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Old 07-19-2018, 01:15 PM   #823
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
Q3 Rankings Update

1. Karl Kaspar(25, FRA) - 12,260

The ascension came sooner than expected. By virtue of a straight-sets win over Mateo in the US Open final, the Black Prince has deposed King Kaspar. At least temporarily. Kaspar the elder did not play Shanghai, coming up in a little over a month, last season; and the gap is narrow. But let's let him have his moment in the sun at least. Karl has earned it, and now we'll see how long he can stay at the top.

2. Mateo Kaspar(31, FRA) - 12,030

Flushing Meadows showed that France truly rules the sport of tennis, at least for right now. It's hard to imagine anyone else as WTC champs. It looks like Mateo, the standard by which all future greats will be judged, is mostly done adding to his legacy. He'll still have his moments I'm sure, but with four out of the last five matches going the way of the younger Kaspar, the torch appears to have been passed ... even though on paper Mateo is actually still a hair better.

3. Ritwik Dudwadkar(30, SRI) - 9,290

Just a few months ago, Dudwadkar occupied the top spot. Now he's no longer within shouting distance of it after a stunning fourth-round loss to Brasher; 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-7(2), 2-6, 6-3. Nearly came back and won it, and played more than well enough to win, but went 3 of 17 on BPs. The upstart Brit went on to make the semifinals, and Ritwik will be a little easier to fire at the end of the season now that his days as a contender appear to be over.

4. Hamal Sbai(27, MOR) - 7,405

Another upset at the hands of Chiba, five sets in the USO quarterfinals, is not what the doctor ordered here. Sbai still has a chance to push a bit further up with two over-30 players ahead of him, but for the moment he's staying solidly where he is.

5. Stuart Pargeter(28, USA) - 5,640

Stuart had a competitive straight-sets loss to the eventual champ at the USO, equalling his best result there in the QF round. Like Sbai he's pretty much treading water ... but it looks like he's about to slip a position.

6. Sushant Chiba(24, SRI) - 5,160

Chiba is on the move. After beating Sbai he gave M. Kaspar all he wanted to handle for the first three sets of their semifinal, before running out of gas and losing in four. He's reached the point where he's a legitimate threat to anyone in the world, and while I don't see him catching Prince Karl anytime soon, he is a year and a half younger and could well be ahead of anyone else a year from now. For the moment he's steadily moving up, working his way into position to break into the Top 4. Hard to see that happening before next year.

7. Gregory Mackenzie(29, USA) - 4,230

This is where the next break starts; the declining Mackenize is atop a heap of relatively interchangeable players.

8. Gilberto Chinaglia(27, ITA) - 3,695

9. Hugo Cordova(26, USA) - 3,430

10. Tristan Allende(26, USA) - 3,160

Mackenzie and Allende in particular did not do as well in front of their home crowd as they did a season ago.

11. Kenneth Brasher(25, GBR)

A shocking run to the USO semis has Kenneth overachieveing again.

12. Brian Meikeljohn(22, IND)

The gifted Meikeljohn has clearly 'gone doubles', leaving open the question of who will be the next #1 after the Black Prince's reign ends. He was a shoo-in for the spot, but no longer. Due to the uniqueness of his physical gifts and being from India, I was looking forward to him being a challenger. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that will materialize now.

13. Chad Duncan(26, GBR)

15. John Hart(22, IRE)

What we lose in the Indian prodigy would appear to be for the gain of others, such as this guy.

16. Stanley Edleman(24, USA)

Could well be headed towards the Top 10 yet. An important jump for him this year.

17. Ugljesa Svajnovic(24, CRO)

18. Ali Kaihep(26, ALG)

The teens remain packed with promising and improving players.

20. Veini Aikio(26, FIN)

Now just past his prime, Aikio's time in the sun appears to be over. He got close to the top page, but peaked at 11th.

21. Seamus Hughes(23, IRE)

22. Tomas Guadiana(25, ARG)

23. Charlerm Prachuab(24, THA)

24. Mike Rhodes(22, PHI)

27. Benjamin Abanades(23, ESP)

29. Jacek Andrejova(24, CZE)

30. Harald Balzer(21, SWE)

The latest young addition, Balzer was 62nd at the start of the year.

32. Livio Kaspar(26, FRA)

The trend of lots of up-and-comers continues. Far more improving than declining. I expect soon we'll reach critical mass and the majority of the current Top 10 will crumble and be replaced.

616. Anil Mehul(44, SRI)

Closing in on 4k points to go. In game terms, he's got about three months left in his playing career.

7(J). Amrik Kasaravalli(18, SRI)

Kasaravalli has really surprised with a strong last junior year. He made his second slam SF in singles at the USO, losing a close two-setter to #2 Il-sung Junb(KOR). He also won doubles for the second time.
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