L'Equipe top 10 2018

by bogbrush Sun 02 Jun 2013, 1:58 pm

Ok, what do you think? (Current age / rank included)

1. Grigor Dimitrov (Age 22; Rank 28)
2. Benoit Paire (Age 24; Rank 26)
3. Andy Murray (Age 26; Rank 2)
4. Milos Raonic (Age 22; Rank 16)
5. Novak Djokovic (Age 26; Rank 1)
6. Kei Nishikori (Age 23; Rank 15)
7. Bernard Tomic (Age 20; Rank 61)
8. Ernests Gulbis (Age 24; Rank 40)
9. Jerzy Janowicz (Age 22; Rank 23)
10. Jack Sock (Age 20; Rank 118)

It looks unimaginative to me, though they predict Rafa is out by aged 31.

Where's Federer?

by The Special Juan Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:02 pm

I heard about that yesterday but I never found the list so thanks for putting it up

Federer's probably on a sun lounger somewhere in 2018 polishing his Wimbledon trophies. L'Equipe have a token Frenchman in the top 10; Paire will never be top 10 let alone number 2. In fact, I agree with very little of it.

by hawkeye Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:05 pm

Ha ha! Did they pull the names out of a hat?

by HM Murdock Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:24 pm

Dimitrov at #1?! Based on what?

I think people are so desperate for another Federer, they are anointing anyone with a passing resemblance to him.

If a player called Robert Fiderer arrives, watch the press go crazy for him.

by Guest Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:26 pm

If that's the future, then it looks bleak. Sad

Murdoch, based on there being no one else. Best of a very bad bunch.

by theslosty Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:27 pm

1. Goffin
2. Dimitrov
3. Tomic
4. Djokovic
5. Del Potro
6. Nishikori
7. Janowicz
8. Raonic
9. Murray
10. Harrison?

by lags72 Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:51 pm

HM Murdoch wrote:

....................................................................................................

If a player called Robert Fiderer arrives, watch the press go crazy for him.

Loving this line HMM ........ Very Happy

As for L'Equipe's list : doesn't look particularly convincing to me.

They seem to have forgotten that 2018 is actually five years way. I'd be happy to wager that by that time, 70% of the names they list won't be top ten at all - regardless of the actual order.

by The Special Juan Sun 02 Jun 2013, 2:54 pm

Tommy Haas, world number 1, 2018. You know it's going to happen Wink

I wonder what they're basing this list on. Is it because the younger players just now will move up into the top 10 not based on their own merits but because everyone who's ahead of them now will eventually fall away?

by lags72 Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:13 pm

Revised listings (just issued by L'Equipe) :

1. Robert Fiderer
2. Rolf Nader
3. Serb Pobovic
4. Antoni Murri
5. David Ferrer
6. Tomas Hatz
7. Jean William Longa
8. Richard Gaslight
9. Bjorn Agen
10. Lukas Rosol

by HM Murdock Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:30 pm

Marvellous, Lags! To quote Alan Partridge, I laughed quite literally like a drain.

David Ferrer at number 5 - genius! Laugh

by The Special Juan Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:44 pm

lags72 wrote:Revised listings (just issued by L'Equipe) :

1. Robert Fiderer
2. Rolf Nader
3. Serb Pobovic
4. Antoni Murri
5. David Ferrer
6. Tomas Hatz
7. Jean William Longa
8. Richard Gaslight
9. Bjorn Agen
10. Lukas Rosol

Poor Daveed.

Apparently Robert Fiderer is a German man who has donated blood for 40 years.

by invisiblecoolers Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:47 pm

HM Murdoch wrote:Dimitrov at #1?! Based on what?

I think people are so desperate for another Federer, they are anointing anyone with a passing resemblance to him.

If a player called Robert Fiderer arrives, watch the press go crazy for him.

I second Murdoch here, on what aspect people keep thinking Dimitrov would some day do something half similar to Fed let alone do a Fed Whistle

, I would be surprised if any of them feature in the top 10 by that year.

by invisiblecoolers Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:50 pm

lags72 wrote:Revised listings (just issued by L'Equipe) :

1. Robert Fiderer
2. Rolf Nader
3. Serb Pobovic
4. Antoni Murri
5. David Ferrer
6. Tomas Hatz
7. Jean William Longa
8. Richard Gaslight
9. Bjorn Agen
10. Lukas Rosol

Come on Juan Martin Giantine Poto will finish in top 10 ahead of Rosol.

by Jeremy_Kyle Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:52 pm

You have to understand the hidden motivator of the article.....Just like Socals articles, no matter how wordy, bizarre and convoluted are,have always, at the core, the only purpose of annoying the federer fans on this forum, Franch articles, similarly pathetically, are written with the sole purpose of over hyping their players for nationalistic reasons, at the cost to defy the ridiculous.

