[Brian Swartz]

2060 Top Player Rankings

1. Mateo Kaspar(31, FRA) - 13,560

Skipping Masters events is proving hazardous for the King. But he's still the clear #1, with several more wins and half the losses of his top competitors. The latest thing he's done is to surpass Gorritepe for #2 on the all-time prize money list; and record-holder Prieto played in an era with no form mechanic so his numbers are inflated.

2. Ritwik Dudwadkar(29, SRI) - 11,050

A strong finish including his first-ever WTF title helped mask the fact that Dudwadkar posted his worst record in four years at 75-13. So far though, he's managing to hold off the Black Prince quite effectively by beating him in front of his home crowd at the Paris SF and in the tour finals group plays as well.

3. Karl Kaspar(25, FRA) - 9,270

Karl actually had the second-most wins on tour(77-14). The story of his year though was a stunning 1-6 H2H against Dudwadkar, to add on to 0-11 before this year. That left him with titles in Shanghai and Roland Garros, which wasn't enough. The only question really for him now is whether he can get the upper hand in that matchup. If and when he does, he's well-positioned to becoming the elder Kaspar's top challenger.

4. Hamal Sbai(26, MOR) - 5,385

Morocco's first-ever Top 50 player has finally broken through. Better late than never for the big-serving Sbai, who was runner-up in Monte Carlo and a semifinalist in Madrid and the tour finals. Mostly though it was consistent quarterfinal showings. As holder of the critical #4 spot, aka the 'best of the rest', Hamal is well-positioned to go a round further if he can avoid upsets and strengthen his hold here.

5. Stuart Pargeter(27, USA) - 5,155

Another player reaching his potential after underachieving earlier, Pargeter will seek to challenge Sbai for that spot. He put on quite a charge late in the year, with SF showings at Shanghai, Paris, and the tour finals, the last three big events on the calendar. Finalist showings at Rome and Roland Garros earlier also helped. Becoming the top American in the world is no small feat.

6. Gilberto Chinaglia(27, ITA) - 4,880

Chinaglia continues his brand of generally unimpressive play with moments of brilliance. He won Monte Carlo, made the final at Madrid, SF at Cincinatti and Wimbledon ... but didn't have so much as a QF to celebrate anywhere else. Could rise or retreat, there's no telling.

7. Tristan Allende(25, USA) - 4,340

Modest improvement this year for Allende, who seems poised to be the #1 US player eventually .. and opted out of the national team for reasons unknown. Despite his relative youth though, he is like multiple others here basically at his peak so there's no time to waste. A very hit-and-miss season for him with SF results at the AO and USO along with Shanghai, but went out in the third round at half of his Masters showings. That's got to change for him to be a threat to the players above him.

8. Dick Blake(27, USA) - 4,280

A meteoric talent like Allende, Blake is now fading away well past his prime. His high rank was fourth.

9. Gregory Mackenzie(28, USA) - 4,215

Monte Carlo champ in '57, Mackenzie reached as high as #4 as well but is on the decline like Blake.

10. Hugo Cordova(25, USA) - 4,170

There's never a shortage of Americans rising up to take the place of guys like the previous duo. Cordova won't get much better than he is though, as yet another player with short-lived longevity.

11. Sushant Chiba(23, SRI)

A good rise from 24th a year ago, but not with consistency; the majority of his points came from a brilliant run in winning Madrid. Didn't make it past the third round at any Slam event, and he could drop a few spots before he gets past that block to make it onto the first page.

12. Veini Aikio(25, FIN)

Another option as Blake & Mackenzie fall back towards the pack. Up a few from 15th.

14. Kenneth Brasher(24, GBR)

Last year I said 'It's a mystery to me how he's risen this fast, but I do expect some manner of regression'. Only dropped one spot though.

15. Brian Meikeljohn(21, IND)

74th a year ago. Just chew on that. Quite possibly the most remarkable rise in a year I've ever seen. And it's not a fluke. He's a serious contender for the Tour Finals this year despite his age.

18. Chalerm Prachuab(23, THA)

The hope of Thailand had a strong year(up from 32nd) and appears to be on the cusp of bigger things.

20. Chad Duncan(25, GBR)

21. Adam Hagans(24, GBR)

Duncan's up a few spots, Hagans right where he was. Too bad for Britain that they can't combine three good players into someone with the the stuff of a champion.

22. Stanley Edleman(22, USA)

Up from 31st as he may be finally making his move. Needs to avoid early-round upsets in order to make that happen; more consistency.

24. Esteban Cortina(26, ESP)

Quite apparent he's not going anywhere fast.

25. Tomas Guadiana(24, ARG)

Another new entrant to the list. Won the Swiss Indoors(500) late in the year and has done little else.

27. Uglesa Svajnovic(23, CRO)

A hard fall to around 50th, but he bounced back up. The top four from Chiba's class are all solidly in the big time now; we'll see what they make of themselves.

29. Henri Sorel(25, CAN)

A journeyman it seems.

31. Jacek Andrejova(23, CZE)

A lot of challengers still on the resume of this young Czech making his debut in the inner circle.

32. Mike Rhodes(21, PHI)

Even more here. Can't really take either of them too seriously, those Rhodes is a big talent for sure, until they start playing with the big boys more regularly.

12 of the next 13 players are youngish on the upswing of their career. Their appears to be another major push coming, with the majority of them 22, a year younger than Chiba.

540. Anil Mehul(43, SRI)

147th in doubles, and a little over a year left. Still looking like a high 5.4 or low 5.5 trainer. I'd really like it to be the latter, but I don't think he's quite going to make that.

20(J). Amrik Kasaravalli(17, SRI)

Lots of finals and semis in events my other players would have won; he continues to be a step or two behind. The count of younger and better players is at 12 right now.