Ranking the Top Contenders for 2015 ATP Player of the Year Right Now
The 2015 ATP season has satiated fans with twists, turns and thrilling tennis, from the western shore of the United States to the southern coast of Australia. And this truly global sport is being engineered by several elite male players.
Novak Djokovic’s monarchal dominance remains unchallenged, but even the mighty Serb isn’t without a few worthy challengers in his midst.
Stan Wawrinka slugged his way to an unlikely second Grand Slam title earlier this spring, scoring a seismic win in the final. So much for the talk of him being a one-hit wonder.
While Roger Federer and Andy Murray haven’t been quite as lucky, both men are still enjoying stellar campaigns in their own right. And they’re not alone. A few others have also stood out from the pack and established themselves as worthy of mention.
But only one of these contenders will eventually be crowned Player of the Year. Based off their records and titles, here is how the top of the race is currently shaping up.
Can anyone challenge Djokovic?
Honorable Mention
1 of 6
Tomas Berdych
The physically imposing Czech just missed out on one of the top five spots, but he's built a sturdy record for himself in 2015.
With the aid of new coach Dani Vallverdu, Berdych seems a more focused and composed man. Surely his results (40-12) speak to a newfound sense of order on the court.
Berdych has been remarkably reliable, reaching at least the quarterfinals in 10 of the 12 events he's played, including the finals of Doha, Rotterdam and Monte Carlo.
Unfortunately, Berdych is without a title to his name. His momentum has also waned of late, and he exited both the French Open and Wimbledon in the fourth round.
He's done enough to likely ensure his spot this fall in the World Tour Finals, but Berdych still lags behind his peers.
5. Kei Nishikori
2 of 6
Record: 38-9
Titles: 2 (Memphis, Barcelona)
Kei Nishikori's inspiring run to last year's U.S. Open final ended in heartbreak while simultaneously making him a dark-horse pick to win a Grand Slam title this season.
That breakthrough hasn't happened for Nishikori, but he's nonetheless achieved more success. With two titles and a bounty of victories, the Japanese star has firmly established his spot as one of the top players in the world.
Against bigger, more powerful opponents, however, Nishikori is still a work in progress. He succumbed in the quarterfinals at both the Australian Open and French Open to Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, respectively. Nishikori has a diverse set of skills and incredible athleticism; he just couldn't utilize those tools in crucial moments.
No stranger to the injury bug, Nishikori hurt his calf during a recent warm-up tournament in Halle. He had to pull out of the semifinals there, and that impairment followed him to Wimbledon, where he walked over before his second-round match.
He's done so much right this year, so it's a shame Nishikori couldn't participate at full strength for Wimbledon. But if he's healthy, maybe he can make another concerted run in New York.
Motivated by his near-miss in 2014, watch for Nishikori to emerge as a legitimate contender in Flushing Meadows.
4. Andy Murray
3 of 6
Record: 48-7
Titles: 3 (Munich, Madrid, Queen's Club)
For the lack of a better term, 2014 was a lost season for Andy Murray.
Struggling to shake off the effects of back surgery the previous fall, the surly Scot didn't look quite right for much of the year. He failed to reach a major final or win any title until emerging at a few small events in the fall. And his play against Top 10 opponents was shaky at best.
Yet here he is: once again near the top. It's a credit to his determination and patience that Murray has been able to collect himself after so much disappointment.
His promising run to the Australian Open final ended with a stumble against Novak Djokovic, his frequent tormentor. That loss led to a spring malaise, which surprisingly ended on the dirt.
Before 2015, Murray had never even reached a clay final. No more is that the case after his back-to-back victories in Munich and Madrid, the latter where he easily beat Rafael Nadal for the title.
His 15-0 winning streak on the dirt ended against Djokovic in the French Open semifinals, but Murray rebounded with another title at Queen's Club and a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon.
Although Murray couldn't get past Federer at the All England Club, he's snapping at the Swiss' heels for the No. 2 ranking.
With the U.S. Open (where he won the 2012 title) around the corner, Murray may not have to wait long before surpassing Federer and further turning up the heat on Djokovic.
3. Roger Federer
4 of 6
Record: 40-7
Titles: 4 (Brisbane, Dubai, Istanbul, Halle)
Even with his 34th birthday rapidly approaching, there’s still plenty of spring left in Roger Federer’s legs.
A second-straight loss in the Wimbledon final shouldn’t overshadow what otherwise served as a vintage fortnight on the grass for Federer. Over the course of his run in England, the world No. 2 looked far from finished. The way he stymied Andy Murray in the semifinals ranks as one of his best performances in years.
His Grand Slam drought continues, but the window to end it isn't closed for Federer. It may even be opening up.
He’ll have more chances. To convert them, the Swiss needs to find more consistency—especially late in majors. Although he’s won titles at four small events, Federer suffered a shock third-round loss at the Australian Open and meekly fell in the French Open quarterfinals to Stan Wawrinka.
Those rocky patches keep Federer from ranking higher on this list. A return to his old stomping grounds in Cincinnati and New York could soon be the tonic he needs to keep climbing.
2. Stan Wawrinka
5 of 6
Record: 34-10
Titles: 3 (Chennai, Rotterdam, French Open)
One Swiss player completed the monumental task of beating Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam final this season. And it wasn’t Roger Federer.
Stan Wawrinka did what few expected him to do: win a second major title. On the red clay in Paris, he swept past Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Djokovic in succession, with his performance in the final one of the most devastating displays of offensive firepower ever witnessed.
The Stanimal broke out of his cage at Roland Garros, with a triumph that rightfully elevates his stock. He’s the only man besides Djokovic to capture a Grand Slam title in 2015, and the fact he beat the Serb to do it is all the more impressive.
No, it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for Wawrinka. He’s suffered early losses at several tournaments; unpredictability is Stan the Man’s forte. But those bad results are tempered by his trophies at Chennai and Rotterdam and deep runs at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Other players may have more victories than Wawrinka so far, yet no one has a more memorable one than his scintillating finish at the French Open.
1. Novak Djokovic
6 of 6
Record: 48-3
Titles: 6 (Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome, Wimbledon)
All hail the king.
Novak Djokovic is the runaway leader in the marathon 2015 season. Actually, he’s lapping the field at this point.
The reigning world No.1 has crushed the opposition with his unrelenting perfection, winning nearly everything in sight since last fall. With two majors and four Masters Series titles under his belt, Djokovic has blasted his way into another stratosphere.
The only blemish on his otherwise pristine year is a runner-up finish at the French Open, a crown which still remains out of his reach. But categorizing a finalist appearance at a major as a disappointment only underscores the high bar he’s set for himself.
Redemption came in the form of another virtuosic performance at Wimbledon, where he brushed past a stern test from Roger Federer for his third title at the All England Club. With that victory, Djokovic sealed his ninth major. And at age 28, he's only entering his prime.
There will be no calendar Grand Slam for Djokovic in 2015, yet he’ll be the heavy favorite to add a third piece of hardware soon at the U.S. Open. Based off his relentless form of late, who can doubt his ability to do so?
Djokovic has ensured 2015 will be a shining chapter in his story as he continues his assault on the record books.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
