2011 Tennis-X Year-end Top 10 Contest

1. Rafael Nadal (Complete GS)
2. Roger Federer (Final in 3 GS)
3. Novak Djokovic (Final in 1 GS)
4. Andy Murray
5. Juan Martín del Potro
6. Robin Soderling
7. Andy Roddick
8. Nicolay Davydenko
9. Fernando Verdasco
10. Jo Wilfred Tsonga

December 27th, 2010 at 11:20 am

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Thomas Berdych
6. Fernando Verdasco
7. Robin Soderling
8. Nicolay Davydenko
9. Gael Monfils
10. David Nalbandian

December 27th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Andy Murray
4. Roger Federer
5. Fernando Verdasco
6. Robin Soderling
7. Ernests Gulbis
8. Alexandr Dolgopolov
9. Marcos Baghdatis
10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

December 27th, 2010 at 2:05 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djkovic
3. Andy Murray
4. Roger Federer
5. Thomas Berdych
6. Robin Soderling
7. Juan Martin Delporto
8. Marian Cilic
9. Fernando Verdasco
10.Gael Monfils

December 27th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

1 Andy Murray (finally picking up one or two GS titles)
2 Roger Federer (one GS – but he’ll retrieve his #1 spot for a couple of weeks to pass Sampras’ record!)
3 Rafa Nadal (at least one GS, but too much points in total for him to defend, and btw -claims of him taking the GS are highly premature – let’s await those chances till after AO/RG, okay?)
4 Robin Soderling (maybe, maybe, one GS? RG would be fantastic!)
5 David Ferrer
6 Novak Djokovic
7 Gael Monfils
8 Victor Troicki
9 Alexander Dolgopolev
10 Thiemo De Bakker

Haha, I chose nrs. 7 – 10 as I want to see some New Balls enter the top 10. Could be totally off, I don’t care.

December 27th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djkovic
3. Andy Murray
4. Roger Federer
5. Thomas Berdych
6. Robin Soderling
7. Juan Martin Delporto
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
9. Fernando Verdasco
10.Gael Monfils

December 27th, 2010 at 6:18 pm

1 rafael nadal
2 roger federer
3 robin soderling
4 novak djokovic
5 andy murray
6 jo-wilfried tsonga
7 david ferrer
8 gael monfils
9 fernando verdasco
10 victor troicki

December 27th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Marin Cilic
6. Robin Soderling
7. Andy Roddick
8. Fernando Verdasco
9. Nikolay Davydenko
10. David Ferrer

December 27th, 2010 at 7:26 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Roger Federer
4. Robin Soderling
5. Andy Murray
6. Thomas Berdych
7. Gael Monfils
8. Andy Roddick
9. Jurgen Melzer
10. Juan Martin del Potro

December 27th, 2010 at 8:11 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. David Nalbandian
4. Andy Murray
5. Novak Djokovic
6. Juan Martin Del Potro
7. Andy Roddick
8. Gilles Simon
9. Fernando Gonzalez
10. Fernando Verdasco

December 27th, 2010 at 8:23 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Andy Murray
4. Novak djokovic
5. Andy Roddick
6. Robin Soderling
7. Stanislaw wawrinka
8. Jo wilfred tsonga
9. Juan Martin del port
10. David ferrer

December 27th, 2010 at 8:39 pm

1.the maestro (go annacone)
2.the bull
3.Muzza
4.the djoker
5.delpo
6.fat dave
7.la monf
8.the little russian (a.k.a davydenko)
9.A Rod
10.soda pop

December 27th, 2010 at 9:10 pm

just kiddin, real names coming up:

1.Roger federer
2.Rafael nadal
3.Andy murray
4.Novak Djokovic
5.Juan martin del potro
6.david nalbandian
7.gael monfils
8.nikolay davydenko
9.Andy roddick
10.Robin Soderling

Good luck guys :)

December 27th, 2010 at 9:20 pm

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Murray
4. Djokovic
5. Soderling
6. Roddick
7. Del Potro
8. Monfils
9. Belluci
10. Tsonga

December 27th, 2010 at 9:44 pm

1. SWISSSSSSS (Roger Federer defends AO and maybe racks on another major!)
2. Andy Murray (finally gets one!)
3. Rafael Nadal (can’t keep the pace of 2010)
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Robin Soderling
6. Andy Roddick
7. Gael Monfils
8. Juan Martin Delpotro
9. Viktor Troicki
10. SWISSSSSSS (Stanislas Wawrinka)

That was fun and whimsical! No thought behind it, but this would be my wish!

December 27th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Del Potro
6. Soderling
7. Roddick
8. Davydenko
9. Cilic
10.Berdych

December 27th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

1. Rogerrrrrr Federerrrrrrrr!
2. Nadal
3. Murray
4. Djokovic
5. Soderling
6. Del Potro
7. Berdych
8. Roddick
9. Monfils
10. Davydenko

My countryman Thiemo de Bakker has no chance if he keeps on playing the style of an old Roddick, both of these guys should play more like Roddick IW/Miami 2010. Easier said than done, I guess!

