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With the 2024 tennis season underway and the Australian Open on the quick horizon, it’s time to make annual predictions for the sector of eight on the Nitto ATP Finals.
Right here we go!
1. Novak Djokovic – Djokovic gained three of the 4 slams in 2023, got here inside a set of successful a fourth, and gained the Nitto ATP Finals. Evidently, the 36-year-old was the dominant participant on tour final season and possibly must be forward by much more than 2,390 factors (his present lead over Carlos Alcaraz within the rankings). Djokovic might up there in age relative to the remainder of the highest gamers, however he’s the fittest man within the sport and is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. One other year-end No. 1 rating must be anticipated.
2. Carlos Alcaraz – Alcaraz missed the Aussie 2023 Open and wasn’t one hundred pc till March (and he was hobbled at Roland Garros). That’s one argument for him to complete within the prime spot this season–if he stays wholesome the complete approach. In fact, don’t neglect that Djokovic was unable to play both Indian Wells or Miami and the Serb nonetheless completed comfortably atop the rankings on the finish of this previous 12 months. It’s probably only a matter of time earlier than Alcaraz provides to his year-end No. 1 rely, however for now I’ve him as soon as once more at No. 2.
3. Jannik Sinner – Sinner climbing to No. 4 was my finest choose in my 2023 year-end predictions. The Italian was superior from begin to end final 12 months and was particularly wonderful all through the autumn swing, setting the stage for a good higher 2024. Arguments might be made for Sinner to achieve No. 1 as quickly as this 12 months. I’ll proceed to be excessive on him however will accept the third spot just because Djokovic and Alcaraz are so good.
4. Daniil Medvedev – With Djokovic and Alcaraz sharing the most important titles and Sinner crimson scorching late within the 12 months, Medvedev was principally below the radar final season. Nonetheless, he turned in one other excellent marketing campaign on the ATP Tour. Medvedev gained a shock clay-court Masters 1000 title in Rome, superior to the semifinals of Wimbledon, and made it to the U.S. Open remaining. If he can preserve that up on all three surfaces, this self-proclaimed hard-court specialist has each motive to remain within the prime 4.
5. Alexander Zverev – Zverev was principally hopeless for the primary two months of 2023 after making his return from a horrible ankle damage at Roland Garros in 2022. Regardless of that, the German nonetheless completed at seventh within the rankings. Zverev got here on sturdy late within the season after he was one hundred pc bodily, so it stands to motive that the 26-year-old will likely be higher in 2024 from begin to end. He actually acquired off to a roaring begin on the United Cup.
6. Andrey Rublev – I had Rublev out of the highest eight final 12 months and that was a foul choice. I’m not going to make that mistake once more; I’m again on the Rublev bandwagon the place I belong. He might not ever win a slam (at this level only a SF look could be good!), however Rublev is much too constant to be unnoticed of the Nitto ATP Finals. The Russian by no means has a foul 12 months; he barely ever has a foul event. Most significantly, he’s nice on each floor and that permits him to rack up factors on a constant foundation.
7. Hubert Hurkacz – Hurkacz has been irritating to observe in recent times. Th Pole has been good–however inferior to he must be given that he’s the prototypical participant for achievement on this period: 6’5”, strikes extraordinarily nicely for a person of his dimension, and has the most important serve within the sport (when it comes to sheer variety of aces). Except for a run to the SFs on the All-England Membership in 2021, the 26-year-old has stunk up the joint at majors. If he can clear that up even a bit of bit, Hurkacz ought to discover himself in Turin.
8. Alex de Minaur – I really feel like I’ve to have a longshot choose in right here–and that is it! It’s true that De Minaur’s ceiling is low comparatively to everybody else on this record just because he doesn’t have a ton of offensive firepower. Nevertheless, sneaking into the highest eight will not be out of the query primarily attributable to the truth that the highest 4 (and even perhaps the highest six) will hog so many factors that it might not require an entire lot to achieve seventh or eighth. De Minaur is already into the highest 10 for the primary time and that’s even with out doing a lot of something on the 4 majors in 2023.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
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