Project Your Top 8 for 2021: ATP (and if interested, WTA)

[RaulRamirez]

If this has already been done, I apologize, but even if it was, here's a chance to try again.
I have not yet refined my own projections, and hope to do so at some point -- if only to look back in November, 2021 and see how bad they were.

My hope is that this will be an argument-free thread; it's just predictions.

As of now, the ATP rankings are:
1. Djokovic
2. Nadal
3. Thiem
4. Medvedev
5. Federer
6. Tsitsipas
7. Zverev
8. Rublev
9-10: Scwartzman and Berrettini

WTA, Currrently:
1. Barty
2. Halep
3. Osaka
4. Kenin (Interesting that the Top 4 all have 5-letter last names...the next with five letters is Konta (#14)
5. Svitolina
6. Pliskova
7. Andreescu
8. Kvitova
9- 10: Bertens, Sabalenka

 

[Jonesy]

Djokovic
Nadal
Thiem
Medvedev
Zverev
Tsitsipas
Shapovalov
Sinner

 

[RaulRamirez]

Djokovic
Nadal
Thiem
Medvedev
Zverev
Tsitsipas
Shapovalov
Sinner

I'm thinking that if "everyone" responded, and seriously, that almost everyone would have the top 6 in some order.
7 and 8, I would guess, would be mostly among Shapo, Sinner, Rublev, Fed (if healthy) Diego and RBA? Stan? Felix?

 

[Frylock]

I'm thinking that if "everyone" responded, and seriously, that almost everyone would have the top 6 in some order.
7 and 8, I would guess, would be mostly among Shapo, Sinner, Rublev, Fed (if healthy) Diego and RBA? Stan? Felix?

For Stan it's done for top 10.

 

[Blitzball]

For Stan it's done for top 10.

I think he can break the top 10 again if he stays healthy.

 

[travlerajm]

Do not underestimate Sir Murray.

 

[RaulRamirez]

For Stan it's done for top 10.

Who would you go with for Top 8? (This may be too big of a jump for Stan at this stage.

 

[RaulRamirez]

Do not underestimate Sir Murray.

I respect Sir Andy, but Top 8 for 2021?

 

[junior74]

Time to revisit on of my few threads:

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fedr-out-of-top-10.637314/

Unfortunately, I think Swiss Lion and Swiss Maestro are both outside top 10 next Christmas. I will miss their attacking tennis sorely.

 

[Frylock]

I think he can break the top 10 again if he stays healthy.

Maybe but when i see his stamina issues. It's not a good sign. In AO he was gassed against Zverev. He was gassed against Hugo Gaston at FO. In 5 sets matches are too much for him. Outside majors he didn't do much. He will turn 36 years old next season . He's not like big 3.

 

[beard]

1. Djokovic
2. Thiem
3. Nadal
4. Medvedev
5. Zverev
6. Tsitsipas
7. Rublev

 

[RaulRamirez]

Time to revisit on of my few threads:

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fedr-out-of-top-10.637314/

Unfortunately, I think Swiss Lion and Swiss Maestro are both outside top 10 next Christmas. I will miss their attacking tennis sorely.

An oldie but goodie -- the thread, I mean.
As you know, I'm a Rafa/Novak guy but still a bit of a Fed fan...
I mostly just want good health and normalcy for 2021, and within my tennis brain, it would be nice to see Fed compete again at a high level (if not too high when he plays Rafa or Novak?)

 

[Frylock]

Who would you go with for Top 8? (This may be too big of a jump for Stan at this stage.

ATP
I want to take some risk.
1Timmy
2Djokovic
3Nadal
4Medvedev
5Tsitsipas
6Zverev
7Shapovalov
8 Maybe Bautista but i hope not.

WTA
1Osaka
2Barty
3Kenin
4Andreescu ( i think she can be number 1 but she's like a crystal)
5Halep
6Swiatek
7Sabalenka
8Vika

 

[RaulRamirez]

1. Djokovic
2. Thiem
3. Nadal
4. Medvedev
5. Zverev
6. Tsitsipas
7. Rublev

And #8? I also kind of think Novak holds onto the top for YE for one more year, and thought about switching Rafa and Thiem as well.
Not sure what order to put Med, Z and Tsit in, and while I don't really like Rublev, he probably is well-positioned for #7.
While very inconsistent, I'm kind of leaning to Shapo, as his ceiling seems to be so high.
(Not sure how to project Roger for the year ahead.)

