Djokovic’s “career year”, which included titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, helped him to ascend to the top spot on the men’s side.  Overall, there are ten new members of the top ten on the women’s and men’s rankings, six on the women’s side and four on the men’s side.  There are nine countries represented in the women’s top ten while the men’s list includes players from seven different countries with Spain and Serbia having two members each.

On the men’s side, Roger Federer dropped to the third spot while illness, injuries and poor form caused Robin Soderling, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco and Mikhail Youzhny to drop off the list.  Andy Murray is still “Slam-less”, but strong fall results cemented his spot in the top four while Tomas Berdych maintained his top ten slot despite not reaching a Slam final in 2011.  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga scored some big wins in 2011 including defeating Federer at Wimbledon and if he can stay healthy, he’s a threat at every Slam in 2012.  Looking ahead to 2012, will Djokovic maintain his hot streak, can Federer and nadal reclaim Slam success and the top ranking, will Andy Murray finally win a Slam, and it will be interesting to see if Mardy Fish and Janko Tipsarevic can follow up their career-best years from 2011 with strong results in 2012, as well as whether Nicolas Almagro can produce some good from in the Slams and on hard courts.

The big story on the women’s side was Petra Kvitova’s win at Wimbledon and the year-end championships, which vaulted her to second in the rankings.  At the same time, injuries caused Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters to drop out of the top ten.  Meanwhile, the French Open champion and Australian Open finalist, Li Na, earned her place in the top ten.  Looking ahead to 2012, there are many exciting story lines.  Will Wozniacki break-through and win a Slam, were Kvitova’s 2011 results the launch of a new star, can Zvonareva, Radwanska and Bartoli maintain their solid results to remain in the top ten, can Clijsters, Serena and Venus stay healthy, will Maria Sharapova finally solve her serving woes and capture another Slam, and is Petkovic capable of returning for a second “dance”?!


2011 Year-end Rankings
1. Caroline Wozniacki – Denmark
2. Petra Kvitova – Czech Republic
3. Victoria Azarenka – Belarus
4. Maria Sharapova – Russia
5. Li Na – China
6. Samantha Stosur – Australia
7. Vera Zvonareva – Russia
8. Agnieszka Radwanska - Poland
9. Marion Bartoli – France
10. Andrea Petkovic - Germany

1. Novak Djokovic – Serbia
2. Rafael Nadal – Spain
3. Roger Federer – Switzerland
4. Andy Murray – Great Britain
5. David Ferrer – Spain
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – France
7. Tomas Berdych – Czech Republic
8. Mardy Fish – United States
9. Janko Tipsarevic – Serbia
10. Nicolas Almagro – Spain

2010 Year-end rankings

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

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

Posted by TC at 03:46 PM |