Who is currently no 2?

Djokovic seems to be clearing up all major titles at the moment and given his current form, ability across all surfaces and current lead in the rankings it seems very likely he will be year end number 1 again.

My question is who is currently the 2nd best player in the world and who will end up being year end number 2?

Federer - current world number 2.  Probably won't be 2nd best on clay, but grass and hard...
Murray - Aus Open finalist, has taken Djokovic to stop him in the big tournaments so far.  Again, probably won't do much on clay.
Nadal - needs to step it up on clay as that is where he normally gets most points.  Promising signs this week?
Berdych - currently number 2 in the race.  Unlikely.
Nishikori - good on clay and hard. Good end to last season but hasn't been great this year.
Other - please state.

I've gone for Murray.

I've gone for Rafa as he seems sure to do better in the second half of the season than he did last year.
Fed was bound not to do as well this year as last, while I'm expecting Murray to gain at Wimbledon (although may be lose points at the French).
Can't see anyone outside the big four getting second. Interesting that we're having to talk about numero secundo as numero uno looks pretty much tied up already.

W/L for 2015 (based on ATP Rankings order) so far is (without any titles won as a bias).

Federer - 17/3 - 85%
Murray - 21/5 - 81%
Nadal - 18/6 - 75%
Nishikori - 21/5 - 81%
Raonic - 19/8 - 70%
Berdych - 27/7 - 79%
Ferrer - 24/4 - 86%
Cilic - 2/2 - 50%
Wawrinka - 17/5 - 77%

Ferrer the Terror is the clear #2 player. .
Wawrinka the Worst is still on a honeymoon.

If we are talking about the start of 2015, I suppose you have to say Murray - lost to Djokovic twice in finals and once in the SF of the three most important tournaments he has played in. OK, his performance in the other 2 tournaments has been poor, but I think there was an element of turning up for the money and a bit of match practice.

Maybe not all the way back to his best, but then neither are Rafa or Fed, while the others haven't done much in big matches. Federer deservedly at #2 in the rankings, but mainly on the strength of the 2014 summer..

Agreed, it's probably Murray. Berdych and Ferrer both having great starts to the season though.

Federer is the biggest threat in a one-off match against Novak, but that doesn't mean he's next best in general. He'll need a good clay season to have a chance of #2 by the end of the year, I think.

Murray has boatloads of points to pick up going forward, especially at the slams. And so far he's definitely been the best, the AO final run alone almost ensures that when compared to his nearest rivals.

Nadal - as usual, who knows? Could be 2nd at the end of the year, could be 8th.

Yeah, its between Fed and Murray. A lot will rest on the clay court season. If they are relatively even then Fed's number 2 position will be under serious threat over the Summer - in race terms Murray is currently 800 points clear.

Born Slippy wrote:Yeah, its between Fed and Murray. A lot will rest on the clay court season. If they are relatively even then Fed's number 2 position will be under serious threat over the Summer - in race terms Murray is currently 800 points clear.

I don't think Fed will play enough for #2 IMO-    he's playing instanbul for a huge payday and big 250 points, but will prob skip rome and it's 1000 points.    If he cared about ranking, it would be the opposite.    Going to skip Montreal and prob one of the late year masters...  Hard to see him getting #2 by skpping 4 master 1000's.     I think Top 4 ranking for draws is all he really cares to be if not #1..

Of course, a nice fat Wimbledon title could change everything and set him up for #2.

I see Murray at #2,  Fed at #3.    

Nadals ranking hinges on the French.  A big slide down if he loses there.   Prob 3 or 4 if he wins.

Frankly- even as great as he is, if Fed playing a reduced schedule and at his age can hold #2 again- the rest of the younger tour should be doing some soul searching.

I think the key to Murray finishing the year No.2 is him winning either Wimbledon or the US Open. If he does that I think No.2 will be his but if not - he will miss out.

I've gone for Rafa but you could easily make the case for Federer or Murray.

Although Federer's current no 2 is deceptive since it mostly includes points that will be gone by the year end, he is 6th in year to date.

The fact that Rafa is 1,000 points down on Murray year so far is no big deal, since he could reverse that by end of clay season easily.

Even though I've gone for Rafa at 2, as the most likely, I could also see him the most likely of the big 4 to not even make the top 4. Something is not fully right this year. The FO final will give us the answer.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/YTD-Singles.aspx

Interesting to hear that Federer is playing Madrid and Istanbul and then unsure about Rome.

I am going to go for Murray, Rafa gets very few points in the indoor swing, while Murray gets few points during the clay court swing. I think Murray will do well in wimbeldon and possibly by then be playing well enough to win either wimby or the USO and he also plays well indoors. Fed like Ruffin says is more interested in playing a shorter season and won't kill himself to hold his position.

Anyone as long as its not the arrogant gold trimmed big nose

Just in regards to Stan - he broke up with his wife again and he said it has been a difficult time for him. Maybe that has caused his poor recent run.

Disaster

LuvSports! wrote:Just in regards to Stan - he broke up with his wife again and he said it has been a difficult time for him. Maybe that has caused his poor recent run.

Yeah his head doesn't look right at the moment. I think this probably plays a huge role in his form, these guys are people and without absolute focus on the game and training this type of a distraction can really affect a player.

Did not affect Fed or Djoko, maybe even motivated them more?

But then everyone is a different individual with another individual.

Hopefully Mr perfect gets a good hiding on clay, grass and the hcs and then retires for good. good riddance

ZZ wrote:Hopefully Mr perfect gets a good hiding on clay, grass and the hcs and then retires for good. good riddance

Mr. peRFect really must have your GOAT! It has been a while since I have seen a similar tone. Reminds me a bit of the old 606.

ZZ wrote:Hopefully Mr perfect gets a good hiding on clay, grass and the hcs and then retires for good. good riddance

If he finishes 2015 at #2 the rest should be ashamed of themselves and retire. What losers, trailing a guy on the verge of being eligible for the veterans tour!

well see who has the last laugh.

Big nose worshipers are hilarius

Who's big nose ?

Mr im so smarmy like to wear gold trim jackets and swear at peoples parents.

ZZ wrote:Mr im so smarmy like to wear gold trim jackets and swear at peoples parents.

I'm still not quite sure who you're referring to here ?

If you think 'be quiet' is swearing...

ZZ wrote:well see who has the last laugh.

Big nose worshipers are hilarius

I think the guy you are talking about has had the last laugh for a while now and will continue to do so.

It Must Be Love wrote:If you think 'be quiet' is swearing...

thought you didn't now who I was referring to

You're way behind the times ZZ.

That sort of waffle had a certain amount of traction on the old 606, but those days are long since gone ...

Makes me miss Dr_Sincere. Almost.

Ah, Dr_Sincere. I remember him well, tragically laid low by a crippling case of Premature Speculation. Very sad.