Analysis of the ATP's top prospects in 2013
We are now officially half way through the tennis season, both in number of tournaments played and weeks into the season. So it seems to be a good time to analyse how some of the players are faring in the year to date rankings. Looking at the top of the tree, things are pretty much as you would expect. The Big Four and David Ferrer are all comfortably ahead of the chasing pack which in itself contains all the usual suspects like Tomas Berdych and Jo Wilfred Tsonga.
What’s quite interesting though is how the new generation is faring. Much has been said about how players are expected to establish themselves as major contenders at the age of 25 instead of 20-21 a decade ago. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro all won their first major championship before they were 22. Now this suggestion seems ludicrous. The sheer physical fitness that Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have means that a young gun would have to win in straight sets if they are to have any chance of upsetting the applecart.
So with that in mind, just how is the perceived next generation faring after half the year. Any player who is 23 or younger will be accounted for. Here’s the top five.
5. Bernard Tomic – 2013 Ranking 47
He’s still only 20 years old but we still feel that Tomic already has the feel of a player who is wasting away his substantial potential. After winning two junior Majors and reaching the quarter finals of Wimbledon two years ago, the Australian was tipped for stardom. Then came the endless stream of controversies. Numerous disputes with the Australian tennis governing body and his father, who is now banned from attending any Grand Slam tournament, accusations of ‘tanking’ at the US Open, spats with journalists, driving offences and drunken nights out have turned him into the Mario Balotelli of the tennis world, someone whose talent is undeniable but is also being held back by his impetuous behaviour.
All of this has undoubtedly affected his performances on court. What’s worrying though for Tomic is that he appears to still think he’s better than he actually is. This is why he continues to struggle on the circuit. At the lesser tournaments, he can’t motivate himself enough to perform against opponents ranked between 75 and 100 in the world. When his mind is on it, his record isn’t bad. He’s lost to Federer in the last two Australian Opens and he captured his first ATP title in Sydney where he beat Kevin Anderson. The difference is those other tournaments where Tomic is failing at the moment. The man he beat in that final is currently 16th in the 2013 rankings, Tomic is a lonely 47th. If he can actually put together a string of performances his talent deserves, this will most certainly improve but at present, this already looks like a huge waste of a career.