The Top Ten Tennis Rankings... A Year Later
A year ago, a glance at the top ten ranked male and female tennis players looked a bit different than it does today. There are three new members of the top ten on both the women’s and men’s rankings and injuries, i.e. Juan Martin del Potro (wrist surgery) ,
Nikolay Davydenko (broken wrist), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (knee surgery), Serena Williams (foot surgery), Dinara Safina (back), Venus Williams (knee), Agnieska Radwanska (foot), played a major part in the rankings shifts.
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal reclaimed the Number One ranking from Roger Federer after his stellar year in which he collected three consecutive Grand Slam titles, i.e. French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, while also achieving a “career Slam”. Eight different countries are represented in the men’s top ten with Spain having three members. The big story on the women’s side was Serena Williams’ foot injury which ended her season after she won Wimbledon and Caroline Wozniacki, who still has yet to win a Grand Slam title, ascended to the Number One ranking. Two-time Grand Slam champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, slipped out of the top ten after having a lackluster year since winning the French Open title in 2009. There are also eight countries represented in the women’s top ten with the United States and Russia each having two members.
Looking ahead to 2011, the men’s rankings look rather solid at the very top although there might be some subtle shifts amongst the members of the top ten. The one “wildcard” is whether former U.S. Open champion, Juan Martin del Potro, can return to form and stay healthy in 2011 thereby posing a serious challenge to the top four players. On the women’s side, the returns of Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Justine Henin and whether they can stay healthy, could have a major impact on the rankings. At the same time, three-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova, who is now working with Thomas Hogstedt, needs to reassert herself into the top ten to avoid fading from Grand Slam contention. Kim Clijsters has also said that she may only play for a couple more years so she will be trying hard to add to her Grand Slam trophy cabinet! All in all, the top of the women’s field looks rather wide open!
2010 season-ending rankings…
1. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
3. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
4. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
5. Robin Soderling (Sweden)
6. Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic)
7. David Ferrer (Spain)
8. Andy Roddick (United States)
9. Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
10. Mikhail Youzhny (Russia)
1. Caroline Woznicaki (Denmark)
2. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
3. Kim Clijsters (Belgium)
4. Serena Williams (United States)
5. Venus Williams (United States)
6. Samantha Stosur (Australia)
7. Francesca Schiavone (Italy)
8. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
9. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
10. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
2009 season-ending rankings…
1. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
3. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
4. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
5. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
6. Nikolay Davydenko (Russia)
7. Andy Roddick, Andy (USA)
8. Robin Soderling (Sweden)
9. Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)
1. Serena Williams (USA)
2. Dinara Safina (Russia)
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)
4. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
5. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
6. Venus Williams (USA)
7. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
8. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
9. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
10. Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland)
On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal reclaimed the Number One ranking from Roger Federer after his stellar year in which he collected three consecutive Grand Slam titles, i.e. French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, while also achieving a “career Slam”. Eight different countries are represented in the men’s top ten with Spain having three members. The big story on the women’s side was Serena Williams’ foot injury which ended her season after she won Wimbledon and Caroline Wozniacki, who still has yet to win a Grand Slam title, ascended to the Number One ranking. Two-time Grand Slam champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, slipped out of the top ten after having a lackluster year since winning the French Open title in 2009. There are also eight countries represented in the women’s top ten with the United States and Russia each having two members.
Looking ahead to 2011, the men’s rankings look rather solid at the very top although there might be some subtle shifts amongst the members of the top ten. The one “wildcard” is whether former U.S. Open champion, Juan Martin del Potro, can return to form and stay healthy in 2011 thereby posing a serious challenge to the top four players. On the women’s side, the returns of Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Justine Henin and whether they can stay healthy, could have a major impact on the rankings. At the same time, three-time Grand Slam champion, Maria Sharapova, who is now working with Thomas Hogstedt, needs to reassert herself into the top ten to avoid fading from Grand Slam contention. Kim Clijsters has also said that she may only play for a couple more years so she will be trying hard to add to her Grand Slam trophy cabinet! All in all, the top of the women’s field looks rather wide open!
2010 season-ending rankings…
1. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
2. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
3. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
4. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
5. Robin Soderling (Sweden)
6. Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic)
7. David Ferrer (Spain)
8. Andy Roddick (United States)
9. Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
10. Mikhail Youzhny (Russia)
1. Caroline Woznicaki (Denmark)
2. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
3. Kim Clijsters (Belgium)
4. Serena Williams (United States)
5. Venus Williams (United States)
6. Samantha Stosur (Australia)
7. Francesca Schiavone (Italy)
8. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
9. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
10. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
2009 season-ending rankings…
1. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
2. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
3. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
4. Andy Murray (Great Britain)
5. Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina)
6. Nikolay Davydenko (Russia)
7. Andy Roddick, Andy (USA)
8. Robin Soderling (Sweden)
9. Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)
1. Serena Williams (USA)
2. Dinara Safina (Russia)
3. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)
4. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
5. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
6. Venus Williams (USA)
7. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
8. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
9. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
10. Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland)
|
