2024 ATP Most Improved Player - Poll

Most improved ATP player of 2024?

  • Draper

  • Machac

  • Mpetshi Perricard

  • Tabilo

  • Popyrin

  • Fils

  • Other? (post who you think)

Results are only viewable after voting.
Aussie Darcy

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
ATP have announced their list for the vote of most improved player of 2024. I'm really curious to see what fellow TTW posters think about this one. I'm quite shocked by some of the nominees and those they omitted. It's a juicy category, especially since last years winner of this award was our now #1 Jannik Sinner! Could be potential for the winner here!

As mentioned, each year the ATP has a shortlist of players nominated for most improved players. This year it was the following 4 players and they were:

Jack Draper - 22 years old
One slam SF
One Masters QF
2 titles (1 ATP 500, 1 ATP 250)
Career high of #15
4 top 10 wins

Tomas Machac - 24 years old
One slam 4R
One Masters SF
0 titles
Career high of #25
4 top 10 wins

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard - 21 years old
One slam 4R
Only played 2 Masters losing 1R both times
2 titles (1 ATP 500, 1 ATP 250)
Career high of #30
0 top 10 wins

Alejandro Tabilo - 27 years old
One slam 3R
One Masters SF
2 titles
Career high of #19
1 top 10 win


Personally, i'm quite surprised that Alexei Popyrin wasn't nominated - 25 years old
One slam 4R
Won a Masters tournament!
1 title
Career high of #23
6 top 10 wins

Also, Arthur Fils - 20 years old
One slam 4R
2 titles (Both 500's)
Career high of #20
3 top 10 wins

Do you have someone else you think should've been nominated instead or in addition to the 4 guys the ATP listed?
 
Yes, Popyrin should probably replace Tabilo. For me, it is a toss-up between GMP and Popyrin.
 
Aabye5 said:
Yes, Popyrin should probably replace Tabilo. For me, it is a toss-up between GMP and Popyrin.
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Curious for what makes Mpetshi Perricard so good?

Two 500 titles yes but as stated, not a single top 10 win all year. Didn't win one match at a Masters tournament this year.
Popyrin landed 6 top 10 wins along with a Masters win.

I'd go Draper and even Machac over Mpetshi Perricard personally.
 
For me is still Sinner, 2023 from "promising" to "good", 2024 from "good" to "world beater"
From the list... Draper seems the next big thing... we will see
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Curious for what makes Mpetshi Perricard so good?

Two 500 titles yes but as stated, not a single top 10 win all year. Didn't win one match at a Masters tournament this year.
Popyrin landed 6 top 10 wins along with a Masters win.

I'd go Draper and even Machac over Mpetshi Perricard personally.
Click to expand...

Draper just continued an upward trajectory. He started the year at #61, but he only played 19 tournaments last year and ended 2022 at #43.

Machac is more interesting, but his name came up in the challengers quite a bit, and he's along the lines of Hurkacz. Not a lot of WC opportunities, but once doors began to open he was poised to walk right through.

GMP, on the other hand, was more of a rumor. A big, tall kid with a huge serve. Started the year playing challengers, but he went through the draw in Basel with such aplomb. His win in Lyon [a 250, not a 500] was on clay, no less, which also adds an interesting spin.

As far as "no top 10 wins", this is why I shrug when people post statistics on this board. I've been working with stats long enough to know that the truth is often buried in the details. He only played one top 10 player -- Alcaraz. He did play three top 20 players, though, and beat them all.
 
Of this group, it’s Draper. He played well against Sinner.

Including all, I’d say it’s Sinner. He went from a very good player in 2023 to a great player in 2024. I’d compare that jump to Djoker’s 2011 season. Djoker from 2010-2011 jumped from a 7.9 to a 9.9. Sinner from 2023-2024 jumped from a 7.5 to a 9.5
 
NYTennisfan said:
I voted Draper but I think the most improved isn't in this poll, Fritz. Musetti is another solid choice.
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Aabye5 said:
Fritz is a good choice.

Not sure about Musetti. He just seems cyclical. I always have a feeling of déjà vu when watching him play.
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Wasn’t Fritz a Masters champ 2 years ago though? That’s not exactly most improved. It would be like rewarding Serena Williams with most improved player of the year after she stepped away from tour to give birth to Olympia and then made 2 slam finals. If you’ve already established yourself as a decent player, you can’t be most improved (in my opinion).
 