December 27th, 2010 at 11:35 pm

1) Rafael Nadal
2) Roger Federer
3) Novak Djokovic
4) Andy Murray
5) Juan Martin del Potro
6) Robin Soderling
7) Nikolay Davydenko
8) Andy Roddick
9) Fernando Verdasco
10) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

December 28th, 2010 at 12:59 am

1) Novak Djokovic
2) Rafael nadal
3) andy murray
4) robin soderling
5) roger federer
6) marin cilic
7) andy roddick
8) gael monfils
9) juan martin del potro
10) joe wilfred tsonga

December 28th, 2010 at 1:45 am

1 Federer
2 Nadal
3 Murray
4 Djokovic
5 Soderling
6 Berdych
7 Melzer
8 Roddick
9 Ferrer
10 Troicki

December 28th, 2010 at 2:06 am

1. Federer
2. Murray
3. Nadal
4. Roddick
5. Djokovic
6. Fish
7. Verdasco
8. Cilic
9. Davydenko
10. Isner or Querrey

THE AMERICANS WILL MAKE A PUSH!!!
1 GRAND SLAM FOR AN AMERICAN… it wont be French Open.

December 28th, 2010 at 2:12 am

1 nadal
2 murray
3 federer
4 djokovic
5 roddick
6 davydenko
7 del potro
8 ferrer
9 amalgro
10 isner

December 28th, 2010 at 2:35 am

*9 almagro

December 28th, 2010 at 2:36 am

Men contest, no women contest :-( Tennis-X staff is sooooo disappointing! Do I need to remind that women earn as much as men on the grand slams, even at Wimbledon – and women have vote rights for decades now? At least, you could have opened the door to encourage both top-10. So here is my double take:

1 Wozniacki, Caroline
2 Clijsters, Kim
3 Henin, Justine
4 Azarenka, Victoria
5 Sharapova, Maria
6 Ivanovic, Ana
7 Jankovic, Jelena
8 Radwanska, Agnieszka
9 Rezai, Aravane
10 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia

1 Federer, Roger
2 Nadal, Rafael
3 Murray, Andy
4 Djokovic, Novak
5 Soderling, Robin
6 Verdasco, Fernando
7 Monfils, Gael
8 Cilic, Marin
9 Youzhny, Mikhail
10 Ferrer, David

**************************************
I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO POST BOTH MEN AND WOMEN TOP 10!
**************************************

Post Scriptum for funches: no need to shoot me again, you will waste your keys.

December 28th, 2010 at 4:03 am

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Soderling
6. Del Porto
7. Davydenko
8. Roddick
9. Berdych
10.Verdasco

December 28th, 2010 at 4:44 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Del Potro
6. Soderling
7. Roddick
8. Davydenko
9. Cilic
10.Berdych

December 28th, 2010 at 4:53 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Del Potro
6. Murray
7. Roddick
8. Davydenko
9. Cilic
10.Berdych

December 28th, 2010 at 4:55 am

1 Federer, Roger
2 Nadal, Rafael
3 Murray, Andy
4 Djokovic, Novak
5 Soderling, Robin
6 Verdasco, Fernando
7 Monfils, Gael
8 Cilic, Marin
9 Youzhny, Mikhail
10 Ferrer, David

December 28th, 2010 at 5:00 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Roddick
7. Monfils
8. Verdasco
9. Cilic
10.Ferrer

December 28th, 2010 at 5:03 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Murray
4. Djokovic
5. Soderling
6. Roddick
7. Del Potro
8. Monfils
9. Belluci
10. Tsonga

December 28th, 2010 at 5:04 am

1.Federer
2.Nadal
3.Murray
4.Djokovic
5.Delpotro
6.Soderling
7.Cilic
8.Berdych
9.Monfils
10.Tsonga

December 28th, 2010 at 5:34 am

1. The Swiss – Wawrinka
2. The Spaniard – Garcia-Loprz
3. The guy from Crap-takistan – Istomin
4. The French cokehead – Monfils
5. The bald guy – Davydenko
6. The bad dancer – Tsonga
7. The guy who looks like Ali – Tsonga
8. The guy who looks like the Unibomber – Troiki
9. The guy with no backhand – Roddick
10. The guy who doesn’t count because he’s a chick – Dolgopolov

December 28th, 2010 at 7:45 am

1. Federer (3 GS, WTF)
2. Del potro (1 GS)
3. Nadal
4. Murry
5. Djokovic
6. Cilic
7. Soderling
8. Roddick
9. melzer
10. Devydenco

December 28th, 2010 at 7:45 am

This time last year someone predicted Murray would be out of the top ten year end. Please step forward and receive your booby prize, you know who you are…
Top ten almost looks as if it’s set in stone, hope not! Go Catherine! looks different and exciting!

December 28th, 2010 at 9:47 am

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Robin Soderling
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Gael Monfils
6. Andy Murray
7. David Ferrer
8. Marcos Baghdatis
9. John Isner
10. Tomas Berdych

December 28th, 2010 at 10:24 am

1. Nadal
2. Djokovic
3. Federer
4. del Potro
5. Murray
6. Soderling
7. Verdasco
8. Cilic
9. Roddick
10. Monfils

And, to make a case for the women:

1. Wozniacki
2. Clijsters
3. Serena
4. Henin
5. Stosur
6. Ivanovic
7. Jankovic
8. Sharapova
9. Venus
10. Zvonareva

December 28th, 2010 at 10:39 am

1. Nadal
2. Murray
3. Federer
4. Djokovic
5. Roddick
6. Soderling
7. Del Potro
8. Verdasco
9. Dolgopolov
10. Bagdhadis

December 28th, 2010 at 10:43 am

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Thomas Berdych
6. Fernando Verdasco
7. Robin Soderling
8. Nicolay Davydenko
9. Gael Monfils
10. David Nalbandian

December 28th, 2010 at 10:46 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Roddick
7. Monfils
8. Verdasco
9. Cilic
10.Ferrer