In this light, the article only purpose was that to big up the hopes in Paire, as a pespective slam champion after years and years of frustration........

by ChequeredJersey Sun 02 Jun 2013, 3:56 pm

Tsonga looks genuinely good this RG, will face Federer without dropping a set

by socal1976 Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:06 pm

I actually think Paire has a lot of talent and could be top ten player, #2 I don't see it. I could see him if he improves a lot in terms of consistency being 6-10. Gulbis I don't think he will ever be more than a joker unfortunately although I think he has the ability in spades, another monfils case in terms of talent and lack of desire or judgment. I have not been sold on dimitrov either however I will say this if he develops a better return particularly on the kicker to the backhand he could be a slam champion and top 5 guy.

To me if he stays healthy, which is always a concern Jerzy is a real talent and could be top 5 as well. Big serve, big forehand, good feel at net, and touch in the forecourt. But he has away to go in the return game, and at his height will have difficulty ever becoming a great returner.

by Haddie-nuff Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:20 pm

According to that then we are not expected to see any new kids on the block in the next 5 years... my God tennis is in a worst state than I thought. Especially if they are counting on Raonic, Tomic and Gulbis being in the top 10 with Screech still at five. Thats my tennis viewing over thumbsdown

by **laverfan** Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:25 pm

I would love to see Federer's daughters, Charlene and Myla become the WTA twins.

by hawkeye Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:37 pm

laverfan wrote:I would love to see Federer's daughters, Charlene and Myla become the WTA twins.

Funny how so many think this may happen. Not me things don't work like that. Anyway according to Federer the twins don't like tennis.

by ChequeredJersey Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:39 pm

hawkeye wrote:
laverfan wrote:I would love to see Federer's daughters, Charlene and Myla become the WTA twins.

Funny how so many think this may happen. Not me things don't work like that. Anyway according to Federer the twins don't like tennis.

To be fair, neither does Nadal, really, compared to other sports

by Haddie-nuff Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:43 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:
hawkeye wrote:
laverfan wrote:I would love to see Federer's daughters, Charlene and Myla become the WTA twins.

Funny how so many think this may happen. Not me things don't work like that. Anyway according to Federer the twins don't like tennis.

To be fair, neither does Nadal, really, compared to other sports

by ChequeredJersey Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:52 pm

Rafa preferred Football as a kid but was better at Tennis so he focused on that

by Henman Bill Sun 02 Jun 2013, 4:56 pm

Not impressed by the list at the top there, some of these current youngster may not make the top 10. Some of the ones listed have probably already peaked or near to, Paire at 2 I highlight as particuilarly silly.

It's almost impossible to predict that far ahead but when it really comes down to it the best possible guess for me would actually be to have Murray, Nadal and Djokovic at the top. May not be realistic. Someone may go above them, but hard to call who.

RE Previous comment, same was true for Del Potro, have a look at the interview on the FIFA site.

by Haddie-nuff Sun 02 Jun 2013, 5:09 pm

ChequeredJersey wrote:Rafa preferred Football as a kid but was better at Tennis so he focused on

that

Well do you honestly think any Rafa does not know THAT . But tennis is now Rafa´s first love and will always be so.. he is an avid fan of Madrid Football but his tennis has come first ever since he chose it as his profession.
He was devastated at the age of 18yrs old when he was told by the doctors that he would not play again.He plays Golf, sails and fishing but tennis will always come first.

by Haddie-nuff Sun 02 Jun 2013, 5:11 pm

Henman Bill wrote:Not impressed by the list at the top there, some of these current youngster may not make the top 10. Some of the ones listed have probably already peaked or near to, Paire at 2 I highlight as particuilarly silly.

It's almost impossible to predict that far ahead but when it really comes down to it the best possible guess for me would actually be to have Murray, Nadal and Djokovic at the top. May not be realistic. Someone may go above them, but hard to call who.

RE Previous comment, same was true for Del Potro, have a look at the interview on the FIFA site.