Pheasant said:
Of this group, it’s Draper. He played well against Sinner.

Including all, I’d say it’s Sinner. He went from a very good player in 2023 to a great player in 2024. I’d compare that jump to Djoker’s 2011 season. Djoker from 2010-2011 jumped from a 7.9 to a 9.9. Sinner from 2023-2024 jumped from a 7.5 to a 9.5
Click to expand...
Again, Sinner won this title last year. How could he win it again this year? Cause he went from 1 Masters to 2 slams and 3 Masters?So next year if he wins 3 slams and 4 Masters he should get it again? And in 2026 if he wins 4 slams he gets it again?

I think it’s more about the lower ranked guys who jump up the rankings and accomplish big things out of nowhere. Sinner went from what like #5 at the end of last year to #1? I think these guys jumped up higher.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Wasn’t Fritz a Masters champ 2 years ago though? That’s not exactly most improved. It would be like rewarding Serena Williams with most improved player of the year after she stepped away from tour to give birth to Olympia and then made 2 slam finals. If you’ve already established yourself as a decent player, you can’t be most improved (in my opinion).
Click to expand...
Fritz absolutely had lots of improvement to be made in his game and he clearly took a pretty strong step forward this season. He made two Slam QFs TOTAL before this season and he's been on tour for a long time, this season alone he made 3 on all 3 surfaces including a finals at the USO. It was a big leap for him to be in that huge cluster of 3rd tier players to being a legit 2nd tier player and arguably the 5th best player in the world now.
I don't get the Serena analogy at all tbh, that's comeback player of the year after giving birth not most improved.

I guess we have different definitions of improvement. I don't think improvement should just be reserved for players that came out of nowhere to show up on the scene like Perricard for instance.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Again, Sinner won this title last year. How could he win it again this year? Cause he went from 1 Masters to 2 slams and 3 Masters?So next year if he wins 3 slams and 4 Masters he should get it again? And in 2026 if he wins 4 slams he gets it again?

I think it’s more about the lower ranked guys who jump up the rankings and accomplish big things out of nowhere. Sinner went from what like #5 at the end of last year to #1? I think these guys jumped up higher.
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Got it. That's fair.

I'm sticking with Jack Draper. I was really impressed with his play at Cinci and especially at the USO. He seemed to jump about 2-3 levels. I really hope that he can be in a couple of slam semis this year while beating some big names.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Wasn’t Fritz a Masters champ 2 years ago though? That’s not exactly most improved. It would be like rewarding Serena Williams with most improved player of the year after she stepped away from tour to give birth to Olympia and then made 2 slam finals. If you’ve already established yourself as a decent player, you can’t be most improved (in my opinion).
Click to expand...

Putting Taylor Fritz and Serena Williams in the same paragraph is mind-boggling.

You could put him in the Draper box, saying it's just another step in an upward trajectory. I think the consistency he showed this year was at a different level than what he has shown previously.
 
NYTennisfan said:
Fritz absolutely had lots of improvement to be had in his game and he clearly took a pretty strong step forward this season. He made two Slam QFs TOTAL before this season, this season alone he made 3 on all 3 surfaces including a finals at the USO. It was a big leap for him to be in that huge cluster of 3rd tier players to being a legit 2nd tier player and arguably the 5th best player in the world now.

I guess we have different definitions of improvement. I don't think improvement should just be reserved for players that came out of nowhere to show up on the scene like Perricard for instance.
Click to expand...
Fritz was a Masters champ previously, a feat he didn’t repeat in 2024. He won two 250 tournaments. He started the year at #10 and finished at #4.

That’s not most improved to me. The guy won a Masters beating Nadal in the final in 2022. He wins 2 250’s this year? Where’s the 500? Where’s the masters? Where’s the slam?

Have a look at what Popyrin did in comparison, out of nowhere he wins a Masters title with 3 or was it 4 top 10 wins? He beats Djokovic at the US Open. Beats Medvedev at a Masters to finish the year. I’d take that for most improved.

I’ll have to find what Popy started the year at but I’m sure it’s more than 6 spots as per Fritz.
 
Aabye5 said:
Putting Taylor Fritz and Serena Williams in the same paragraph is mind-boggling.

You could put him in the Draper box, saying it's just another step in an upward trajectory. I think the consistency he showed this year was at a different level than what he has shown previously.
Click to expand...
Point was, he had an amazing 2022 with a Masters, 2023 was ok, 2024 was also ok. Yes a slam final and ATP Finals final but at the end of the day walks away in his trophy cabinet with just two 250’s champ trophies. An established player with no Masters.

