yeah right.
Cilic gets thrown in the bin by most of Tx posters and weitjes, beause he has proved he cannot perform major after major.
So we take on board mr. constancy who has set slams on fire after his 09 open somewhat Luckyswing.

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:31 am

I really don’t think there will be a change, but since this is a poll I will pick Grigor Dimitrov. I believe since Ferrer has had a break he will stay put in the rankings……Cilic is questionable imo.

December 23rd, 2014 at 2:29 am

Sienna, ok Delpo didn’t win any slam after 2009, but since then he’s been out of the top10 only in 2010 and 2014 because of his lenghty injuries… WAY more consistent than Cilic, and in 2015 he will go back where he belongs

December 23rd, 2014 at 7:32 am

ROBERTO BEAUTISTA AGUT will almost certainly break into the top 10 in 2015.

December 23rd, 2014 at 7:45 am

Best Winter Solstice wishes to all sane tennis players who post on here, usually with knowledge and humour, and elsewhere dear Hon.
And good wishes to Sean and staff who keep this site going.
With a special shout to the DA my fellow traveller on the old Murray roller coaster. Hope you’re gonna hold on tight to me in 2015, darling. x
And, as we tend to think about the past at this time of year, here’s a toast to the late, great Kirsty Macoll with a brilliant seasonal song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8

December 23rd, 2014 at 7:59 am

Cilic withdraws from Brisbane.
(I don’t know the reason but I’m sure something will come to light pretty soon).

December 23rd, 2014 at 8:03 am

Well Delpo seems like the popular choice,i do like the guy but i wonder how much of this is based on wishfull thinking,five years since he won the USO and people still predict big things for him,same pattern after every injury,regardless of the ranking too,yet others come back from an injury and people predict retirement,even though the other has won GS consistently year after year,im not a fanatic but even the DA commented on this some weeks back and hes a Murray fan….

December 23rd, 2014 at 8:04 am

Many thanks for that Margot,best Christmas song ever,only reached number 2,beaten by the Pet Shop Boys in 1987,Happy Winter Solstice ;-))….

December 23rd, 2014 at 8:14 am

How old is Dimitrov? I think he might be Berdych – destined for just inside the top 10 and no further (unless there’s a power vacuum – which, in Dimitrov’s case, might be opening up in around two years).

December 23rd, 2014 at 8:27 am

Peter, Dimitrov will win slams. There is another weak era just around the corner after the 2016 Olympics.

Margot, great song. Perhaps my favourite Christmas carol. I’ve always been a fan of her unique voice. Sad that she lost her life at such an early age.

Merry Christmas everyone!

December 23rd, 2014 at 9:45 am

@Margot,
Thanks for that, was very enjoyable. Never saw or heard that song. I imagined that if you were ever to share something it would be very creative and artistic and you did not disappoint
:-)
Merry Christmas to all.🎾

December 23rd, 2014 at 10:13 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhC8ZIfqYC8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Merry Christmas from the “boys”. Lol

December 23rd, 2014 at 11:40 am

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all Tennis X staff and the same to all the posters on Tennis X. Have a good one.
:)))

December 23rd, 2014 at 11:43 am

Definitely Dimitrov currently No. 11 with his consistency and steady rise.

A healthy Del Potro otherwise but that is a big question for the year.

So far, Cilic may just be another Tsonga (notwithstanding the one slam of course).

December 23rd, 2014 at 11:57 am

@Margot…….Do I qualify for Winter Solstice greetings? Am I sane enough? LOL I think I am! After all, Andy is my second fav. Best wishes to you too!

@Chick…Best wishes for a Happy Winter Solstice!
@Giles
@Elina
@Skeezer, my fellow American, I want to wish all of you A very merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year!!

May all your slams come true!!

Merry Christmas to all the staff at TX and a big thanks for this forum where we can cuss and discuss tennis! I enjoy it!!

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:07 pm

Indeed: Good wishes everyone – posters and staff alike – for a Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad (cute video Giles), Happy Holiday, etc. Cheers!

I think I’ll pick Grigor to move up, with Monfils and Delpo being my other choices.

