Ricky’s Picks For The 2021 Year-End Rankings And The Nitto ATP Tennis Finals Field In Milan

By Ricky Dimon

No person was there to see it, however the 2020 Nitto ATP Finals have been wildly entertaining. Final 12 months’s match was the grand finale on the O2 Enviornment in London earlier than it strikes to Turin, Italy beginning in 2021.

Who would be the eight members on the new venue this coming November? Will Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal proceed to dominate the rankings and steal the highest two seeds in Turin? Are Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas—the latest year-end championship winners—poised to take the subsequent step? Can U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem (additionally the runner-up on the final two Nitto ATP Finals in London) make a push for No. 1? These questions—and extra—will quickly be answered; so it’s time to foretell the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals eight-man subject…so as.

1. Novak Djokovic – Djokovic completed No. 1 in 2020 for a record-tying sixth time and did so with room to spare. The 33-year-old Serb would have carried out so much more convincingly had it not been for the notorious U.S. Open fourth-round default. Djokovic wore out mentally down the stretch only a bit, however the offseason and what ought to be a much less tumultuous 2021 marketing campaign may have him rejuvenated. Djokovic is one of the best participant on the earth proper now and he’s nonetheless in his prime, so there is no such thing as a purpose to assume something will change within the rankings.

2. Dominic Thiem – With a Grand Slam title lastly beneath his belt (2020 U.S. Open), it ought to solely be full steam forward for Thiem in 2021. The third-ranked Austrian is the second-best participant on the earth on clay and he has turn into much more profitable on arduous courts than on the gradual stuff, so outdoors of some weeks on grass he can contend for large titles at each match by which he participates. Thiem has reached the ultimate at three of the 4 slams in his profession and twice in a row on the Nitto ATP Finals. The 27-year-old thrives on the massive stage, which is clearly the place he can acquire essentially the most rating factors.

3. Daniil Medvedev – I predicted a “sophomore hunch” for Medvedev following his breakout 2019, leaving him out of the 2020 London subject. If not for the restructured rating system, that decision was proper on the cash till the Russian captured the Paris Masters title from utterly out of nowhere. For sure, I’m—absolutely together with everybody else—completely again on the Medvedev bandwagon. The 24-year-old wrapped up this previous season on a 10-match successful streak by rolling by means of Paris and London, thus inspiring a ton of confidence for his 2021 marketing campaign. Medvedev isn’t robust sufficient on clay (nor on grass, for that matter) to surpass Djokovic and Thiem, however the No. 3 rating is properly inside attain.

4. Rafael Nadal – Provided that Nadal is one 12 months older (34) and has extra put on and tear on his physique, he isn’t fairly in his prime to the identical extent as Djokovic. That’s to not say the Spaniard is over the hill by any means, however it additionally wouldn’t be a shock to see him cut back on his schedule in hopes of preserving his well being—a la Roger Federer in current seasons. After all, a typical clay-court haul (together with a possible 14th French Open triumph in 2021) by itself would most likely be sufficient to maintain Nadal on the highest 4. There could also be a minor decline, however to be completely clear I feel he shall be loads nearer to No. 2 than to No. 5.

5. Stefanos Tsitsipas – Thiem, Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev have surpassed Tsitsipas when it comes to reaching no less than one Grand Slam ultimate (in Thiem’s case reaching many and likewise successful one). Take into account, although, that Tsitsipas is youthful than all of these guys at 22 years outdated. In actual fact, he’s the youngest man within the prime 11. The world No. 6 made a run to the 2020 French Open semifinals after trailing Jaume Munar two units to like in spherical one and he got here inside one set of finishing a comeback from 2-0 down towards Djokovic within the semis. Stellar on all three surfaces, Tsitsipas can rack up tons of rating factors week in and week out.

6. Andrey Rublev – The one good factor that occurred in 2020 was my prediction for Rublev to have a Texas-sized 12 months coming true. And saying it merely got here true could be a gross understatement. The 23-year-old Russian led your entire tour with 5 titles whereas compiling an unbelievable 41-10 document. He’s as much as No. 8 on the earth and he could be ranked even increased primarily based on 2020 factors alone. In different phrases, it gained’t require a lot enchancment in any respect for him to climb a pair extra spots and attain No. 6. I’m undecided Rublev is prepared for a Grand Slam breakthrough, however constant successful on all surfaces and in any respect tiers of tournaments ought to see him stay within the prime 10 with ease.

7. Roberto Bautista Agut – It’s sort of superb that Bautista Agut has by no means certified for the YEC and even performed a match there as an alternate. Positive he doesn’t have the weapons that permit him to significantly hassle one of the best gamers within the recreation and Grand Slams have been his Waterloo (with a couple of exceptions, corresponding to a Wimbledon semifinal look in 2019), however the 32-year-old has been hanging across the prime 10 for nearly a decade now. RBA principally by no means will get injured and he has no less than a couple of extra seasons within the prime of his profession. This upcoming one might be his greatest season ever.

8. Alexander Zverev – Zverev all the time appears to have loads on his plate off the court docket, and 2021 shall be no exception. His tennis has by no means actually been impacted by off-court points, however sooner or later you must assume it will likely be in some form or type. That mixed together with his well-documented serving woes might make it tough for the 23-year-old German to take pleasure in the identical stage of consistency for a full season as the fellows forward of him on this listing are able to displaying. I’m tempted to drop Zverev totally out of the Milan subject, however his sheer expertise and the relative lack of different top-eight contenders could permit him to qualify.

Alternates

9. Denis Shapovalov – I had Shapovalov making the 2020 subject and for some time that regarded like a good decide, however the rankings restructuring and a late-season hunch ended his hopes properly in need of the ultimate vacation spot. The 21-year-old Canadian can get nearer this time round with extra expertise beneath his belt. Strictly from a expertise standpoint, Shapovalov has prime 10 written throughout him. This can be the 12 months all of it comes collectively for a full 10/11 months.

10. Pablo Carreno Busta – Carreno Busta is true up there with essentially the most underrated gamers on tour; he may even be the chief of that pack, in truth. I’ve by no means made that mistake and am not about to make it in 2021. Positive the 29-year-old Spaniard obtained an enormous help from Djokovic on the U.S. Open, however he deserves each little bit of his present No. 16 rating. He would truly be ranked increased if different guys round him didn’t get to maintain so a lot of their factors from 2019 (which was a mediocre season for him). PCB has performed within the YEC as an alternate earlier than and he could also be within the combine once more for Milan.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may comply with him on twitter at @Dimonator.