RICKY DIMON’S TOP 10 AMERICAN MEN AT THE END OF 2015: ISNER ON TOP YET AGAIN

Written by: Staff on 2nd January 2015

RICKY DIMON'S TOP 10 AMERICAN MEN AT THE END OF 2015: ISNER ON TOP YET AGAIN

epa04459633 USA's Donald Young reacts during his round of sixteen match against Canada's Milos Raonic at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 23 October 2014. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Attempting to rank the year-end top 10 players from any country is a virtually impossible task–unless you do it in, say, something like September, October, or November.

It’s even more difficult in the case of the United States. Unlike Spain or France, both of which have a bevy of top-50 talents who consistently live up to or at least come close to meeting expectations, the USA contingent is unpredictable–and that’s putting it nicely. There’s John Isner and…well…then there’s everyone else. Who knows how they will file in behind the big man?

Here goes a shot in the dark:

1. John Isner

2. Sam Querrey

3. Jack Sock

4. Steve Johnson

5. Donald Young

6. Tim Smyczek

7. Ryan Harrison

8. Denis Kudla

9. Jarmere Jenkins

10. Jared Donaldson

John Isner of the USA celebrates after beating Tommy Robredo of Spain in their men’s second round match of the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 01 October 2014. EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA

Isner is once again the no-brainer choice to finish as the top-raked American. Only if his partnership with new coach Justin Gimelstob turns out to be a disaster of Hindenburgian proportions (it’s possible) will Isner be surpassed by a countryman while failing to climb from his current ranking of No. 19 in the world.

I was tempted to put a steadily-improving Sock at No. 2, but the fact that he is out until February with a hip injury is too scary. As such, another one-two punch of Isner and Querrey is the safe–and smart–move. Johnson, Young, and Smyczek have all become solid performers who should maintain their spots at the very worst, but are more likely to improve. Look for Harrison to recapture some desire and, if he can stay healthy, return to the top 100.

As for Donaldson, the future may not necessarily be now–but it is imminent enough that the 18-year-old should be able soar past fellow Americans like Bradley Klahn, Austin Krajieck, Wayne Odesnik, and Alex Kuznetsov.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

10sballs editors note : We pick Donald Young on top. And we would put Jack Sock way lower because of his recent surgery.

Topics: American Tennis, Denis Kudla, Donald Young, jack sock, Jared Donaldson, Jarmere Jenkins, John Isner, Ricky Dimon, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, Tennis, Tim Smyczek, top 10

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10sBalls_com says:

January 2, 2015 at 10:36 am

-@Dimonator’s #TOP10 AMERICAN MEN AT THE END OF 2015: @JohnIsner ON TOP YET AGAIN- http://t.co/xs2MtnPxT4 @DonaldYoungUSA #tennis #ATP