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:14 pm

Giles yeah cute video many thanks….
Skeezer i cant believe youve never heard of that song :-))….
Anyway once again i bid all Tennis-X staff and fellow posters,Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,but can we remember its only a game,and that theres already enough hatred in the world can we please leave it out of sport….

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:31 pm

@Skeeze
Thank you kindly :)
@OK
Course you do gal :)
@Hippy and elina
Probably my favourite too. Her voice is so wonderful.

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:34 pm

oh, i love that song too margot <3 – it's so moving and not hokey like so many carols!

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:49 pm

Grigor and Gael i think,but i just dont believe its a safe bet that Delpo will return to the tour and automatically have this amazing yearat the drop of a hat sorry….

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:09 pm

My pick is Goffin. He doesn’t have many points to defend in the first half of the year, and the majority of his points to defend in the second half are from challengers..

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyous Festivus to all! Here’s to more tennis discussion in 2015! :-)

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:10 pm

I think Del Potro, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nick Kyrgios move up there either.
I don’t think there will ever be a Raonic/ Dmitrov era. The torch will be passed from Novak to youngsters.

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:21 pm

http://sport.stv.tv/world-sport/304572-loic-courteau-in-talks-to-join-andy-murrays-coaching-team/?
Murray fans

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:40 pm

Grigor!!!!

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:46 pm

@Jane……MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!! I just bet you’ll have a white one. I have a bucket list……one is to go somewhere where there is snow and to go on a sleigh ride at Christmas time and the other is to go to a tennis tournament and watch a professional, preferably Rafa, but would settle for anyone in the top 20. It’s gonna be tough to pull off, since I don’t fly!! I’ve thought about Indian Wells or Cincy….could drive…….maybe some day!!

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:48 pm

Okie i would love to watch a Wimby final live preferably with a Brit,would love to go to the Native American Indian reserve,and stay in a log cabin in the woods,and sit with my souix drum around a camp fire,but mostly id just like to carry on been happy and enjoying life….

December 23rd, 2014 at 2:05 pm

^I think ill make it my new years resolution to lighten up a bit,and not take everything too much to heart,its only a game after all,far more important things going on in the real world to get upset about,otherwise ill be changing my monikor to Calm Down Please Hippy Chick lol….

December 23rd, 2014 at 3:18 pm

HC, LOL more important things going on in the world…really?I don’t think you would know u live here on this blog. Your resolution should be to get a life, and get in check with reality 😁

December 23rd, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Queen thats rather rude,I actually have a very happy and complete life,with a job i enjoy,a great group of friends,and many hobbies and interests that i throughly enjoy,granted i blog alot,but no more or less than many others here,so id thank you not to make judgements about myself or the way i lead my life thankyou very much….

December 23rd, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Should say id thank you not to make sarcastic judgements….

December 23rd, 2014 at 3:52 pm

“The torch will be passed from Novak to youngsters.”

And that youngster may well be Kyrgios. He assembled good team, works three hours a day on his fitness (his major problem) and his mentor is Hewitt. I am not Hewitt fan but when you are 19 years old promising, fiery player, you can’t ask for better mentor.
New top 10 in 2015 will be Dimitrov (find new coach, please) and Kyrgios.

December 23rd, 2014 at 4:37 pm

@Queen…….Your resolution should be to not be so unkind and rude to people. You’re making a judgment on a person you don’t even know, other than the fact that she blogs……not very nice……

December 23rd, 2014 at 5:06 pm

Wish all of you a Humble Christmas and very Humble New Year.

May 2015 belong to all those who are Humble.

December 23rd, 2014 at 5:45 pm

@Giles, 8.03am
Cilic pulled out of Brisbane because he’s been nursing a shoulder injury for months… which makes him playing so many IPTL matches all the more bewildering.
I picked Gulbis to break into the top 10 out of wishful thinking, more than anything else. :)
Merry Christmas to all in this site. I’m new here, but it seems a fun place full of knowledgeable people. :)

December 23rd, 2014 at 6:05 pm

@Yolita…..welcome aboard! Yes, it can be fun and frustrating all at the same time. Lots of good eggs on here that love their tennis and their favs. We all can get a little testy at times when our favorite is getting ganged upon…..but all in all its a great place to talk tennis. U R right, there are lots of knowledgeable folks on here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO!!