 

[junior74]

An oldie but goodie -- the thread, I mean.
As you know, I'm a Rafa/Novak guy but still a bit of a Fed fan...
I mostly just want good health and normalcy for 2021, and within my tennis brain, it would be nice to see Fed compete again at a high level (if not too high when he plays Rafa or Novak?)

This bird is sinking!

I know, amigo. You're one of the true tennis fans here and I always appreciate your opinions and your contributions.
Federer can stay in top 10 with just a few deep runs, and I think he is still capable of that, as there are a lot of "walk-overs" in the draws. But the body transforms at his age, no matter how much you work...
Stan, unfortunately, seems done and dusted to me (my favourite player since 13/14).

I hope for Sinner, Ruud and Musetti to perhaps get a sniff at top 10.

 

[Yugram]

WTA
1Osaka
2Barty
3Kenin
4Andrescu ( i think she can be number 1 but she's like a crystal)

Like a silently banned crystal

 

[RaulRamirez]

ATP
I want to take some risk.
1Timmy
2Djokovic
3Nadal
4Medvedev
5Tsitsipas
6Zverev
7Shapovalov
8 Maybe Bautista but i hope not.

WTA
1Osaka
2Barty
3Kenin
4Andrescu ( i think she can be number 1 but she's like a crystal)
5Halep
6Swiantek
7Sabalenka
8Vika

Good stuff...yeah, if a gun to my head (and if Roger is sidelined for more of 2021), I'm inclined to put Shapo in my Top 8 also.
For the women, Andreescu does seem very "fragile", though quite talented. I've almost forgotten about her.
I hope that Swiatek stays healthy...she seems to have the tools to eventually win on all surfaces - classy player and young lady.

 

[travlerajm]

I respect Sir Andy, but Top 8 for 2021?

I expect Murray 2.0 will make semi’s at both W and USO, which I figure will be good enough to get him into the top 8.

 

[Yugram]

1.Nadal
2.Djokovic
3.Thiem
4.Tsitsipas
5.Zverev
6.Medvedev (his false dawn gets utterly exposed)
7.Rublev
8.Raonic

 

[James P]

1 Djokovic
2 Thiem
3 Medvedev
4 Nadal
5 Sinner
6 Tsitsipas
7 Zverev
8 Rublev

1 Osaka
2 Halep
3 Barty
4 Andreescu
5 Kenin
6 Bencic
7 Kvitova
8 Pliskova

 

[RaulRamirez]

This bird is sinking!

I know, amigo. You're one of the true tennis fans here and I always appreciate your opinions and your contributions.
Federer can stay in top 10 with just a few deep runs, and I think he is still capable of that, as there are a lot of "walk-overs" in the draws. But the body transforms at his age, no matter how much you work...
Stan, unfortunately, seems done and dusted to me (my favourite player since 13/14).

I hope for Sinner, Ruud and Musetti to perhaps get a sniff at top 10.

Thanks.
The very little I've seen of Musetti is quite intriguing -- I think I enjoy his game even more than Sinner's.
That would be a big move for Ruud, but he also impresses me a little.

 

[RaulRamirez]

1 Djokovic
2 Thiem
3 Medvedev
4 Nadal
5 Sinner
6 Tsitsipas
7 Zverev
8 Rublev

1 Osaka
2 Halep
3 Barty
4 Andreescu
5 Kenin
6 Bencic
7 Kvitova
8 Pliskova

Off a quick look, Sinner at 5 and Bencic at 6 stood out a little...and Rafa down to 4.

 

[RaulRamirez]

1.Nadal
2.Djokovic
3.Thiem
4.Tsitsipas
5.Zverev
6.Medvedev (his false dawn gets utterly exposed)
7.Rublev
8.Raonic

Another game for Milos??!

 

[junior74]

Thanks.
The very little I've seen of Musetti is quite intriguing -- I think I enjoy his game even more than Sinner's.
That would be a big move for Ruud, but he also impresses me a little.

