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Brian Swartz · 02-28-2019, 04:08 AM

Not sure how far I'll go with it in the coming year, but with my two youngsters coming out of juniors I want to try to do some proper end/start-of-year update stuff.

2065 Player Rankings

1. John Hart(IRE, 27) - 14,330

At midseason there was some question as to whether Hart would retain the top spot. That doubt is long-gone. The world's best player is in his prime and has won 90+ singles matches three years running, with a personal-best 97-6 mark this past season. 5 Masters, 2 Slams, and the WTF - a blind bet on him to win any big event would do better than 50/50.

2. Sushant Chiba(SRI, 28) - 9,880

Finally did ascend past Prince Karl this year, aided mightily by the 'second Kaspar' deciding to go doubles. I predicted this would happen eventually - but I thought it'd carry Chiba to a brief stay at #1. It happened far too late for that. One Slam (Australia) was his only big success, but six more runner-up appearances make him the clear #2 and help ease the pain of yet another crap showing at the WTF. 77 singles match wins is a personal high ... but 18 defeats is the most in the last four years. The nation's struggles in the WTC have a lot to do with those facts.

3. Barry Molyneaux(USA, 26) - 7,355

The American standard-bearer is an enigma, champion at the USO and Rome but had early exits at RG and half of the Masters events. If he can find more consistency, he could be the top challenger to Hart's throne.

4. Brian Meikeljohn(IND, 26) - 6,035

The top player in Indian history - and it's not close, nobody else has cracked the Top 10 - Meikeljohn's speed is legendary. Unfortunately, the mismanagement of his schedule and training is a close second in notability. The Canada Masters was his only big title this year, and we're still waiting for that breakout season that may well never come.

5. Karl Kaspar(FRA, 30) - 5,550

An All-Kaspar doubles pairing of King and Prince was inevitable, and will be the bane of the pairs tour. It also will leave a hole, as Prince Karl 'First of His Name' has won 8 Slams, 3 WTFs, and 19 Masters shields in a sparkling career in which he spent almost three full years as the #1 singles player on the planet.

6. Harald Balzer(SUI, 25) - 4,850

Balzer is the highest-ranking Swiss since the first decade of the international tour, and Harald hopes to become just the second from his country to win a singles major. Or Masters, for that matter. He made the second week of three Slams including runner-up at RG ... but exited by round of 16 in every last Masters he played. Something's gotta give there.

7. Seamus Hughes(IRE, 27) - 4,820

The 'other Irishman' was once ranked as high as 4th, and it's not too late for him to get back there. This season was his worst in the last four years, but it was mostly just bad luck I think. He's not quite over the hill yet.

8. Ali Solberg(SWE, 25) - 4,780

6-8 are all jockeying for position here, and almost withing striking range of 4th-ranked Meikeljohn. Things could get very interesting. Solberg was inconsistent, but reached the Wimbledon final and had three other big semis to his credit. He's becoming an increasingly feared name in the draw.

9. Valery Stachovsky(RUS, 26) - 3,880

AO finalist ... and third-round loser at the other three Slams. A trio of Masters quarterfinals ... and he skipped two mandatory events there as well. Stachovsky could do something, or nothing. He's got stuff to figure out here.

10. Isa Solheim(25, DEN) - 3,360

Do not adjust your reception, we have a Top-10 player from Denmark. Solheim's ranking is twice as good as that of Jens Petersen, who flourished a generation ago and was the previous standard-bearer. Former doubles no. 1 Egon Bengtsson is the only bigger name in Danish tennis history. A handful of strong results include the highlight of a Monte Carlo runner-up showing, but it's another mixed bag here.

11. Mike Rhodes(26, PHI)

Somebody tell Rhodes that you have to do more than win 250s at this level. Seven of them last year. Only five counted towards his ranking. And that doesn't include the crapton he didn't win. Meanwhile, 4th round or worse at the Slams. He can break into the Top 10 without even working at it if he schedules better.

