BOLD PREDICTIONS! — Top 10 ATP Americans of 2015
Every year Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand quizes tennis writers on their predictions for The Top 10 ATP Americans of 2015. When he asked us to contribute, we did our best to make educated guesses. Then we threw darts at names of various American players pinned to a dartboard. Then we gave Ricky what we think is The Truth.
So here it is, who we think will be the Top 10 male American tennis players by the end of 2015:
1. Bryan Brothers: Aren’t these the only American guys we cheer without reservation? Thanks for not only keeping us in the World Group, guys, but sending your coach to France to help The Fed finally get a Davis Cup win.
2. Serena Williams: Do I need to explain? Okay, she’s not ATP, but with the #2 thru #10 men in 2014 ranked 35 through 152, surely she’d have a chance of kicking ass on this list as well as the WTA’s.
3. Vasek Pospisil: He’s North American, so he’s American. It totally counts.
4. Juan Martin del Potro: South American. Still counts.
5. Insert obligatory John Isner choice here: Of course, he’s got Gimelstob as coach now, so that should at least guarantee him a ranking of #92, which would still keep him quite high on a list of U.S. dudes.
6. Jack Sock: Only if he’s partnered with Vashy.
7. Christian Harrison: Sure, he had four surgeries last year and has barely gotten back onto the court for practice, but I still trust his tennis more than the rest of these yahoos.
8. Mardy Fish: He hasn’t o-fish-ally retired yet, right??? (UPDATE: HE’S COMING BACK, Y’ALL.)
9. Donald Young: Only if he keeps his hat straight.
10. Wells Fargo Buchanan. Erm, I mean Chase. Or is it Bank of #Merica?
Alternates: Less beardy Smee, Tommy “Hollywood” Haas (as American as Sharapova, let’s be real), and RyRy Harrison (as long as he’s not CRy CRy Harrison). Is it wrong that at least four of the guys I’ve selected aren’t currently playing? I kid because I care, American dudes. I would love our guys to do better and put us back on the map in tennis land.
It’s time for Kudla to make a move; the bout of mono killed a promising summer in 2014 and I’m hoping 2015 will bring better luck. I expect the top ten will retain most of the same names, though shifts within are inevitable. Johnson could shift up to the top. Sock could drop down because of his early season hip surgery. Chase was 26-24 on the challenger circuit in 2014, which wasn’t exactly compelling, but since Krajicek is 31-20 it wouldn’t take much of a leap for Chase to jump into the Top 10.
And Big Harry, I just can’t quit you. A guy who was #43 just two years ago can surely get his finely-shaped behind back on this list. C’mon #Merica, make me proud in 2015!
Also, find out why Ricky thinks Bradley Cooper should be on this list…
Good stuff! I’m willing Ryan Harrison to pick himself up by his bootstraps and kick some ass this year. I’d like to throw Tim Smyczek into this list, too.