Interesting Stat on the WTF - no one has ever won it who had a career high of lower than number 3

[timnz]

Since the WTF started in 1970, no man has won it who has had a career high ATP ranking lower than number 3. Will this year change that? As at the time of writing the possible winners of the 2017 WTF are:

Federer (Career High 1)
Sock (Career High 9 but probably will be higher after this tournament)
Dimitrov (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Theim (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Carreño Busta (Career High 10 but possibly higher after this tournament)
Goffin (Career High ?? but possibly higher after this tournament)

What do you think - will someone other than Federer win but not reach at least number 3 in their career?

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Goffin's career high is 8.

 

[timnz]

Goffin's career high is 8.

Okay thanks. Can he win it this year and can be reach a career high of at least 3? I doubt both I am sorry to say. He might touch top 5 in this career at his very peak though.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Only the best of the best....

 

[PMChambers]

Safely write off Thiem, he'll get to 2 or 3 just through grinding points out and with Rafa gone expect few Masters and maybe FO.

 

[Red Rick]

Since the WTF started in 1970, no man has won it who has had a career high ATP ranking lower than number 3. Will this year change that? As at the time of writing the possible winners of the 2017 WTF are:

Federer (Career High 1)
Sock (Career High 9 but probably will be higher after this tournament)
Dimitrov (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Theim (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Carreño Busta (Career High 10 but possibly higher after this tournament)
Goffin (Career High ?? but possibly higher after this tournament)

What do you think - will someone other than Federer win but not reach at least number 3 in their career?

Dimitrov can't win without getting no 3. Same for Thiem.

 

[timnz]

Dimitrov can't win without getting no 3. Same for Thiem.

Dimitrov can be number 3 just by being runner-up.

 

[buscemi]

Since the WTF started in 1970, no man has won it who has had a career high ATP ranking lower than number 3. Will this year change that? As at the time of writing the possible winners of the 2017 WTF are:

Federer (Career High 1)
Sock (Career High 9 but probably will be higher after this tournament)
Dimitrov (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Theim (possibly will be number 4 after this tournament)
Carreño Busta (Career High 10 but possibly higher after this tournament)
Goffin (Career High ?? but possibly higher after this tournament)

What do you think - will someone other than Federer win but not reach at least number 3 in their career?

And outside Nalbandian and Davydenko, every winner has reached at least #2, right?

 

[Red Rick]

In fact, if either of them are runner up then they will be YE#3.

Dimitrov can lose to the Busta and beat Sock and then be 160 points short, but it seems incredibly unlikely

 

[timnz]

And outside Nalbandian and Davydenko, every winner has reached at least #2, right?

1970 WTF winner Stan Smith's ATP rank high was 3 (though he is regarded as number 1 for 1972 in some quarters).

 

[wangs78]

This is why the WTF deserves more credit than it gets (from some of the TT trolls). You can’t play yourself into form the way a top seed can against low ranked players at the Slams. To win the WTF you have to win at least 4 matches, all against very good players and you do this after a long season where you have to rely on your talent and not as much on your body which is most likely spent to some degree compared to earlier in the year.

 

[buscemi]

1970 WTF winner Stan Smith's ATP rank high was 3 (though he is regarded as number 1 for 1972 in some quarters).

And he was also probably #1 or #2 in 1971.

 

[timnz]

And he was also probably #1 or #2 in 1971.

Indeed!

 

[timnz]

This is why the WTF deserves more credit than it gets (from some of the TT trolls). You can’t play yourself into form the way a top seed can against low ranked players at the Slams. To win the WTF you have to win at least 4 matches, all against very good players and you do this after a long season where you have to rely on your talent and not as much on your body which is most likely spent to some degree compared to earlier in the year.

I think it is the toughest tournament to win in some ways. You can win a slam (as per US Open this year (though not taking anything at all away from Nadal's win)) not even facing a top 20 player. Here it is top 8 and only top 8 (or 9 if a top 8 player is injured), every match. No draw will ever make it easier than that for you.