HB I would love to think you are right but I dont see Rafa getting past another two years let alone five
Sad

by Henman Bill Sun 02 Jun 2013, 5:19 pm

Actually I think he would be in the top 10 if he was injury free and wanted to play. That being said as I put my list together I decided he would have retired before then and didn't include him, my list coming up next.

by Henman Bill Sun 02 Jun 2013, 5:21 pm

Here's my wild guess:

1 Currently unknown youngster not currently in top 100
2 Novak Djokovic (31)
3 Currently unknown youngster not currently in top 100
4 Andy Murray (31)
5 Tommy Haas/David Ferrer type figure with surprising longevity (who knows who?)
6. Current unknown youngster not currently in top 100
7. Milos Raonic (27)
8. Kei Nishikori (28)
9. Current unknown youngster not currently in top 100
10. Juan Martin Del Potro (29)

I could see Tomic and Dimitrov perhaps squeaking in as well, Harrison has a chance.
Players mentioned that I don’t see in the top 10: Paire, Sock, Goffin, Gulbis, Janowicz, Nadal.
I just think Rafa will have retired by then, his body has been through a lot and I could see him retiring a couple of years after Roger. He might not enjoy the tour so much without him.

Just for fun, I would be suprised if more than half of the players any of us predict in the top ten will actually be there, let alone the correct order.

by Haddie-nuff Sun 02 Jun 2013, 5:27 pm

Two schools of thought... the top ten will either be on their zimmer frames because every youngster not yet known will then not be known either Very Happy

Or the top ten will all be teenagers .. Rafa, Roger, Tommy Haas, Ferrer etc proteges (sorry if I spelt it wrongly) Wink

by Born Slippy Wed 18 May 2016, 9:59 am

Bumping this as we are approaching 3 years in to the 5 years when the original prediction was made. As it stands 4 of the 10 are in the top 10. However, they were the four highest ranked at the time.

The remaining 6 aren't really showing top 10 potential. Dimitrov is the only one who has made it there at all but has regressed subsequently. I can perhaps see Sock (and possibly Tomic if he gets his head screwed on) still making it but I can't see the others doing so.

by lydian Wed 18 May 2016, 10:49 am

It was discussed in 2015 here too:
https://www.606v2.com/t60157-who-will-be-making-up-the-top-10-in-2018

The thread was based on a Eurosport TV debate on Top 10 - below
L'Equipe top 10 2018 Awr6bc11

Just shows that many haven't lived up to promise yet, and can only see them making the top 10 by current guys falling out through "old" age.

I would add Goffin, Zverev and Kyrgios to the list...and maybe Fritz too.
So my list:

1. Murray (still think he's motivated to get the ranking after Novak falls off the summit, which he will be 2018)
2. Kyrgios
3. Djokovic
4. Raonic
5. Nishikori
6. Zverev
7. Goffin
8. Sock
9. Nadal (clinging on...but will retire by end of '18)
10. Fritz

Mentions...Tiafoe & Rublev.
Dimitrov...??? Could make a run but something radical needs to happen to get the fire back in his stomach.

by socal1976 Wed 18 May 2016, 4:55 pm

1. Djokovic
2. Murray
3. Nish
4. Kyrgios
5. Milos
6. Thiem
7. Nadal
8. Goffin
9. Fed
10. Grigor

Zverev could also sneak in towards the end of this group.

by lydian Wed 18 May 2016, 5:31 pm

lol re: #1 Wink

I really don't see Fed playing in 2018 tbh.

by socal1976 Wed 18 May 2016, 5:51 pm

You know me Lydian I am optimist and generally sunshiny and positive personality. Lets dream big.

by Guest Wed 18 May 2016, 6:34 pm

I remember posting my top ten but can't seem to find it - so I'll reproduce it here:

1) Grigor Meldonium
2) Stan Roid.
3) Luka Eggchambervic
4) Dwain Balco
5) Pedro Pedroza
6) Puerto Fuentes Jr
7) Lance Legstrong
8) Tashi Alticus
9) ...

by lydian Wed 18 May 2016, 6:57 pm

Lol NS

Indeed Socal - good to be +ve Wink

by **laverfan** Fri 20 May 2016, 2:45 am

Nore Staat wrote:I remember posting my top ten but can't seem to find it - so I'll reproduce it here:

1) Grigor Meldonium
2) Stan Roid.
3) Luka Eggchambervic
4) Dwain Balco
5) Pedro Pedroza
6) Puerto Fuentes Jr
7) Lance Legstrong
8) Tashi Alticus
9) ...

Very

by Belovedluckyboy Sat 12 Aug 2017, 1:38 am

While we're in the midst of discussing who'll be the next no.1 and the YE no.1, I remember this thread of 2013.