December 28th, 2010 at 10:47 am

1. Federer
2. Del potro
3. Nadal
4. Murry
5. Djokovic
6. Cilic
7. Soderling
8. Roddick
9. melzer
10. Devydenco

December 28th, 2010 at 10:52 am

1. Federer
2. Roger
3. Fedex
4. Fed
5. King
6. Goat
7. Rafa
8. Rafael
9. Nadal
10.Roughael

December 28th, 2010 at 11:22 am

1-Nadal
2-Djokovic
3-Murray
4-Federer
5-Davydenko
6-Roddick
7-Berdych
8-Ferrer
9-Del Potro
10-Cilic

December 28th, 2010 at 11:24 am

Here’s the skinny:

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Soderling
6. Monfils
7. Baghdatis
8. Roddick
9. Ferrer
10. Melzer

December 28th, 2010 at 12:33 pm

Isn’t Delpo ranked quite low due to his injury? I could see him breaking back into the top, possibly the top ten too. But he has to win a lot, doesnt he, to get into the top 5 from being ranked outside the 100s, not sure where?

Catherine’s does look interesting but I don’t want Nole falling outside the top 5. : /

December 28th, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Okay I checked: Delpo is ranked 258, poor guy. We know, with his power and talent, he’ll be back to the top quick as can be. He has virtually nothing to defend though, so all his points will be added, so in that sense I could see him adding for sure around 3000 points to his 180 which would likely put him in the top ten, maybe even the top 5 if he were to win a slam or a few masters. By 2012, who knows? He could be vying for the top spot.

December 28th, 2010 at 1:04 pm

1.Rafael Nadal 2.Roger Federer 3.Andy Murray 4.Djokovic 5.Roddick 6.Soderling 7.Berdysch 8.Monfils 9.Tsonga 10.Davydenko

December 28th, 2010 at 1:55 pm

I should have fit cilic somewhere on my top ten, shucks.
Ladies:
1. Caroline Woz
2. Kimmi clijsters
3. Vera Zvonareva
4. Vika Azarenka
5. Serena
6. Jelena jankovic
7. Justine Henin
8. Venus
9. Maria Sharapova
10. Ana ivanovic
I’m counting on caro to play the mist and win the most matches, and for the veteran ladies to bring some consistency in the majors.

December 28th, 2010 at 2:08 pm

1 Rafael 2 Novak 3 Andy M 4 Roger 5 Robin 6 Andy R 7 Gael 8 Juan Martin 9 Marin 10 Ernests or Fernando

December 28th, 2010 at 2:53 pm

1. Rafa
2. Rafa
3. Rafa
4. Rafa
5. Raf
6. Rafa
7. Rafa
8. Rafa
9. Rafa
10.Rafa

December 28th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

melzer! I forgot about melzer. i think he will do even better next year. He only needed to beat federer in paris to break into the top 10.

i think he can do well. he has some weapon in his armoury. a great lefty forehand and backhand not bad at all.

also he was able to beat nadal this year.

if berdych can wake up, i can see him finishing top 10 too. aaaaarg too many potential top tenners.

December 28th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

Kimmi I know! I left off some stalwarts like TSonga, MElzer, FErrer, Berdych, DAvy, Nalby, FIsh as well as some potential newbies like DOlglo, de Bakker, etc, and I went with mid-newbies like Delpo, cilic, and gulbis or verdasco. Because of BErdy’s drop after Wimbledon I took him out but he could be there over Monfils. The top ten could stay steady or it could shift, Roger could be number 1 or Rafael could hold firm (I went with the latter but with Anaconne it is possible Fed will rise again). mostly am hoping both MUrray and NOle move up and win big. I’d like to see Delpo back in the top 10 too. Be interested to see how he makes out after such a long layoff. It could take till 2012 for him to make another big splash, or not. He could be in form by the USO which we know he can win!

Excited to see….

December 28th, 2010 at 4:02 pm

1. Nole
2. Rafa
3. Muzza
4. Fed
5. Sod
6. Berdie
7. Monfils
8. Verdasco
9. Roddick

December 28th, 2010 at 4:16 pm

10. ferrer

December 28th, 2010 at 4:17 pm

I agree jane that delpo is the tough one to call. We all know he is done it before but i think we have high hopes for him. at least i do :) he is 258 wow! a lot of mountains to climb.

he is coming back from a very serious injury. it took murray two seasons to get back i think..nadal too! though their injuries were not as serious. i think it will be 2012 for him. go delpo

nalbandian wants to get back to the top 10. he said that in basel i think. I think he can though he is been losing easily to top guys, i dont know why. he playes very well with lower ranked guys and then awful with top guys..

I dont know about your newbies. de bakker, dolgo… gulbis, especially gulbis..hmmm i think its wishful thinking. we will see.

I dont think verdasco will stay in top 1o. he is going down quickly imo. hope he proves me wrong!

December 28th, 2010 at 4:21 pm

I admire the fact that Gregoire Gentil decided to include the women in his voting; but the fact that his WTA list includes no women over 25, except for Clijsters and Henin, is as interesting and as disappointing as Tennis X’s omission of all of the the women.:(

December 28th, 2010 at 6:56 pm

FWIW My WTA list would include “older” ladies like Stosur, Venus, Serena, and Zvonareva!

