masters put him back in this group, but he didn't do much elsewhere.
Parity and competition are definitely on the rise right now. The Top 10 players last year combined for about 10% more points than this year's group. Particularly from Topolski(7th) down through about the Top 15-18 spots there is expected to be a lot of shuffling and shifting. Declining veterans like Challenger and Kucerovic could find it increasingly difficult to maintain relevance.
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