December 23rd, 2014 at 6:38 pm

Agreed on Dimitrov. Of the potentials, he looks like the best bet to crack the top 10. Agut as I think I mentioned somewhere else and I have this weird feeling that Gilles Simon will make a bit of a push this year.

If Cilic is healthy, he’s an obvious threat. Anyone who won the US Open the way he did can’t be discounted from making a push into the top 10.

I don’t think all 4 make it but in order of likelihood, I’d say:

Dimitrov
Cilic
Agut
Simon

December 23rd, 2014 at 6:40 pm

Very strong field in Brisbane and not so bad in Sydney, I am surprised that Delpo, after a such a bad injury, is going full on in January, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne…iis his body ready for one manths playing on stinking hot weather Downunder, I don’t know?

Yolita, stick around, you’ll find out that TX is … very different forum;)

December 23rd, 2014 at 6:46 pm

^^one month of playing

December 23rd, 2014 at 6:48 pm

I’m not a big fan of Kyrgios technically. There’s a bit of hitch in his forehand. That being said, he’s talented. But top 10? I don’t think he’s there yet.

December 23rd, 2014 at 10:53 pm

in a way im relieved Cilic is injured. it gives me confirmation and others explanation why he played so poor okt nov.

it gives even more confidence that when not injured he will bring his new high level to the court.

when healed and fit hell be aan force in every slam.

December 23rd, 2014 at 10:56 pm

Sticking with RB-Agut to punch through, if only for a little while.
Doesn’t Delpo have a protected ranking or something? Can someone clarify?
Merry Xmas to all, be kind to each other :)

December 24th, 2014 at 12:34 am

@Wogboy……I’m really looking forward to seeing how DelPo will do. I have a feeling he will be firing on all cylinders. He has been away a long time and should be healed. It will probably take him a little while to get settled in but should be interesting…..I can’t wait for 2015! I hope EVERYONE is injury free……no bad backs, no bad wrists and no bad knees!! Nole seems to be the healthiest in all areas…..his wrist didn’t trouble him too long.

December 24th, 2014 at 12:40 am

Okie thanks for defending me,exactly none of anyone elses buisness about the way i lead my life,or when i choose to blog.
Damien Mills i looked on his website and Delpo was ranked at 137 or something ATM?
Wogboy i also read that the wrist is still bothering him,although hopefully not enough to hinder him anymore,but i agree in that its alot to play straight away,i like the guy,but for me i think predicting an amazing run at the click of ones fingers is rather ambitious ATM,still JMO….

December 24th, 2014 at 1:57 am

@Chick……I thought it was very rude…..just couldn’t butt out……even though you are capable of fighting your own battles……be nice people….what happened to peace on earth and good will toward men??…..and women…..

I didn’t know about DelPo’ s wrist still bothering him……not good…..He hits so hard….we will see.

December 24th, 2014 at 2:24 am

Oki, Delpo is defending champion in Sydney, I went to watch him and Tomic playing final this year, hoping for a great match, but doubles final (prior to their match) was more exciting than man’s final, thanks to Tomic. I am looking forward seeing Delpo again in Sydney this coming January, I will be there reporting exclusively for TX ;)

December 24th, 2014 at 3:42 am

sg
Cilic is in top 10.
that was the whole issue. a few threads ago you were willing to pull the plug out of him and now youre saying he will crack top 10.

get real dude.

December 24th, 2014 at 5:48 am

@Wog Boy……I know you’re looking forward to it. I hope DelPo is fully recovered. When DelPo is 100%, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Good luck to him and you have a great time reporting! 2015 is right on us and I for one can not wait!! Merry Christmas to you, Wog Boy and Happy New Year…..or as some say HAPPY HANGOVER!! Lol

December 24th, 2014 at 7:29 am

sienna Says:
sg
Cilic is in top 10.
that was the whole issue. a few threads ago you were willing to pull the plug out of him and now youre saying he will crack top 10.

get real dude.