December 28th, 2010 at 7:01 pm

1. Nadal
2. Murray
3. Djokovic
4. Federer
5. Söderling
6. Baghdatis
7. Monfils
8. Roddick
9. Nalbandian
10. Davydenko

Gregoire, thumbs up for the effort, but in ernest the womens field is just not exciting enough for me at the moment. And furthermore, is the amount of prizemoney actually not so much evidence of that excitement, as it is of a high regard to the more beautiful sex..? I mean, what would the tennisworld be without the turning-fistclench-high-ancle of Ivanovic, the ‘Allez’ of a certain feisty Belgian or the neverfading smile on another Serb. Let all flowers bloom and the brightest ones shine.

December 28th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Roddick
7. Monfils
8. Verdasco
9. Cilic
10.Ferrer

December 28th, 2010 at 7:28 pm

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Robin Soderling
6. Marcos Baghdatis
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Mikhail Youzhny
9. Andy Roddick
10. Gael Monfils

December 28th, 2010 at 7:39 pm

@ allcourt (answer to 6:56pm post): 2 out of 10 is still 20%. You may want to read my various posts for the last three months, the power of women tennis needs to go (and hopefully will go) to the youngers. For a better change. Go Caro, go Victoria!

@ allcourt (answer to 7:01pm post): You are almost there. 6 more names to go! Don’t you think that they deserve it?

@ chico: You still have a few more days to be more excited and give us your list.

@ Kimmi, Kimberly: You’ve had strong opinions about the WTA tour in 2010, it’s time to speak up and give a woman list for 2011!

December 28th, 2010 at 9:01 pm

My WTA list

1. Woz
2. KIm
3. Serena
4. JJ
5. Vera
6. Sharpie
7. He in
8. Venus
9. Vicky
10. Ana
11. Sam or Fran (honorable mentions)

For Gregoire

December 28th, 2010 at 9:27 pm

Oops “he in” should be henin

December 28th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

My wta list

1 clijster
2. Wozniaki
3. Zvinereva
4. Serena
5. Ivanovic
6. Henin
7sharapova
8 stosur
9 Venus
10 azarenka

December 28th, 2010 at 9:41 pm

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Robin Soderling
6. Marcos Baghdatis
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Mikhail Youzhny
9. Andy Roddick
10. Gael Monfils

December 28th, 2010 at 9:44 pm

1. Roger Federer (Wimbledon)
2. Rafael Nadal (French Open)
3. Andy Murray (US Open)
4. Novak Djokovic (Australian Open)
5. Tomas Berdych
6. Andy Roddick
7. Juan Martin Del Potro
8. Robin Soderling
9. Marin Cilic
10. Sam Querry

December 28th, 2010 at 9:48 pm

gregoire:

i watch WTA tour. I love it when they can give us competative matches. like the final of YEC in doha between Kim and caro was great. But it is hard to predict.

IMO..it all depends on serena, will she recover enough to be the serena we know. can hennin play the whole year without injury. Is sharapova getting her form back? what about ivanovic, can she continue her resurgenc? What about safina, JJ, and venus?? So many questions???

here is my wishlist:

1.Clijsters
2.henin
3.Serena
4.Wozniacki
5.Sharapova
6.Ivanovic
7.Kutznetsova /Schiavoni
8.jankovic
9.stosur
10.Kirilenko

I don’t know most of the lower ranked players,eg who is hot in the top 50 for example? who is ready for a breakthru?? but i will be watching. i hope there is a new star in the making to come out next season.

C’mon laura Robson

December 28th, 2010 at 10:28 pm

ATP:

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Roger Federer
4. Robin Soderling
5. Andy Murray
6. Juan Martin Del Potro
7. Mikhail Youzhny
8. Jo Wilfred Tsonga
9. David Nalbandian
10. Fernando Verdasco

WTA:
1. Kim Clijsters
2. Caroline Wozniacki
3. Samantha Stosur
4. Serena Williams
5. Venus Williams
6. Ana Ivanovic
7. Justine Henin
8. Francesca Schiavone
9. Vera Zvonareva
10. Agnieszka Radwanska
10

December 28th, 2010 at 10:49 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Andy Roddick
6. Nikolay Davydenko
7. David Ferrer
8. Marcos Baghdatis
9. Robin Soderling
10. Fernando Verdasco

December 28th, 2010 at 11:48 pm

Oops forgot about KUzy, littler Maria, and yes, go Laura Robson!,,

December 28th, 2010 at 11:52 pm

Oh yes, here is my list for WTA

1. Justine Henin
2. Kim Clisjters
3. Caroline Wozniacki
4. Serena
5. Ana Ivanovic
6. Jelena Jankovic
8. Samanta Stosur
9. Vera Zvenarova
10. Maria Sharapova

December 29th, 2010 at 1:25 am

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Robin Soderling
6. Marcos Baghdatis
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Mikhail Youzhny
9. Andy Roddick
10. Gael Monfils

December 29th, 2010 at 1:30 am

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Robin Soderling
6. Marcos Baghdatis
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Tsonga
9. Andy Roddick
10. Gael Monfils

December 29th, 2010 at 1:36 am

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Roddick
7. Monfils
8. Tsonga
9. Cilic
10.Verdasco

December 29th, 2010 at 1:38 am

OK, I continue my efforts and I will try to give you another reason why it’s much more fun to play with women top-10 than men top-10.

As of now, 74% of the participants have the fab 4 (Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Nadal) in the first 4 positions and 98% (yes 98%!!!) have 3 names out of the fab 4 in the first 4 positions and the last one in position 5.

Tennis-X men top-10 is not any more a top-10 game, it’s more like just guessing the “6 other names”.

On the opposite, playing the women top-10 (if it existed), your chances to win are tenfold because there are fewer posts and it’s much more open.