It seems that both Fed and Nadal are not retiring in 2018, and may start 2018 as the top two guys, even though they may not end 2018 as the top two.

People were foreseeing that Fedal would be retired by 2018, little did they know that they're still standing strong and fighting for no.1 in 2017, whilst those in the original list were/are either falling away, or simply not living up to promises all these years!

Amazing Fedal (and especially Rafa when many think that he'll be done and dusted by age 30!).

by Belovedluckyboy Sat 12 Aug 2017, 1:52 am

I also have a feeling Fed has the intention of breaking as many records as possible, including playing up to age 39 or even 40, to match or surpass Connor - in terms of longevity and in terms of titles/matches won and played. He's aiming to be the oldest no.1 too ( surpassing Agassi) and, he may want to get la decima too - at Halle at least. He may also want to continue his dominance at Cincy, Basel, Dubai (currently all at 7 titles each), Wimbledon and also WTF - all doable if he maintains his form right up to 2018. He's at a good place now having achieved so much and has a head start over his three younger close rivals.

Rafa has more work to do outside of clay, if he wants more successes off clay, though his legacy on clay will stand on its own and may never be surpassed for a long long time to come.

by reckoner Sat 12 Aug 2017, 9:24 am

I dunno BLB, I think Fed is just enjoying being able to play competitive tennis. After the AO he was asked:

"Does it mean a lot to you to put some more distance between you and your greatest rivals with this 18th title?"

He answered : "That's the smallest part, to be honest. For me it's all about the comeback, about an epic match with Rafa, again."

If you think about it all through his career he's had to put up with media questions about tennis records, being the greatest player ever, that if he loses - ever - there is something "wrong" or he's about to retire. This sort of thing messes with a player's mind. Look at Henman and Murray and the pressure to win Wimbledon, for example. I think he's just enjoying playing for the sake of it after a break to put all that nonsense in perspective.

I think Federer skipping RG this year was a way to take away the pressure of a potential calendar year grand slam for example. Realistically, it wasn't going to happen, he's too late in his career to achieve that and has made his peace with it, to the extent of not allowing it to sour his season.

Incidentally, if we're being realistic, I think Nadal has left it too late to improve his off-clay record.

by sirfredperry Sat 12 Aug 2017, 9:47 am

Fascinating to see the predictions of four years ago as to what might happen in 2018. One or two have lived up to expectations, others - sadly - have not.
Just wonder how spot on we'd be if we forecast now what the top 10 of 2022 would look like.
Without giving any order of ranking I would say that the following would/should/ought to be in the top 10 of 2022:
A Zverev
Thiem
Raonic
Goffin
Medvedev
Nishi

by reckoner Sat 12 Aug 2017, 9:50 am

I like your list sfp, but I'd put Shap and Federer in there too!

by Belovedluckyboy Sat 12 Aug 2017, 10:39 am

I doubt Shapo will be in that list next year, maybe in another two or three years. He's not that good yet!

Fed may or may not be in the list, depends on how well he can defend his points in 2018. I think Djoko, Kei and Raonic will drop out of top ten this year so they may or may not end 2018 in the top ten.

I think A Zverev and Thiem will surely be in the top ten list of 2018. I'll say only Dimi, Murray and Djoko of the original list would be in the top ten of 2018: (my list of top ten by end of 2018, not necessary in the right order).

AZverev
Thiem
Dimi
Goffin
Nadal
Fed
Djoko
Murray
Stan
Cilic

by lags72 Sat 12 Aug 2017, 10:46 am

I would say it's close to inconceivable that Federer could repeat his first half 2017 success in 2018. Just can't happen, even in comic storybook land.

So, yes, it's a question of how many points he will drop.

by Belovedluckyboy Sat 12 Aug 2017, 10:54 am

The 2022 list?

Thiem
A Zverev
Khachanov
Rublev
Chung
Donaldson
Coric
Garin (or Melvedev)
Shapo
Pouille

* Christian Garin is a 21 yo from Chile, currently training at Rafa's academy; Toni Nadal is his coach from now on. I think Garin will be a force on clay in the coming years. I think Toni may make him a top ten player one day.

by sirfredperry Sat 12 Aug 2017, 11:11 am

2022 - Did consider Khachanov and Rublev but haven't really seen enough of them. Expected Coric to be higher now than he is.

by reckoner Sat 12 Aug 2017, 2:19 pm

2022 I'm going to add Leo Borg as a wild card.

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