Popyrin who was not at all established however wins a Masters, crushes Djokovic at the US Open and does more elsewhere? That’s more improved to me. Draper too.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Fritz was a Masters champ previously, a feat he didn’t repeat in 2024. He won two 250 tournaments. He started the year at #10 and finished at #4.

That’s not most improved to me. The guy won a Masters beating Nadal in the final in 2022. He wins 2 250’s this year?

Have a look at what Popyrin did in comparison, out of nowhere he wins a Masters title with 3 or was it 4 top 10 wins? He beats Djokovic at the US Open. Beats Medvedev at a Masters to finish the year. I’d take that.
Click to expand...
I think you put more stock into masters performances than I do, best of 3 tournaments where guys pull out all the time and random things tend to happen in best of 3's carry far less weight for me.
Sure they count for something but I personally put a ton of weight in slams results and Fritz improved immensely at the slams this season. I can't think of any player that made a bigger jump tbh. Perricard could quality I suppose because he literally came out of nowhere but quality young player do that all the time. I think improving from being the #10 player (and a pretty weak #10 tbh) to being a top 5 player in the world is more difficult IMO.
 
NYTennisfan said:
I think you put more stock into masters performances than I do, best of 3 tournaments where guys pull out all the time and random things tend to happen in best of 3's carry far less weight for me.
Sure they count for something but I personally put a ton of weight in slams results and Fritz improved immensely at the slams this season. I can't think of any player that made a bigger jump tbh. Perricard could quality I suppose because he literally came out of nowhere but quality young player do that all the time. I think improving from being the #10 player (and a pretty weak #10 tbh) to being a top 5 player in the world is more difficult IMO.
Click to expand...
In that case I’d nominate Musetti who made a slam SF and also won an Olympic Bronze medal. He even beat Fritz at Wimbledon to make the SF!! Seems good to me.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Point was, he had an amazing 2022 with a Masters, 2023 was ok, 2024 was also ok. Yes a slam final and ATP Finals final but at the end of the day walks away in his trophy cabinet with two 250’s. An established player.

Popyrin who was not at all established however wins a Masters, crushes Djokovic at the US Open and does more elsewhere? That’s more improved to me. Draper too.
Click to expand...

First, a Slam final is not "ok". The big 3 have completely warped standards.

Agreed on Popyrin. That's why I was torn between him and GMP.

Draper and Fritz are pretty close in my book. They deserve to be in the conversation, but these were pretty logical next steps. Sinner even moreso in that regard. So, for example, I would expect Draper to consolidate his top 20 standing next year or break into the top 10. That's improvement.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
In that case I’d nominate Musetti who made a slam SF and also won an Olympic Bronze medal. He even beat Fritz at Wimbledon to make the SF!! Seems good to me.
Click to expand...
I know you're being sarcastic and not acknowledging my points but Musetti was improved as well so he deserved a mention. Like I said before, Draper is a good choice as well, Popyrin, Perricard. I just don't think anybody improved as much as Fritz.

Again, in his 9th year on tour he made two total Slam Quarters in his first 8 years, made 3 this season alone on all 3 surfaces including a Finals. Hell, he only even made a 4th round three times in his first 8 years. He was a very "mid" player prior to this season despite the #10 ranking and now became a legit threat to go deep in every slam this season. That's a big improvement IMO.
 
NYTennisfan said:
I know you're being sarcastic and not acknowledging my points but Musetti was improved as well so he deserved a mention. Like I said before, Draper is a good choice as well, Popyrin, Perricard. I just don't think anybody improved as much as Fritz.

Again, in his 9th year on tour he made two total Slam Quarters in his first 8 years, made 3 this season alone on all 3 surfaces including a Finals. Hell, he only even made a 4th round three times in his first 8 years. He was a very "mid" player prior to this season despite the #10 ranking and now became a legit threat to go deep in every slam this season. That's a big improvement IMO.
Click to expand...

In fairness, Fritz was tapped to be major contender a long time ago. He's slowly been inching closer. A #9 ranking, a #10 ranking, and now a #4 ranking.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Curious for what makes Mpetshi Perricard so good?

Two 500 titles yes but as stated, not a single top 10 win all year. Didn't win one match at a Masters tournament this year.
Popyrin landed 6 top 10 wins along with a Masters win.