December 29th, 2010 at 1:51 am

1.Rafa
2.Andy M
3.Novak
4.Rog
5.Gael
6.Tomas
7.Robin
8.Jo-W
9.Stan
10.Juan

1.Caroline
2.Kim
3.Vera
4.Serena
5.Justine
6.Svetlana
7.Maria
8.Sam
9.Ana
10.Agnes

December 29th, 2010 at 4:11 am

1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Đokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Andy Roddick
6. Robin Söderling
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Marin Cilic
9. Juan Martín Del Potro
10. Nikolay Davydenko

December 29th, 2010 at 5:55 am

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Andy Murray
5. Robin Söderling
6. David Ferrer
7. Andy Roddick
8. Tomas Berdych
9. Gaël Monfils
10.John Isner

December 29th, 2010 at 7:38 am

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Roddick
7. Verdasco
8. Tsonga
9. Melzer
10. Monfils

December 29th, 2010 at 9:03 am

1. Federer
2. Rafa
3. Murray
4. Soderling
5. Djokovic
6. Roddick
7. Monfils
8. Ferrer
9. Tsonga
10. Nalbandian

December 29th, 2010 at 9:22 am

Saint_Parrish says:

9. Gaël Monfils

ah, love it. 2 dots above e. thats the way it should be writen. Go la Monf!

December 29th, 2010 at 9:30 am

Women’s tennis hurts my eyes, come on, men’s tennis is so much more interesting right now, if you are a bit talented at tennis yourself it’s quite hard to watch women’s tennis, at least for me. I agree with most, Fed on top, simply because he’ll play better than this year and therefore must be able to get more points. Nadal will drop some.

December 29th, 2010 at 10:00 am

1. nadal
2. federer
3. soderling
4. djokovic
5. murray
6. roddick
7. davydenko
8. verdasco
9. wawrinka
10. juan martin del potro

Agree with your post, Gregoire (1:51 am). Though I dont agree with the concept of equal prize money for men and women at the slams, I also disagree that all women’s matches are boring. The Brisbane and AO finals last year were great, for ex. My list:

1. henin
2. wozniaki
3. clijsters
4. zvonareva
5. serena
6. jankovic
7. sharapova
8. venus
9. azarenka
10. radwanska

December 29th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

Great lists, most all could be correct. I would like to know from everyone who do they think will make the biggest jump and unexpectedly make the top ten?

December 29th, 2010 at 1:01 pm

skeez-wawrinka, he looked good at the end of last year

December 29th, 2010 at 1:17 pm

1. Nadal
2. Djokovic
3. Federer
4. Murray
5. Soderling
6. Monaco
7. Monfils
8. Del Potro
9. Cilic
10. Berdych

December 29th, 2010 at 1:49 pm

1. Rafael Nadal (not as dominant as 2010, loses a match on clay)
2. Roger Federer (stays in the mix at the majors, loses steam in day-to-day)
3. Novak Djokovic (at least one major final, big wins from March – June)
4. Robin Soderling (lots of year-end points, consistent all year)
5. Gael Monfils (at least one major final)
6. Andy Murray (another up and down year, misses significant time)
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (healthy for six whole months and makes rankings hay because of it)
8. Querrey (takes advantage of US Open series points, first Masters title)
9. Almagro (replaces fellow clay dog Ferrer in the top 10)
10. Isner (focuses on hard & grasscourt seasons, starts winning big matches)

December 29th, 2010 at 1:52 pm

1-Federer
2-Nadal
3-Djokovic
4-Murray
5-Soderling
6-Del Potro
7-Roddick
8-Nalbandian
9-Monfils
10-Berdych

A0-Federer def Nadal
RG-Nadal Def Federer
WIM-Federer def Nadal
US-Federer Def Djokovic

December 29th, 2010 at 2:36 pm

1–Federer
2–Nadal
3–Djokovic
4–Murray
5–Soderling
6–Berdych
7–Roddick
8–Monfils
9–Melzer
10-Baghdatis

December 29th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

1) The Apollinian
2) The Dionysian
3) Mr. Personality (and Mum)
4) BirdFlu
5) Monfils
6) Soderling
7) Tsonga
8) delPo
9) Berdych
10) Gulbis

December 29th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

I think Berdych will be hard pressed to make the top ten, but on the other hand I don’t see a lot of strong challengers- I expect Ferrer, Roddick, Davydenko, Baghdatis and Verdasco to begin to decline, and I think its a strong leap of faith for Gulbis, Nalbandian or DelPotro to work their way into enough second weeks… after them, there’s maybe Gasquet, Dologopolov (or whatever his name is), de Bakker, that new Canadian, I forget his name…. but I think these are more realistically shooting for top thirty.
I do think Nadal is due for a slight come down, just in that historically, his body needs breaks here and there, yet another dominant clay run should be all he needs to hold on to AT LEASt #2.
I also think Murray has a higher top end than Djokovic and I think he’ll finally prove that this year.

December 29th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

And for my Apollinian/Dionysian breakdown of Fed/Nadal, please check my article on their Nietzschean dichotomy here:

http://tennisvagabond.com/tennisblog.php/2010/05/28/classic-vagabond-post-revisited-the-apol

December 29th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

Wawrinka might be another good dark horse, and I suppose Cilic could still turn his career around as Monf seems to be doing.

December 29th, 2010 at 3:24 pm

My Picks:

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Roddick
6. Tsonga
7. Davydenko
8. Soderling
9. Ferrer
10. Querrey

Go Sam!