——————-

There’s a difference between being a top 10 player and being a consistent contender in majors. Last I checked, you can be No.2 in the world without winning a major. Catch my drift?

It’s you that needs to get real. My bad on missing the fact that Cilic is No.9. Your bad to think that being a top 10 player has anything to do with being a threat to win a slam. No one last year won more than a one major. It’s really easy to be an elite player and not win one.

December 24th, 2014 at 10:58 am

And I stand my belief that while Cilic has top 4 talent, I still think he lacks top 4 mentality. Fortunately, you don’t need top 4 mentality to get to the top 10.

December 24th, 2014 at 11:00 am

Happy Holidays my fellow Tennis Xers.

December 24th, 2014 at 11:48 am

Sg1
Now youre just being silly.
It has been about top 10 for nearly two weeks now.
you claimed cilic will most likely drop out of top 10.

That is what my point was.
Cilic is the most likely player to break top 3 or the once top 4 (murray fans hold dear to top 4 claims)
You cannot give credit for a player who has not proven himself over a player who just prooved himself. So dimitrov, berdych, ferrer, nishikori etc all fall far behind a player that actually won the biggest thing tennis has to offer.
Berdych, federer, nishikori got schooled big time. Let me tell you evryone of those thre where in form but still wiped of court by faultless modern power play.
The new era game I call it and it doesnot bode well for nadal, djokovic federer or murray if those big guys play the way cilic did.

December 24th, 2014 at 12:29 pm

“if those big guys play the way cilic did”

….the key word being if. If Krajicek played to his potential. If Safin played to his potential. If Ivanisevic played to his potential. If Monfils played to his potential.

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic bring it week in and week out. They don’t need the qualifier of “if” in front of their names. At 27 years old, Cilic has earned the “if” in front of his. That’s not to say he has no chance of dominating. But, can you honestly say for certain that this guy is going to run the tour for the next few years?

What’s your hang up with this guy Cilic anyway? There are guys on tour just as gifted as him with and without slams in their resume.

December 24th, 2014 at 1:26 pm

I think a healthy and focused DelPotro could overpower Cilic. I don’t see why a guy like Dimitrov couldn’t beat Cilic on a consistent basis. Novak has the perfect game to foil a guy like Cilic as well. So does a healthy Rafa for that matter. I think a 27 year old Roger Federer could put the wood to Cilic as well.

Winning a major (even in a dominant fashion) is no guarantee of future success.

December 24th, 2014 at 1:33 pm

happy ho ho to all the cyber tennis fans.

look forward to more debate and critique in 2015.

December 24th, 2014 at 2:06 pm

I voted Delpo, but I also think Simon & Goffin from the poll and Kyrgios who wasn’t listed are in chance.

December 24th, 2014 at 2:48 pm

sg you just dont get it.
Cilic did play like that and he hasnot had a chance to falter.

USamen open Cilic takes out Delpotro everu single time.
I have seen enough of delpotro to know hè doesnot have enough to beat that Cilic.

you keep making the same ignorant mistake.
you know you are on the wrong footh since you let him fall outside top 10. Claiming hè hasnot performed Usopen stylo slam after slam.
you must be a proud youngster not capable of reassert himself after some stupid mistake. have a good one luttele boy. grow up.

December 24th, 2014 at 2:48 pm

I was as impressed with anyone at Cilic’s level of play in his last 3 matches at the US Open. He really schooled Federer and Nishikori even though they were playing quality tennis themselves. But so what? Like SG1 says, 1 event doesn’t mean anything.

This big power game isn’t new era tennis at all. Safin did the same thing at the 2000 US Open but couldn’t sustain that high level of play. And if you recall Safin missed ending the year number 1 by the slimmest of margins. So what he did was even more impressive than Cilic’s win. Same goes for Roddick in 2003. And Del Potro in 2009. These guys played brute force tennis to really blow out some of their opponents. Hell Sampras did it back in 1990 when he won the US Open dismantling Agassi. It wasn’t quite brute force but it was serious power tennis relative to that time.

