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Even with the the rankings freeze attributable to COVID-19, Milos Raonic and Pablo Carreno Busta stood out for his or her stellar years, rising 17 and 11 locations, respectively. Others, like Gael Monfils and Denis Shapovalov, had up-and-down years because of the break. Let’s transfer on to recapping 5 Prime 15 gamers, and all of those males ought to be in wonderful type to begin 2021, able to problem on the greatest occasions.
11. Gael Monfils
Win/loss document (tour-level matches): 16-7
2019 rank: #10 (-1)
Monfils basically had two utterly totally different seasons earlier than and after the COVID-19 break. Sadly, his prime type to start 2020 was never found when returning within the fall. After the ATP Cup, the Frenchman performed in 4 laborious courtroom tournaments to start the yr, profitable at the least three matches in all of them. A decent fourth-round loss to Dominic Thiem on the Australian Open started the yr and was adopted simply the following week by a title in Montpellier. He adopted that up with a dominant efficiency in Rotterdam, profitable the event with out dropping a set and defeating younger Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime within the last. Monfils is among the most entertaining gamers on tour, however shouldn’t be identified for his consistency, as this was the primary time in his profession that he gained two finals in a single season, a lot much less again to again weeks!
A semifinal in Dubai could be his final look earlier than the pandemic cancellations, and sadly his final win of 2020. He regarded like a totally totally different participant on the finish of the yr, taking part in 4 occasions and shedding all 4 matches with a set document of 1-8. Hopefully, Monfils merely struggled to regain health after the lengthy layoff, and his type confirmed the expertise continues to be there, and his rating on the fringe of the Prime 10 is effectively deserved.
12. Denis Shapovalov
Win/loss document (tour-level matches): 17-15
2019 rank: #15 (+3)
Within the reverse facet of Monfils, Shapovalov struggled to start 2020, with inconsistent play that has held him again a lot of his younger profession. He compiled a poor 4-7 document within the early months of the season, underlined by a disappointing first spherical exit on the Australian Open. Shapovalov returned in the USA, and his actual breakthrough got here on the US Open, turning his season round. He reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in New York with wins over Taylor Fritz and David Goffin on the best way. His last match was a grueling five-set loss to veteran Pablo Carreno Busta–a troublesome method to finish it however proving he can play below the lights on the most important stage.
His all-around recreation adjusted effectively to clay with a semifinal look on the Rome Masters the place he pushed Diego Schwarzman to a final-set tiebreak. Shapovalov did wrestle at Roland Garros with a disappointing second spherical loss, however the early Main losses opens a window for enormous rating enchancment subsequent yr. He did lose his last 4 matches of the season, however after the whole lot that occurred in 2020, followers mustn’t learn into that two a lot and principally see the encouraging indicators of a participant many have touted to be a future prime participant.
13. Roberto Bautista Agut
Win/loss document (tour-level matches): 20-8
2019 rank: #9 (-4)
“RBA” had a typical season of his, with constant wins all year long with out making any big noise on the weekend at huge tournaments. Together with Rafael Nadal he helped lead Spain to the ultimate on the ATP Cup, going 6-0 in singles with out dropping a set. He reached the third spherical on the Australian Open, which set the tone for third spherical appearances in any respect three of the Grand Slams performed in 2020. The spotlight of the Spaniard’s season was on the Cincinnati event performed in New York. He reached the semifinal with a win over Daniil Medvedev on the best way and was on the entrance foot for many of his match towards Novak Djokovic till Djokovic clawed out an improbably victory as he has finished so many occasions.
After a decent 4-2 document on clay, he completed the yr on the laborious courts in Cologne. He completed the season sturdy reaching the semifinal and shutting 2020 with a formidable 20-8 document, although and not using a title or a last look. RBA had one in all his classic seasons the place he wins quite a lot of matches, is a menace to anybody on tour, however doesn’t have any big outcomes to get on the radar of extra informal followers.
14. Milos Raonic
Win/loss document (tour-level matches): 23-9
2019 rank: #31 (+17)
Raonic will probably be one of many gamers most disenchanted by the COVID-19 layoff in 2020. Beginning the season ranked thirty first on the planet, he made a dominant run to the Australian Open quarterfinal with out dropping a set in his 4 wins in Melbourne. Following a semifinal in Delray Seaside, the Canadian broke into the Prime 30 however instantly stopped his momentum with a six-month break. Raonic didn’t lose a step on the return to tennis, arriving in New York for the Cincinnati Masters the place he reached the ultimate and scored his second win of the yr over Stefanos Tsitsipas. Seemingly attributable to fatigue, he misplaced within the second spherical of the US Open to Vasek Pospisil, however his sturdy efficiency the earlier week took him into the top-20.
He solely performed two matches all yr on clay, his weakest floor, rapidly pivoting to the indoor laborious courtroom swing to finish the season. He amassed a superb 9-2 document in his last three tournaments of the season, highlighted by a semifinal look within the Paris. Raonic lastly overcame accidents to have a robust season and going ahead he’ll look to crack the top-10 for the primary time since August of 2017.
15. David Goffin
Win/loss document (tour-level matches): 12-11
2019 rank: #11 (-4)
Goffin had a troublesome yr this season with only a 12-11 document all through 2020, however loved a excessive rating bolstered by the ATP’s frozen rating system. He began the season with some first rate outcomes with a 3rd spherical look on the Australian Open and a semifinal in Montpellier, in addition to a win over Grigor Dimitrov on the ATP Cup. The Belgian sat at world #10 going into the break, however the lack of match play didn’t assist Goffin coming into the second half of the season.
He held his personal on the US Open, reaching the spherical of 16 the place he misplaced to Denis Shapovalov. His third-round win in New York over Filip Krajinovic would show to be his final of the season. Goffin misplaced his last 5 matches of the yr, underlined by an unpleasant straight-set loss to world #105 Norbert Gombos on the Paris Masters to finish the season. He did rating loads of wins, however beating only one participant ranked within the top-20 on the time all yr shouldn’t be sufficient for a participant preventing for a top-10 spot. Goffin deservedly saved a robust rank attributable to his play in 2019, so he does have the possibility to show it round in 2021, however should considerably elevate his recreation.
Most important Photograph from Getty.
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