December 29th, 2010 at 3:54 pm

1. Djokovic
2. Federer
3. Nadal
4. Murray
5. Soderling
6. Del Potro
7. Davydenko
8. Tsonga
9. Roddick
10. Cilic

December 29th, 2010 at 4:05 pm

Oki :), G, for your efforts, and for the ladies ofcourse:

1. Wozniacki (will get even more consistent)
2. Henin (finds the groove)
3. Ivanovic (amazing comeback after hooking up with almagro)
4. Zvonareva (pummels on)
5. Jankovic (some regrooving here too)
6. Stosur (steady thumping)
7. Sharapova (wiggles a slam semi-final or two)
8. Venus (now what would kill the old dog)
9. Clijsters (bringing up baby)
10. Serena (been there, done that)

December 29th, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Guys, in four weeks and 3 days we will have an Australian Open Champion. Can’t believe is that close.

December 29th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

when is abu dhabi starts? is it tomorrow?

December 29th, 2010 at 7:10 pm

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Djokovic
4. Soderling
5. Murray
6. Tsonga
7. Verdasco
8. Monfils
9. Fish
10. Cilic

December 29th, 2010 at 8:09 pm

@kimberly

Wawa is a good pick :). It’s gonna be interesting how the American twin towers do this year also….

December 29th, 2010 at 9:14 pm

1.Nadal
2.Federer
3.Murray
4.Djokovic
5.Soderling
6.Roddick
7.Devydenko
8.Verdasco
9.Tsonga
10.Melzer

December 29th, 2010 at 10:09 pm

1.Roger federer
2.Rafael nadal
3.Andy murray
4.Novak Djokovic
5.gael monfils
6.Juan martin del potro
7.david nalbandian
8.nikolay davydenko
9.Andy roddick
10.Robin Soderling

December 29th, 2010 at 10:17 pm

1) nadal
2)djokovic
3)federer
4)murray
5)soderling
6)cilic
7)ferrer
8)davydenko
9)del potro
10)gulbis

December 29th, 2010 at 10:27 pm

Agree with Tennisvagabond @3.30. Perhaps it would be more fun to predict whose gonna break into top 20?
Um, um surely it must be only Americans hoping Isner will make top 10? Surely?

December 30th, 2010 at 2:09 am

ATP:

1.Novak Djokovic
2.Roger federer
3.Juan martin del potro
4.Rafael nadal
5.Andy murray
6.Marin Cilic
7.Gael Monfils
8.Mikhael Youzhny
9.Robin Soderling
10.Andreey Golubev

WTA:
1. Kim Clijsters
2. Caroline Wozniacki
3. Samantha Stosur
4. Aravane Rezai
5. Victoria Azarenka
6. Ana Ivanovic
7. Yanina Wickmayer
8. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
9. Vera Zvonareva
10. Maria Sharapova

Why? well, i am rooting for Federer to take the number one spot for a little bit, which i think he will grasp, but it won’t last. I think Djokovic has played wonderfull this last year and if ever; than 2011. Rafa will suffer from too many points to defend and an injury (just a prediction). I think the young hounds from the eastblock will make their way into the top 10. They are determined, of good age (all around 23)and the current top ten is getting older, so on their way down (sorry A-Rod, i am still rooting for ya though).

Women wise, I am a big Clijsters fan. I think the William sisters are going to fall out of the top 10. They lost their will to play, and just GS’s is not going to work anymore. Age and loss of will equals injuries, as was already visible this year.

on a final note: i am a big fan of Yo-Wilfried Tsonga, but he is so prone to injuries that i have given up:( i thoroughly hope he proves me wrong. Best wishes for ya all and see you next year

December 30th, 2010 at 5:04 am

1. Nadal
2. Verdasco
3. Djokovic
4. Gulbis
5. Golubev
6. Berdych
7. Murray
9. Federer
10. Nalbandian

December 30th, 2010 at 6:56 am

@margot
i’m not american, but then again i’m not exactly hoping isner makes top10, just think he has a good chance. can pick up points at wimbledon surely and some other places.
truth is, he can actually play a bit from the back, much better than karlovic anyway.

December 30th, 2010 at 7:14 am

Federer will most likely not defend his title at OZ so will find it very difficult to make it to No1, he might not even hang on to the No 2 position, and will most likely be out of the top 5.

December 30th, 2010 at 11:52 am

Tennsstar- really? Fed “most likely out of the top 5? ” shame on you.
Is the mubadala exo on the internet live streams?
Berdy beat bagy today.
Considering fed and rafa’s wtf final and the charity matches, the off-season felt extremely short. Considering that they are training a lot, they get almost no downtime. It’s amusing when you stop to think about it. But i wont feel too sorry for them because they make mega-bucks.
I’m shaking in my pants for AO!

December 30th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Not to forget France and Serbia’s exhausting dc finals. Tennis is damn tough, but we tennis fans really appreciate theae guys’ hard work!

December 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm

@ tennsstar: I would like to hear the logic behind your statement. Federer is playing near to his best level during the latest three months of 2010, if he keeps up that level I do not see why he shouldn’t have a chance at keeping the points loss at the AO at the minimum possible – defending his title, that is. Also, he’s got plenty of chances to pick up points in the first eight months of the season.

If there is anyone at risk of not being able to defend that huge bucketload of points he got in 2010, it’s Rafa. But apparently, people seem to think it’s a done-deal already – like going to fetch the prize money before even buying the lottery ticket.
For a guy who seems to be injured so often it’s a pretty presumptious expectation to think he’ll be able to repeat his run in 2011. I have yet to wait and see it happen.

