Predictions for the top 10 tennis players in 2018
The curtains are down on the ATP calendar for 2017 and every tennis fan who followed the action closely will agree that it's been one of the most unpredictable years ever. With injuries hampering some of the top players, the 2017 season was a rocky terrain that gave a new pathway to novel faces, giving them a chance to etch their names among the sport's elite.
While it's been a year of resurgence for the Spanish Matador Rafael Nadal and the Swiss great Roger Federer, whose feats need no mention as they touched the zenith at world No 1 and 2 respectively, it's been a breakthrough year for some fresh faces too.
Kevin Anderson leaped a massive 53 spots from 67 at the start of the season to get inside the top 20 at 14, thanks largely to his scintillating run to the US Open final. Another notable star Juan Martin Del Potro also had a terrific season, returning to No. 11 from his 38th rank at the start despite beginning late this year after skipping the Australian summer.
Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev made waves on the circuit with Dimitrov scripting a sensational end to the year. He notched up the biggest title of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals, ending the season at a career-high No. 3.
The rising German superstar Zverev rose to the occasion on the ATP Masters 1000 stage, capturing two of the prestigious titles in Rome and Montreal and becoming the youngest champion at that level since Novak Djokovic a decade ago. Rising from No. 24 to No. 4, Zverev showed the world that he has the weapons to conquer a Grand Slam crown very soon.
The American Jack Sock and his brilliance at the end of the season made for quite a spectacle too. A maiden Masters 1000 title in Paris and then a semifinal showing at the Nitto ATP finals pushed him inside the top 10, to No. 8.
But now that the year 2017 is done, it's time to look forward to the coming season. It's a daunting task to make any prediction, but that shouldn't stop us from analysing the chances of those who hold the capability to finish among the top 10 in 2018.
1. Novak Djokovic
The Serbian giant will look to do a Federer or a Nadal this season as he attempts a comeback from a long injury layoff. Having ruled the tennis kingdom for nearly half a decade, the 12-time Grand Slam champion will look to get back to winning ways.
Assuming he stays injury-free, it's fairly safe to predict that Djokovic will surge again, and reclaim the No. 1 spot at some point.
Prediction: No. 1