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Brian Swartz · 11-06-2017, 04:18 PM

Rankings Update

1. Mateo Kaspar(26, FRA) -- 18,360

Another brilliant start; Kaspar sweeps all the major events and hasn't lost since the opening week of the year in the WTC. As always, the clay season figures to reveal the only cracks in his armor.

2. Guus Dircx(25, NLD) -- 7,690

Moving past the fading Fangio, Dircx lost in the semis of all the big events so far but figures to push into some finals now that he's got the spot opposite the king in the draw.

3. Gillo Fangio(27, ITA) -- 7,025

His best days clearly behind him, Fangio lost early at AO and IW, only a SF showing in Miami registering as decent by his standards. The next few players smell blood in the water, and he could tumble further.

4. Martin Zarco(26, ESP) -- 6,410

Definitely the surprise of the year so far. Zarco could make a real statement on clay with his new Top-4 status. Only the Miami loss to Piazzola is a real mark on his year so far, with surprise SF runs in the first two big hardcourt tournaments. Unfortunately, it looks like he's set up to overplay on the dirt just as he has in past years. That's going to come back to bite him at some point.

5. Prakash Mooljee(30, SRI) -- 6,330

After close QF losses at the AO(Zarco) and IW(Browne), Mooljee was embarrassed by Dudwadkar at that stage in Miami. That's what you call a trend. On his way down to a comfortable perch in 6th soon I expect.

6. Ritwik Dudwadkar(24, SRI) -- 5,920

An excellent start so far, and the rankings will eventually reflect that. Four losses, and three came against Kaspar. The other one, to Rosenberg in Australia, was a missed opportunity -- but a lot of people are having trouble with the Swede these days on the hardcourts. It'll get worse before it gets better though. A victim of his own relative success, Ritwik won't be able to defend his finalist points at Monte Carlo in a couple of weeks. He needs time off to be fresh for the other clay tournaments, and with a final at RG to defend as well, I don't expect a further rise from him until the second half of the season.

7. Johnny Browne(29, USA) -- 4,455

Good consistent results so far. Finalist at Indian Wells, quarters in the other two. Browne's not going out gracefully just yet.

8. Hsuang-tsung Teng(25, NZL) -- 4,375

Might be up a spot if he wasn't the victim of upstart Nikitin's first signature win just recently in Miami. Other than that he's been solid enough to validate his status.

9. Valentin Rosenberg(25, SWE) -- 3,935

Great run to the Australian Open final, then two 4th-round losses in the Masters events failed to back it up. Losing to Dircx is one thing, but the Nikitin match was definitely not one he is happy with. Another guy unlikely to make further inroads on clay.

10. Sigmund Kronecker(27, DEU) -- 3,580

No splashes yet this year. The clay campaign will be his last hurrah, if he has one in him.

Four Top 10 players are clearly on the decline, and there's more opportunity for those looking to move up or in than there has been in years. It's still a challenge, just not quite as intimidating.

12. Matthew Panter(24, USA)

No breakthrough yet.

13. Ruben Piazzola(24, CHI)

Back-to-back QF showings at IW and Miami could be the start of something.

23. Dick Blake(22, USA)

Made it an extra match to the round of 16 in all three big ones so far. That's solid work as he looks to move up another tier.

31. Alexey Nikitin(23, UKR)

Making the quarterfinals with a pair of Top-10 wins in Miami is pretty stern stuff. It's about time. Now we'll see if he can capitalize. My guess is that won't happen at least until Wimbledon as clay isn't really his thing.

13(D). Anil Mehul(39, SRI)

Mostly meh doubles results with the one exception, and two out of three good futures won. He's still just a hair out of Challenger range at 201st in singles.

318. Stanley Edleman(19, USA)

Won four out of five futures events he's won so far. Definitely looks on his way to the Challenger circuit sooner rather than later, though he's not quite there yet.

1155. Sushant Chiba(18, SRI)

Won both his amateur entries since making the turn to the new year, and will have another in a couple weeks. Another title should put him just barely into the Top 1000, and set the stage for the move up to futures play. Still above his class in practice weeks, though it is definitely getting more competitive.