December 30th, 2010 at 2:13 pm

1) Federer
2) Djokovic
3) Nadal
4) Murray
5) Soderling
6) Monfils
7) Davydenko
8) Roddick
9) Nalbandian
10) Baghdatis

December 30th, 2010 at 4:07 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Roger Federer
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Robin Soderling
5. Andy Murray
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
7. Marin Cilic
8. Andy Roddick
9. Gael Monfils
10. Fernando Verdasco

December 30th, 2010 at 6:46 pm

Wertheim’s 2011 tennis predictions, generally speaking:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/12/28/2011.predictions/

December 30th, 2010 at 7:53 pm

1. Federer
2. Djokovic
3. Murray
4. Roddick
5. Nadal
6. Monfils
7. Davydenko
8. Soderling
9. Delpotro
10. Cilic

December 30th, 2010 at 8:25 pm

people seem to think nadal’s huge point lead is somehow a disadvantage because he has ‘so many points to defend’.

except he doesn’t have to defend all those points to stay no.1.

December 30th, 2010 at 8:42 pm

@guy

First of all, best to you in the new year, enjoyed your posts, although I hardly ever agree with them you bring great insight and back it with intelligence.

Re; Rafa doesn’t need to defend points to defend. Care to explain further? I would think 3 GS titles is a “bucketload” to defend, among others……no? If he can’t defend them, his huge lead will deminish quickly, no?

December 30th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

1. Rafa
2. Djokovic
3. Federer
4. Ferrer
5. Soderling
6. Murray
7. Roddick
8. Bagdhatis
9. Monfils
10. Dolgopolov

December 30th, 2010 at 11:11 pm

Ya know it’s amazing th

December 30th, 2010 at 11:54 pm

Like i was sayin……

What was “the tennis story” of 2010?

Some may say Rafa’s 3 slams. I say, that is great. But in a calendar year, it’s been done. So what is better.?

The amazing historical match of Isner/Mahut. A match that lasted 3 amazing days! What can top that?

And posters proclaim there fav is tired, that is why they lost? LOL, drink Isners juice, Coco water and man up.

Out

December 31st, 2010 at 12:00 am

1. Nadal
2. Djokovic
3. Federer
4. Murray
5. Del potro
6. Soderling
7. Berdych
8. Roddick
9. Cilic
10. Verdasco

December 31st, 2010 at 5:25 am

Skeeze, guy is right, Nadal doesn’t need to defend all his points to be Year end N. 1.
Let’s assume Nadal will win RG and at least 2 Masters on clay, that’s a given (4000 pts). Even if he doesn’t defend Wimby or US Open, if we have 4 different Slam Champions, with his consistency it is possible. The same for Fed.
Basically, who ever wins 2 Slams will be almost a lock at Year End N. 1.

December 31st, 2010 at 6:09 am

@tennisvagabond,

I’ve read and appreciated your philosophical approach. It’s quite interesting, although I fail to connect Nadal to music…except when I imagine him playing the most demanding videogame (btw, he is mad about them).

As for the predictions:

1)Nadal
2)Federer
3)Murray
4)Djokovic
5)Berdych
6)Soderling
7)Del Potro
8)Ferrer
9)Tsonga
10)Dolgopolov

Del Potro & Dolgopolov just being a hope of mine.

December 31st, 2010 at 6:15 am

1. Roger Federer!
2. That Nadal guy, you know, the one who beasted out this year?
3. Djokovic
4. The Great Davy!! Yeah he’s got like no points to defend, I dont see why not!
5. Soderling
6. Murray
7. Roddick
8. Monfils
9.DelPo!
10. Almagro. Yeah I just did that.

December 31st, 2010 at 1:03 pm

1.Nadal
2. Djokovic
3.Murray
4. Federer
5. Soderling
6. Tsonga
7. Cilic
8.Berdych
9. Monfils
10. Roddick

December 31st, 2010 at 2:09 pm

1) Federer
2) Ndal
3) Murray
4) Djokovic
5) Soderling
6) Cilic
7) Roddic
8) Tsonga
9) Del Potro
10)Tsonga

January 1st, 2011 at 7:25 am

Not to offend anyone here, but I’ve found a fairly large number of tennis fans seem to have misunderstood the influence of a particular player having points to defend (or not).

When starting a new calendar year, there is absolutely NOTHING negative about a player having a lot of points to defend as relates to how that will potentially impact said player’s year-end ranking. In fact, the only impact can be a positive one, in that it will mean that the player will benefit from a higher seed in each tournament he plays, thus statistically making it more likely that he will advance further in the tournament than were he a lower seed/unseeded and thereby collecting more ranking points.

The only time that having a lot of points to defend can appear to be a negative is when, as the calendar year progresses, a player whose current rolling 12-month ranking points have come primarily from the previous calendar year’s successes will be under considerable pressure to repeat his results from the previous year or risk falling considerably in the ranking.

This might seem quite obvious and I’m really not trying to be patronizing by spelling it out like that…I’ve just noticed how often this particular concept appears to be misinterpreted by tennis fans, here and elsewhere.

January 1st, 2011 at 12:54 pm

1. Rafael Nadal
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Andy Murray
4. Roger Federer
5. Tomas Berdych
6. Robin Soderling
7. Fernando Verdasco
8. Marin Cilic
9. Gael Monfils
10.Ernests Gulbis

January 1st, 2011 at 8:57 pm

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Murray
4. Djokovic
5. Soderling
6. Ferrer
7. Verdasco
8. Berdych
9. Tsonga
10. Monfils

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:00 am

The Wisdom of Crowds ?