I'd go Draper and even Machac over Mpetshi Perricard personally.
Click to expand...
Giovanni started the year at #117 and rose to #31 (86 spot difference) with those two 500 level wins.

Popyrin started the year at #40 and rose to #24 (16 spot difference).

Draper started the year at #62 and rose to #15 (47 spot difference).

Machac started the year at #78 and rose to #25 (53 spot difference)

I think a lot of it comes down to what you find more impressive. GMP rose from solidly outside the top 100 to in the seed range for Majors with two great titles. Popyrin, Draper, and Machac are all currently better players that GMP and rose to heights this year that he hasn't yet reached. But GMP had the biggest move up the rankings of the four.
 
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Aussie Darcy said:
Sinner won the title last year... you can't win most improved two years in a row that makes 0 sense.
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Aussie Darcy said:
And so if he wins 3 slams and 4 1000's in 2025 he would deserve it next year too?

The category is more about most improved from out of relative nowhere.
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It really isn't most improved out of relative nowhere. It's just most improved. If someone goes 1000 -25 that's huge. If they go 25-1 in the next year they can't have the trophy again? Daft.

That said, probs Draper for me.
 
Aabye5 said:
In fairness, Fritz was tapped to be major contender a long time ago. He's slowly been inching closer. A #9 ranking, a #10 ranking, and now a #4 ranking.
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He was slowly inching closer for years and was in danger of getting lost in the shuffle (like a Tiafoe for instance) but he took a much bigger jump this season and became a top player. 10 up to 4 is a much bigger jump than, say, 25 to 10 or something. Breaking into the top 4 is exceptionally difficult.
 
D-Lite said:
Draper - GS SF. Next question.
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Debatable. If I were a tennis player, I think would rather win a Masters1000 (with 4 top-20 wins) and beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam.
A Slam semifinal is prestigious but if then you never win anything later, it'll be quickly forgotten. A win in a Masters is big too. Very few players can achieve that.
I understand people who pick Draper but Popyrin impressed me more. That beatdown against Rublev in the final, that was something.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Curious for what makes Mpetshi Perricard so good?

Two 500 titles yes but as stated, not a single top 10 win all year. Didn't win one match at a Masters tournament this year.
Popyrin landed 6 top 10 wins along with a Masters win.

I'd go Draper and even Machac over Mpetshi Perricard personally.
Click to expand...
GMP rose from #205 to #31
 
Im(moral) Winner said:
GMP rose from #205 to #31
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Draper clearly had the best year out of all the official candidates, but "best year" does not necessarily equate to "most improved." We have to consider the upward distance traveled as well.

But there's a further complication, which is that progress is not linear. As already observed in this thread, the "last miles"to the top are the toughest. Zooming up from nowheresville to middling level can be flashy, but it's a trip that every good player has made at some point.
 
A couple of good players had their moments but I am going with Draper. He has shown me some good potential and hopefully he builds on it. He is fun to watch.
 
Novak Djokovic:cool:

From Gold-less to becoming the Mightiest Golden Warrior of the Universe.

images
 
NYTennisfan said:
He was slowly inching closer for years and was in danger of getting lost in the shuffle (like a Tiafoe for instance) but he took a much bigger jump this season and became a top player. 10 up to 4 is a much bigger jump than, say, 25 to 10 or something. Breaking into the top 4 is exceptionally difficult.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. It really depends on who is above you.

At the end of 2023, Tsitsipas, Rune, Rublev, Hurkacz and Zverev were between Fritz and Sinner. Three of those players saw injuries/drops in form. Fritz did play better than previous years, but the top 10 also shifted pretty dramatically.
 
Agree that Popyrin should have been shortlisted, but as long as Draper actually wins it they will have chosen the correct name imo.

Draper was obviously already a very established player but the sheer amount of progress he has made at the top of the game this year gets him the nod for me.

Sometimes it seems like the shortlisting is not just about the amount of progress, but the relative obscurity of the player, and sometimes they like to do the complete opposite and highlight players who already have a big profile but take an additional leap (Ie Sinner).
 
GRASScaraz said:
Jakub Mensik
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Jakob Mensik is a baby. He is so mature but he is not even in his 20s yet. He is more likely to get shortlisted for the newcomer award.

Most improved seems to be for players who have been around just a little bit longer and are at least in their 20s.

Mensik is such a freak that he might just skip the whole Newcomer / Most improved thing and just win a major instead o_O
 
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