Predictions and projections over potential and future results are often very hard to predict accurately, yet we all want to know what the future might be like.
Men’s tennis over the last half a decade has been dominated by four men, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray.
As of the end of the 2014 Australian Open, these four greats since the start of the 2003 The Championships, Wimbledon, have won 38 out of the last 43 Grand Slams, an incredible statistic.
Since the start of the 2005 French Open at Roland Garros, they have won 34 out of the last 36 Grand Slams, just remarkable.
With the game becoming a more mature and physical sport, and with these four getting older, and either in the twilight of their careers, or approaching closer to this phase, it is time we look at the future of men’s tennis, and think about what it may be like.
French newspaper, L’Equipe have made their predictions known, but when I did my research on this topic, my Top 10 looked a little bit different, only enhancing the difficulty of predicting a scenario such a long time away from that time.
My research started from the 1998 ATP End of Year Rankings (December 14, 1998), and includes the End of Year Rankings of 2003 (15 December 2003), 2008 (17 November 2008), and 2013 (30 December 2013).
My research also included progression statistics up to the end of 2013, and there was also a age component included in my research.
So here is my end of year Top 10 for 2018:
1. Bernard Tomic (Australia) (Date of Birth (DOB): 21.10.1992)
Tomic will overcome his hip condition, and in fact will have improved out of sight in terms of his foot speed, agility and athleticism, and by 2018 (probably before) will have established himself as the man to beat.
His great serve will be supported by his ultra-reliable, unbreakable, and feared backhand, in both two and one-handed form, his great forehand, which along with his backhand will produce such easy, and disguised power.
His skills at the net will have improved significantly, and he will defend like no one can get past him. He has his rivals at his mercy, especially on grass and hard courts. Almost unbeatable.
2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) (DOB: 22.05.1987)
Now aged 31, Djokovic will have had a stellar career, and by this time should have won around 10 Grand Slam titles.
He is still a great player, who still physically throws himself around the court in the quest for further success. However, like everyone else, he will have trouble working out how to beat Tomic.
3. Nick Kyrgios (Australia) (DOB: 27.04.1995)
Kyrgios is the best of the next batch of players that will come through in the coming years.
A natural athlete, very similar to Gael Monfils, Kyrgios is a much more offensive player compared to Monfils. He has big serve, which is supported by his great forehand.
Kyrgios looks to be offensive at every opportunity, but will need to find something extra beyond 2018 to be a good chance of beating Tomic consistently.
4. Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) (DOB: 23.09.1988)
Del Potro will be serial threat over the coming years, and should win at least a couple more Grand Slam titles. Still very much an offensive baseliner, with his great, powerful forehand, reliable backhand, and huge serve. At the age of 30, he should still be there or thereabouts.
5. Rafael Nadal (Spain) (DOB: 03.06.1986)
Nadal, at the age of 32 will still be playing, and firmly inside the Top 10! This will be hard to believe for most people, however, his ability to continually reinvent himself will amaze us all!
However, he will not be the favourite to win tournaments, even on clay, but is still very much a contender. Nadal will be either level, just behind, or just in front of Federer in terms of most Grand Slam titles.
6. Matteo Donati (Italy) (DOB: 28.02.1995)
Donati is another player who could come through in the coming years. After having not had a stellar junior career, with a high combined ranking of No.27, and a win-loss record of 72-41, he has started winning futures events, and being a good player on hard and clay courts, Donati could become Italy’s next great tennis player.
7. Andy Murray (Great Britain) (DOB: 15.05.1987)
Murray at the age of 31 will still be in the Top 10 by the end of 2018. This is despite his back problems in recent times, which has left him a slight shadow of the player that he was at his peak in 2012 and 2013. He is on the slow decline.
8. Dominic Thiem (Austria) (DOB: 03.09.1993)
Thiem is another player on the up. After a good junior career with a high combined ranking of No.2, Thiem has won a good amount of futures and challenger events, and is starting to appear in Grand Slam draws. A good future appears set for Thiem.
9. Milos Raonic (Canada) (DOB: 27.12.1990)
Raonic will be in and around the Top 10 for many years to come, especially with his massive serve, and good groundstrokes. However, he will lack that something to be a really great player, but he will be just behind that level.
10. Ryan Harrison (United States of America) (DOB: 07.05.1992)
Harrison will be a Top 10 player, but possibly not the next great American player. His big serve, along with his good groundstrokes and fighting attitude will give him a good chance, but his fiery temperament will hold him back a little bit. However, reaching the Top 10 will be great achievement for him.
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