Kohlschreiber ranking consistency

I just noticed that Kohlschreiber has finished no higher than #20 and no lower than #43 in each of the last 12 years. Bearing in mind that ranking fluctuations tend to be far greater outside the top few players because the gaps are smaller, this is an extraordinary feat of consistency. (He's currently only #51 in the race, so might well break the streak in 2019, but he is now 35).

This must be up there with Berdych finishing either #6 or #7 for six straight years in terms of consistency.

Yes, Kohli has been consistently around #30 in the world for 12 years. He did this by not usually losing to guys he should beat and folding whenever he met one of the big 4. His game is beautiful and I wish he had a little more stability between his ears, but I'll miss watching him when he is gone from tennis.

He's super solid, and that's usually not enough to take out the top players.

helterskelter said:

I just noticed that Kohlschreiber has finished no higher than #20 and no lower than #43 in each of the last 12 years. Bearing in mind that ranking fluctuations tend to be far greater outside the top few players because the gaps are smaller, this is an extraordinary feat of consistency. (He's currently only #51 in the race, so might well break the streak in 2019, but he is now 35).

This must be up there with Berdych finishing either #6 or #7 for six straight years in terms of consistency.

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Phil is one of my favorites, akin to Ferrer. Just that journeyman player that goes about his business and consistenly keeps his level up.

Made it a point to follow him in cincy last year. His game live is nicer in person.


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He knows his place and stays there. Pays his bills, so why bother.

He has 12 million reasons he aimed for consistency over his tennis career. Smart play.

guy can do it all, except i suppose break into top 20. seriously though always had a ton of respect for his game, one of the more talented 'journeymen' out there imo. 2 inches taller and a little more power, could have been a top tier player.

I watched him live on one of the smaller venues at the 2008 FO. He was playing Wawrinka, who at the time was a few years away from breaking through and becoming a bigger name. They had similar ranking at the time.

What struck me at the time was that Kohlschreiber seemed to take huge cuts at every ball, but his shots didn’t have much heaviness, suggesting he was using a much lighter swingweight racquet in comparison to Wawrinka. Wawrinka’s shots were thunderous in comparison, even though it appeared from my courtside vantage point that he was swinging slower.

Wawrinka overpowered him in that match, despite looking more slow-footed of the two players and quite clumsy on net approaches. Wawrinka’s ranking kept climbing after that, while Kohli’s stayed constant, as if he had already reached his ceiling.

To illustrate Kohlschreiber's consistency in the rankings, let's compare him to Fernando Verdasco. Now, while Verdasco is famous for his inconsistency, his rankings have actually been relatively stable across year-ends: he's been in the top 50 for 15 straight years (every year since 2004), and unlike Kohlschreiber, he is on course for another year in the top 50 in 2019, standing at #34 in the race. Verdasco is also a good point of comparison because he's a near contemporary of Kohlschreiber: Verdasco was born on 11 November 1983, Kohlschreiber on 16 October 1983. Both have been consistent, but Kohlschreiber more so.

Number of years in a row in top 50: Verdasco 15 (starting 2004), Kohlschreiber 12 (starting 2007).
Highest ranking: Verdasco: #7, Kohlschreiber #16.
Highest year-end ranking: Verdasco #9, Kohlschreiber #20.
Lowest year-end ranking since start of Kohlschreiber's streak: Verdasco #49, Kohlschreiber #43.
Number of year-ends in top 20: Verdasco 3, Kohlschreiber 1.
Number of year-ends ranked 21-30: Verdasco 5, Kohlschreiber 5.
Number of year-ends ranked 31-40: Verdasco 5, Kohlschreiber 5. [N.B. Three of Verdasco's finishes in this range were the three before Kohlschreiber broke into the top 50: Verdasco's year-end ranking was 36, 32, and then 35 in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively].
Number of year-ends ranked 41-50: Verdasco 2, Kohlschreiber 1.

I reckon cabbage has something to do with it.