I put the contest entry details into a little spreadsheet with logic that awarded ten points for a predicted number one, down to one point for a predicted year end number ten. There were 81 entries that made sense, and between them they contained 32 different names. Here they are in points order:

1. Nadal 755
2. Federer 728
3. Djokovic 638
4. Murray 582
5. Soderling 421
6. Roddick 233
7. del Potro 174
8. Monfils 155
9. Verdasco 120
10. Berdych 104
11. Cilic 95
12. Davydenko 92
13. Tsonga 77
14. Ferrer 65
15. Baghdatis 37
16. Nalbandian 30
17. Youzhny 20
18. Gulbis 16
19. Dolgopolov 14
20. Melzer 14
21. Wawrinka 9
22. Troicki 7
23. Golubev 7
24. Fish 7
25. Querrey 6
26. Almagro 5
27. Isner 5
28. Monaco 5
29. Simon 3
30. Gonzalez 2
31. Bellucci 2
32. De Bakker 1

This list looks like a plausible year end top 32, which perhaps supports the theory of The Wisdom of Crowds. (However I’ve not bothered looking for any glaring omissions, and my copying of the information into the spreadsheet is not guaranteed to be accurate.)

January 2nd, 2011 at 12:49 pm

intersting lists…

love where “tennisstar” has gulbis! :)

Lloyd Walters….i think the list is fairly realistic. but delpo making the top 10?

would love it but … he has a long way to go. i’ll be content if top 20

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:35 pm

interesting… not intersting…

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:35 pm

1. Nadal
2. Federer
3. Murray
4. Djokovic
5. Soderling
6. Ferrer
7. Berdych
8. Verdasco
9. Tsonga
10.Roddick

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:26 am

1) Federer
2) Nadal
3) Murray
4) Djokovic
5) Soderling
6) Cilic
7) Roddick
8) Tsonga
9) Del Potro
10)Berdych

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:04 am

M. Swanquis- no need to worry about offending, i think where there is something to learn most will take it. i am not sure that i am finding that in your post, though.

i was interested in hearing how the points to defend talk is not quite accurate, but you lost me about a third of the way through. first of all, if all of this is related to a certain mallorcan tennis player, then the seeding point is a bit irrelevant. rafael nadal will be #3/4 at the lowest i imagine for the next couple years (barring injury of course). this year, that is no issue.

“The only time that having a lot of points to defend can appear to be a negative is when…a player whose current rolling 12-month ranking points have come primarily from the previous calendar year’s successes will be under considerable pressure to repeat his results from the previous year or risk falling considerably in the ranking.”
I believe this is precisely the situation that most people are talking about.
sure, it would have to be a pretty steep drop off for someone else to take the #1 spot from him, but every week he plays after say… may or so he is working to match the extreme success of the previous year. if he doesn’t, then last year’s points will drop off that week and be replaced with this years’. if he keeps winning, no problem. but if he goes through a bad spell and is losing 100, 250, 500, dare i say 1,000 points here and there, it will add up.
when you look at that scenario next to someone who is close to his numbers and IMPROVING, then things can get a bit hairy.
i do agree, we may have to put the brakes on that talk a bit because rafa would have to play really poorly and someone else play out of this world, but nadal does have more “opportunities” to lose massive points compared to some others.
but on the (or not) portion at beginning of your post, could you clarify a bit? i think everyone, including players, talks about the obvious advantage of a previous year’s poor performance in a particular event as an opportunity to only improve rankings points. is that less valid of a point at all in your reasoning? or is that common thought flawed enough for further explanation?
im getting into the numbers of it all a lot this year, so interested in hearing your answers.
L. Walters, thats nice math. can’t wait to look at it at years end.

January 4th, 2011 at 12:51 am

Dari,
All ranking points are for 12 months. So 2010’s year-end points would all have expired by 2011 year-end. In other words , the year end ranking for 2011 would depend entirely on points earned in 2011 so talk of what they earned in 2010 is irrelevant for 2011 year-end ranking.

January 4th, 2011 at 12:45 pm

Ok, conquering, i got that part…

January 4th, 2011 at 3:34 pm

Dari,
What did you mean by ‘conquering’ ?

January 4th, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Dari, apologies if my explanation was convoluted, but just to be sure we’re on the same page: I was only addressing the very specific “points to defend” discussions taking place during the off-season. Of course there is nothing illogical about speaking of a player, midway or so into the season, whose ranking status is benefiting primarily from points earned late in the previous calendar year being in danger due to a high number of points to defend. But as Vijay pointed out, no matter how you cut it, whether speaking about Rafael Nadal or Simone Bolleli, the relevance of any and all points earned in 2010 as relates to the YEAR-END 2011 ranking in nil.

And for the record, I think I was actually responding more to someone saying that Davydenko would benefit from having no points to defend–no Rafa reference whatsoever. So what I was saying about the only potential impact when predicting the season to come for a player with significant points to defend being a positive one can actually be better understood if one looks a bit lower down in the rankings, to a Llodra or Gulbis who will now likely enter many tournaments seeded for a good portion of the year due to their 2010 success and therefore are statistically more likely to have a better relative performance (and therefore collect more 2011 ranking points) in these events than another player who might enter these same tournaments unseeded and potentially face one of the higher seeds in the earlier rounds.

Hopefully that clears it up a bit? I’m sadly incapable of writing about such topics without getting a bit convoluted, but if you limit the debate to the off-season discussions I think it might make more sense to you.

January 4th, 2011 at 7:09 pm