Ruud is actually ranked #27, 10 places above Sinner. Sinner's game seems more surface neutral, though. Ruud has to keep improving his HC game a fair amount, if he wants to improve his ranking. I see hims as a top 10 clay player already. Super forehand.

Sinner and Ruud seems like potentially strong players mentally. I have not seen a lot of Musetti, either. But what a prospect!

 

[beard]

And #8? I also kind of think Novak holds onto the top for YE for one more year, and thought about switching Rafa and Thiem as well.
Not sure what order to put Med, Z and Tsit in, and while I don't really like Rublev, he probably is well-positioned for #7.
While very inconsistent, I'm kind of leaning to Shapo, as his ceiling seems to be so high.
(Not sure how to project Roger for the year ahead.)

Don't know and don't care about no8... Don't see anyone else to disturb those I mentioned, except Fed but he is big enigma...
Why you don't think Novak won't be No1 whole next year? He was best this year with enormous lead over no2... And he had some big downs as at USO... Off course, someone can have special year as Novak had 2011, I doubt... My experience says most probably nothing big will happen, things will remain about the same...

 

[RaulRamirez]

Don't know and don't care about no8... Don't see anyone else to disturb those I mentioned, except Fed but he is big enigma...
Why you don't think Novak won't be No1 whole next year? He was best this year with enormous lead over no2... And he had some big downs as at USO... Off course, someone can have special year as Novak had 2011, I doubt... My experience says most probably nothing big will happen, things will remain about the same...

My predictions are almost notoriously bad.
If he wins the AO again (assuming it's played, of course), he should be in pretty good shape.
If any of Rafa, Thiem or Med takes it, it could get interesting.

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

Djokovic
Thiem
Zverev
Nadal
Medvedev
Tsitsipas
Rublev
Sinner

 

[Nostradamus]

1. Thiem / Sinner tied for #1 2. Nadal 3. Federer 4. Djokovic, 5. Tsitsipas 6. Medvedev 7. Zeverev 8. Rublev

 

[RaulRamirez]

1. Thiem / Sinner tied for #1 2. Nadal 3. Federer 4. Djokovic, 5. Tsitsipas 6. Medvedev 7. Zeverev 8. Rublev

Not disagreeing (well, not really) but if Thiem and Sinner tied for #1, that would move Rafa down to #3 and so on.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I respect Sir Andy, but Top 8 for 2021?

Andy's currently ranked 126, he would have some heavy lifting to do in order to get into the top 8: winning a Masters, making the finals of several Masters and possibly a semifinal run at a slam. That's a tall order.

 

[Nostradamus]

Not disagreeing (well, not really) but if Thiem and Sinner tied for #1, that would move Rafa down to #3 and so on.

i say Thiem could destroy rafa in the french open final in straight sets

 

[Nostradamus]

Andy's currently ranked 126, he would have some heavy lifting to do in order to get into the top 8: winning a Masters, making the finals of several Masters and possibly a semifinal run at a slam. That's a tall order.

murray will end the year 2021 at rank 53

 

[RaulRamirez]

i say Thiem could destroy rafa in the french open final in straight sets

Well, you are Nostradamus, and me, just an old retired player.

 

[travlerajm]

Andy's currently ranked 126, he would have some heavy lifting to do in order to get into the top 8: winning a Masters, making the finals of several Masters and possibly a semifinal run at a slam. That's a tall order.

When a heavyweight fighter comes out of retirement to take on a middleweight, the knockout should not be a shocker.

 

[beast of mallorca]

1.Nadal
2.Djokovic
3.Thiem.....my future number 1, once. Djokodal retire

4.Tsitsipas
5. Medvedev
6. Zverev
7.Rublev
8. Federer....let's give the Old Man a chance. I'm fond of this guy

 

[RaulRamirez]

Andy's currently ranked 126, he would have some heavy lifting to do in order to get into the top 8: winning a Masters, making the finals of several Masters and possibly a semifinal run at a slam. That's a tall order.

I hate to count out any great player, but it doesn't seem doable to me, either.

 

[DSH]

In no order: Nadal, Djokovic, Thiem, Medvedev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, Rublev and something new.