11-06-2017, 04:18 PM	#697
Brian Swartz Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2006	Rankings Update 1. Mateo Kaspar(26, FRA) -- 18,360 Another brilliant start; Kaspar sweeps all the major events and hasn't lost since the opening week of the year in the WTC. As always, the clay season figures to reveal the only cracks in his armor. 2. Guus Dircx(25, NLD) -- 7,690 Moving past the fading Fangio, Dircx lost in the semis of all the big events so far but figures to push into some finals now that he's got the spot opposite the king in the draw. 3. Gillo Fangio(27, ITA) -- 7,025 His best days clearly behind him, Fangio lost early at AO and IW, only a SF showing in Miami registering as decent by his standards. The next few players smell blood in the water, and he could tumble further. 4. Martin Zarco(26, ESP) -- 6,410 Definitely the surprise of the year so far. Zarco could make a real statement on clay with his new Top-4 status. Only the Miami loss to Piazzola is a real mark on his year so far, with surprise SF runs in the first two big hardcourt tournaments. Unfortunately, it looks like he's set up to overplay on the dirt just as he has in past years. That's going to come back to bite him at some point. 5. Prakash Mooljee(30, SRI) -- 6,330 After close QF losses at the AO(Zarco) and IW(Browne), Mooljee was embarrassed by Dudwadkar at that stage in Miami. That's what you call a trend. On his way down to a comfortable perch in 6th soon I expect. 6. Ritwik Dudwadkar(24, SRI) -- 5,920 An excellent start so far, and the rankings will eventually reflect that. Four losses, and three came against Kaspar. The other one, to Rosenberg in Australia, was a missed opportunity -- but a lot of people are having trouble with the Swede these days on the hardcourts. It'll get worse before it gets better though. A victim of his own relative success, Ritwik won't be able to defend his finalist points at Monte Carlo in a couple of weeks. He needs time off to be fresh for the other clay tournaments, and with a final at RG to defend as well, I don't expect a further rise from him until the second half of the season. 7. Johnny Browne(29, USA) -- 4,455 Good consistent results so far. Finalist at Indian Wells, quarters in the other two. Browne's not going out gracefully just yet. 8. Hsuang-tsung Teng(25, NZL) -- 4,375 Might be up a spot if he wasn't the victim of upstart Nikitin's first signature win just recently in Miami. Other than that he's been solid enough to validate his status. 9. Valentin Rosenberg(25, SWE) -- 3,935 Great run to the Australian Open final, then two 4th-round losses in the Masters events failed to back it up. Losing to Dircx is one thing, but the Nikitin match was definitely not one he is happy with. Another guy unlikely to make further inroads on clay. 10. Sigmund Kronecker(27, DEU) -- 3,580 No splashes yet this year. The clay campaign will be his last hurrah, if he has one in him. Four Top 10 players are clearly on the decline, and there's more opportunity for those looking to move up or in than there has been in years. It's still a challenge, just not quite as intimidating. 12. Matthew Panter(24, USA) No breakthrough yet. 13. Ruben Piazzola(24, CHI) Back-to-back QF showings at IW and Miami could be the start of something. 23. Dick Blake(22, USA) Made it an extra match to the round of 16 in all three big ones so far. That's solid work as he looks to move up another tier. 31. Alexey Nikitin(23, UKR) Making the quarterfinals with a pair of Top-10 wins in Miami is pretty stern stuff. It's about time. Now we'll see if he can capitalize. My guess is that won't happen at least until Wimbledon as clay isn't really his thing. 13(D). Anil Mehul(39, SRI) Mostly meh doubles results with the one exception, and two out of three good futures won. He's still just a hair out of Challenger range at 201st in singles. 318. Stanley Edleman(19, USA) Won four out of five futures events he's won so far. Definitely looks on his way to the Challenger circuit sooner rather than later, though he's not quite there yet. 1155. Sushant Chiba(18, SRI) Won both his amateur entries since making the turn to the new year, and will have another in a couple weeks. Another title should put him just barely into the Top 1000, and set the stage for the move up to futures play. Still above his class in practice weeks, though it is definitely getting more competitive.