Comments on Men and Women Rankings

Written by: Staff on 17th February 2013

Comments on Men and Women Rankings

epa03586970 Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina returns the ball to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov during their semi final match of the ATP ABN AMRO tennis tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 16 February 2013. EPA/KOEN SUYK |

Men

Because Memphis is a big event with a small event field, it can make a big difference to a lot of players. Jurgen Melzer won it last year; the finalist was Milos Raonic, and Radek Stepanek and Benjamin Becker were semifinalists. Juan Martin del Potro won Marseille, over Michael Llodra, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Janko Tipsarevic semifinalists. David Ferrer won Buenos Aires, over Nicolas Almagro, and David Nalbandian and Stanislas Wawrinka were semifinalists.

Which means, once again, no movement at the top. The Top Five will be unchanged. In fact, it is likely the Top Ten will be unchanged; the guys from #6 to #10 may see their totals shift a little bit, but they’re far enough apart that they can’t change positions.

The one just-maybe exception is at #10. Richard Gasquet has about a 350 point lead on Marin Cilic, so Cilic might be able to hit the Top Ten with a Memphis title.

Milos Raonic again risks falling out of the Top Fifteen. Indeed, his Top Twenty ranking is in some very slight danger.

Jurgen Melzer could fall to around #50. Radek Stepanek appears to be headed for a ranking around #40. Benjamin Becker has more than a third of his points on the line and could end up below the Top Hundred. Michael Llodra might end up around #65.

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Women

There were three events at this time last year also, but they weren’t the same three. Dubai and Memphis were in this slot, but the third event was Monterrey. The Dubai title went to Agnieszka Radwanska. Julia Goerges was the finalist, and Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic semifinalists. (Note that Jankovic isn’t back; she went for the cheap points at Bogota.) Sofia Arvidsson won Memphis, over Marina Erakovic, with Vera Dushevina and Alberta Brianti semifinalists (neither one ranked high enough for direct entry this year). Timea Babos won Monterrey, over Alexandra Cadantu (and what have we heard from either of them lately?), with Greta Arn and Sara Errani semifinalists.

It’s too soon to know if there will be a contest for #1. If Victoria Azarenka wins Doha, she will still be fairly close to Serena Williams. But if Serena wins Doha, then Azarenka has no chance.

Sharapova will stay #3, and Agnieszka Radwanska will certainly keep the #4 spot even if she loses early. Li Na will stay at #5. In fact, it appears the first spot that is in play is Samantha Stosur’s #9 spot; Caroline Wozniacki will have a faint chance for it. It doesn’t look as if we will have any new names in the Top Ten.

Julia Goerges will almost certainly have to defend to stay Top Twenty; an early loss could leave her around #25. Jelena Jankovic could lose her Top 25 spot. Sofia Arvidsson could end up around #50. Dushevina, Brianti, Babos, Cadantu, and Arn are all ranked below #75, and Erakovic only slightly above, so they will all likely fall very hard.

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