14. Jorge Campos(26, MEX)

A semifinalist at Wimbledon ... and that's it. Is he going up or down?

15. Fabrizio Abinati(26, ARG)

Same thing here. QF at RG was his one good result.

16. Srba Dogic(23, CRO)

Just turned 23, and had deep runs at the USO and Cincinatti. Likes the summer hard-courts apparently. At this age one would expected greater things are ahead.

17. Tim de Jong(23, NLD)

A Challenger player at this point last year, de Jong is on the rise. How far is an open question though.

19. Nicolas Perez(22, ARG)

Youngest player in the Top-32 by almost a full year, Perez likewise is up from the Challengers. QF at the USO and champion at the Japan Open (500), he broke through late in the year and big things are expected. Timing is the only question.

20. Constantino Gonzoles(24, ARG)

Argentina is swimming in rising youngsters these days. Gonzoles can point to multiple 250-level successes and a QF run at Roland Garros.

21. Samuel Aas(24, SWE)

Consistent at the 250/500 level, Aas still has time to show he can aim higher.

22. Clavet Moniotte(23, FRA)

Another guy transitioning from the challenger circuit. Jury's still out.

26. Patrick Sanchez(26, ARG)

Hey Argentina - how many of these guys do you NEED?!?

27. Stefan Baloch(25, ITA)

A weird batch of results - didn't win a title at any level last year. Looks like a guy who tried to make the jump to the big time too early and kind of floundered around.

30. Matteus Ameen(30, SWE)

13 Challenger titles just last year. Never got by the second round in three Slam appearances. That's stupefying, but the others floating around the Top-50 level will be glad to get a word in edgewise with Ameen presumptively joining the elite group.

32. Guillermo Valturri(25, MEX)

Limited 250 success, CH+ Helsinki a few weeks ago was his biggest trophy. We'll see if he sticks.

Overview

Looks like a decent mix with a little above-average group pushing up, and a bunch of in-their-prime guys set to start declining in a year or two. A good year to be patient ... and then make your move in '66. Of course, patience is not something most players enjoy, even when it's required.

