| TR.NET'S
2004 MEN'S TOP 20
From
Roger at the top to surprising Vinny
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net
Art Seitz |
Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA |
Ron Cioffi/TR.net |
Siggi Bucher |
Ron Cioffi/TR.net |
These rankings follow the year-end ATP
rankings.
1. Roger Federer:
A season like the Swiss had only comes around every 20 years or
so. No one in the Top 10 could touch him. He'll have to take all four
Slams to top his '04 heroics.
2. Andy Roddick: A somewhat disappointing
season for A-Rod, with no Slam titles and tough times at the US
Open, Masters Cup and Davis Cup final. Still, he's improving daily,
which bodes well for '05.
3. Lleyton Hewitt: If not for Federer
besting him at three Slams and Masters Cup, the workhorse may
have regained his cherished No. 1. Still lacks a big-time forehand,
but has big-time heart. Pity for him that Kimmy shattered it off-court.
4. Marat Safin: Tommy Haas maybe
be the physical comeback player of the year, but the Russian is
the mental comeback man. Re-motivated, he reached Aussie Open
and Masters finals and won two Masters Series crown. Could be
Fed's toughest foe in '05 or join Kafelnikov at the poker tables.
5. Carlos Moya: Outside of the Slams,
he's a truly elite player but at the majors, he lacks confidence
in his weapons. However, he revived in the Davis Cup final in
a bug way and now Charly will be threat for another Roland Garros crown.
6. Tim Henman: Outside of his bizarre
loss to Mario Ancic at Wimbledon, it was Tiger Tim's best year ever,
as he made semis in Paris and NY. Coach Annacone has worked wonders
with his confidence.
7. Guillermo Coria: The speedy Argentine
with soft hands was on his way to his first French title and he
gagged in a huge way. As good as he is, he may never recover.
8. Andre Agassi: For most veterans,
finishing in the Top 10 at age 34 is worth celebrating. For Agassi,
it's an elusive ninth Slam title that really matters. Of course,
a Slam mixed title with wife Steffi Graf wouldn't hurt either. Now
that's she's playing exos, don't count her out.
9. David Nalbandian: Given how long
he was injured, it's miracle he finished this high. A true measure
of the smooth Argentine's talent.
10. Gaston Gaudio: Unquestionably
one the biggest surprise Slam winners of the Open era with his
Paris run. The Argentine has the prettiest one-handed backhand
outside of Roger.
11. Joachim Johansson: With a huge
serve and forehand and lots of improvement to make elsewhere,
he's a Nordic Roddick. How long before he follows Kimmy's lead
and dumps Jaslyn?
12. Guillermo Cañas: Before
his '02 wrist surgery, he was Argentina's Slam winner to be. The
toughest-looking elite player from his deep nation, he's now healthy
and should crack the Top 10 in '05.
13. Tommy Robredo: This 22-year-old
Spaniard improves each year, but he's a little too soft to become
a true elite player. Even if he was a little buzzed from the post
Davis Cup win champagne, how in the world did he lose to Mardy
Fish in the dead rubber?
14. Dominik Hrbaty: After an impressive
coming out party in '99, this powerful Slovak struggled, but he's
a more consistent and heady player now.
15. Sebastien Grosjean: A beautiful,
creative player to watch when he's healthy, but that's been all
too rare for France's leading man.
16. Mikhail Youzhny: Tremendously
talented Russian has played in the shadow of Kafelnikov and Safin,
but is now on the verge of a major breakthrough.
17. Tommy Haas: Former No. 2 missed
all of '03 recovering from a shoulder injury and then diligently
works his way back in '04. May never win a Slam, but has showed
lots of courage.
18. Andrei Pavel: This 30-year-old
Romanian has had a very respectable career, but always seems to
lose steam at the majors. But he'll give Spain hell in the first
round of Davis Cup.
19. Nicolas Massu: While the Chilean
may never win a Slam, he'll always remember being cheered by 250,000
fans after his spectacular Olympic gold medal victories.
20. Vince Spadea: Had his best year
ever at age 30, but not good enough for a Davis Cup spot. Oh,
well there's always '05 – or not.
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