And all of these guys had showed promise leading up to their triumphs. Cilic didn’t show any promise outside of a few months in 2009 and 2010. So for people to think lightning simply struck for this guy isn’t a ridiculous claim. He’s not going to dominate for the forseeable future. And the power game he displayed isn’t a sustainable style for anyone to consistently dominate with. Del Potro keeps getting injured. Roddick could never beat Federer. Safin was often injured and mentally fragile.

December 24th, 2014 at 2:55 pm

I think Ben has essentially hit the proverbial nail on the head. The reason why the truly big guys with huge power games haven’t owned the slams (and tennis in general) is that their games, while overwhelming over short periods, are difficult to maintain over 5 sets and 7 matches. In rare cases, this does happen a la Krajicek and Safin. But, the high risk games they play tend to unravel when confronted by a complete player like a Federer, Rafa or a Djokovic.

Cilic beat a 33 year old Federer. Seems to me that a 27 year old Federer would have found a way make Cilic feel more pressure. He would have kept more balls in play and made Cilic hit one more big forehand or backhand.

December 24th, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Oki, thanks, Merry Christmas to you and all people from TX who are celebrating Christmas, already arrived here and we are sending it to the rest of the world..HO HO HO :)

I just checked head to head, with top 4, of 27 years old player who according to somebody will rule tennis in the years to come:
Nole Cilic 11:0, managed to win five sets in 11 matches.
Roger Cilic 5:1, until USO won only one (or two) sets in five tries.
Andy Cilic 8:2, methinks?
Rafa Cilic 2:1.

December 24th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

^^^. Andy Cilic 10:2

December 24th, 2014 at 5:17 pm

Happy christmas Wogboy,its not quite arrived here as yet only 10.15 pm in Blighty,but ive already had a lovely present from Madmax on the Roger/Rafa courier thread,a link with a picture and Bio on Mr Jackman,and im still on cloud nine,hubby keeps giving me funny looks lol….

December 24th, 2014 at 5:18 pm

AHEM anyway,i cant believe Rafa and Cilic have only faced off 3 times,and i agree im not saying hes not a great player but hes some way to go before hes in that status as a top 4 player….

December 24th, 2014 at 5:22 pm

As far as H2H lead is concerned, I only care about the results of the last 18 months.
Also a H2H lead is in my view only of certain relevance if it is a dominant one like the one between Djokovic and Cilic, or the one between Nadal and Federer.
Del Potro and Federer do not have a dominant lead over Cilic in the last 18 months, which makes their H2H lead not significant enough to be considered of importance.
Nadal didn’t even play Cilic recently.
More important seems to me where these players are in their career at the moment.
Chosing Del Potro, who is coming back from injury, over Cilic as a probable 2015 year-end top 10 player is not what I would do if I were to name the ATP 2015 year-end top 10 players.

December 25th, 2014 at 2:56 am

powertennis might not be new.
but the way cilic played it and brought that type of game to aan whole different level.
We have seen those type of players dominating matches, but mostly only true domination on own serve.
the current generation is loaded with them.
what cilic brought in those three matches for 9 sets was allcourt tennis. defensie, attacking, big serving, agressie play.
Hè also dominated on return leving no time for his opponent to get any sense of the match.
they were out served outplayed out everythinged in any department.

safin could only have dteamed to dominante aan slam like that.

Cilic took Us open like TMF took his slams or Nadal take Garros or sampras take wimbledon.
it was the most comprehentional slamwin since Garros 2010.

December 25th, 2014 at 4:41 pm

it is fairly easy.

if all players perform like they play to the best of their abbilities then Cilic will take the slams.
even at Garros he will blast his way past Nadal and he will dominate the court on serve and return.

but i doubt Cilic has aan good enough bij game to pull the same kind of game against top 5 players. but it brings some new wave to the new season.

Funny that so many here give credit to others while he is the one who showed how to shift balance in tennis.
It needs to be followed up badly to have antwoord sort of momentum.

December 25th, 2014 at 5:01 pm

@Margot – Of course I’ll be joining you to root for Andy in 2015. I’m in it for the long run.

Happy holidays to my fellow tennis addicts. Looking forward to the one of the most unpredictable new years in ages.

December 26th, 2014 at 5:48 pm