02-28-2019, 04:08 AM	#882
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Not sure how far I'll go with it in the coming year, but with my two youngsters coming out of juniors I want to try to do some proper end/start-of-year update stuff. 2065 Player Rankings 1. John Hart(IRE, 27) - 14,330 At midseason there was some question as to whether Hart would retain the top spot. That doubt is long-gone. The world's best player is in his prime and has won 90+ singles matches three years running, with a personal-best 97-6 mark this past season. 5 Masters, 2 Slams, and the WTF - a blind bet on him to win any big event would do better than 50/50. 2. Sushant Chiba(SRI, 28) - 9,880 Finally did ascend past Prince Karl this year, aided mightily by the 'second Kaspar' deciding to go doubles. I predicted this would happen eventually - but I thought it'd carry Chiba to a brief stay at #1. It happened far too late for that. One Slam (Australia) was his only big success, but six more runner-up appearances make him the clear #2 and help ease the pain of yet another crap showing at the WTF. 77 singles match wins is a personal high ... but 18 defeats is the most in the last four years. The nation's struggles in the WTC have a lot to do with those facts. 3. Barry Molyneaux(USA, 26) - 7,355 The American standard-bearer is an enigma, champion at the USO and Rome but had early exits at RG and half of the Masters events. If he can find more consistency, he could be the top challenger to Hart's throne. 4. Brian Meikeljohn(IND, 26) - 6,035 The top player in Indian history - and it's not close, nobody else has cracked the Top 10 - Meikeljohn's speed is legendary. Unfortunately, the mismanagement of his schedule and training is a close second in notability. The Canada Masters was his only big title this year, and we're still waiting for that breakout season that may well never come. 5. Karl Kaspar(FRA, 30) - 5,550 An All-Kaspar doubles pairing of King and Prince was inevitable, and will be the bane of the pairs tour. It also will leave a hole, as Prince Karl 'First of His Name' has won 8 Slams, 3 WTFs, and 19 Masters shields in a sparkling career in which he spent almost three full years as the #1 singles player on the planet. 6. Harald Balzer(SUI, 25) - 4,850 Balzer is the highest-ranking Swiss since the first decade of the international tour, and Harald hopes to become just the second from his country to win a singles major. Or Masters, for that matter. He made the second week of three Slams including runner-up at RG ... but exited by round of 16 in every last Masters he played. Something's gotta give there. 7. Seamus Hughes(IRE, 27) - 4,820 The 'other Irishman' was once ranked as high as 4th, and it's not too late for him to get back there. This season was his worst in the last four years, but it was mostly just bad luck I think. He's not quite over the hill yet. 8. Ali Solberg(SWE, 25) - 4,780 6-8 are all jockeying for position here, and almost withing striking range of 4th-ranked Meikeljohn. Things could get very interesting. Solberg was inconsistent, but reached the Wimbledon final and had three other big semis to his credit. He's becoming an increasingly feared name in the draw. 9. Valery Stachovsky(RUS, 26) - 3,880 AO finalist ... and third-round loser at the other three Slams. A trio of Masters quarterfinals ... and he skipped two mandatory events there as well. Stachovsky could do something, or nothing. He's got stuff to figure out here. 10. Isa Solheim(25, DEN) - 3,360 Do not adjust your reception, we have a Top-10 player from Denmark. Solheim's ranking is twice as good as that of Jens Petersen, who flourished a generation ago and was the previous standard-bearer. Former doubles no. 1 Egon Bengtsson is the only bigger name in Danish tennis history. A handful of strong results include the highlight of a Monte Carlo runner-up showing, but it's another mixed bag here. 11. Mike Rhodes(26, PHI) Somebody tell Rhodes that you have to do more than win 250s at this level. Seven of them last year. Only five counted towards his ranking. And that doesn't include the crapton he didn't win. Meanwhile, 4th round or worse at the Slams. He can break into the Top 10 without even working at it if he schedules better. 14. Jorge Campos(26, MEX) A semifinalist at Wimbledon ... and that's it. Is he going up or down? 15. Fabrizio Abinati(26, ARG) Same thing here. QF at RG was his one good result. 16. Srba Dogic(23, CRO) Just turned 23, and had deep runs at the USO and Cincinatti. Likes the summer hard-courts apparently. At this age one would expected greater things are ahead. 17. Tim de Jong(23, NLD) A Challenger player at this point last year, de Jong is on the rise. How far is an open question though. 19. Nicolas Perez(22, ARG) Youngest player in the Top-32 by almost a full year, Perez likewise is up from the Challengers. QF at the USO and champion at the Japan Open (500), he broke through late in the year and big things are expected. Timing is the only question. 20. Constantino Gonzoles(24, ARG) Argentina is swimming in rising youngsters these days. Gonzoles can point to multiple 250-level successes and a QF run at Roland Garros. 21. Samuel Aas(24, SWE) Consistent at the 250/500 level, Aas still has time to show he can aim higher. 22. Clavet Moniotte(23, FRA) Another guy transitioning from the challenger circuit. Jury's still out. 26. Patrick Sanchez(26, ARG) Hey Argentina - how many of these guys do you NEED?!? 27. Stefan Baloch(25, ITA) A weird batch of results - didn't win a title at any level last year. Looks like a guy who tried to make the jump to the big time too early and kind of floundered around. 30. Matteus Ameen(30, SWE) 13 Challenger titles just last year. Never got by the second round in three Slam appearances. That's stupefying, but the others floating around the Top-50 level will be glad to get a word in edgewise with Ameen presumptively joining the elite group. 32. Guillermo Valturri(25, MEX) Limited 250 success, CH+ Helsinki a few weeks ago was his biggest trophy. We'll see if he sticks. Overview Looks like a decent mix with a little above-average group pushing up, and a bunch of in-their-prime guys set to start declining in a year or two. A good year to be patient ... and then make your move in '66. Of course, patience is not something most players enjoy, even when it's required.