Tennis' Top 15 Men: Are They on Their Way Up or Down in the Rankings?

With the ATP World Tour Finals going on in London, the year-end rankings are pretty much set for 2011.

It has been an interesting season that showcased lots of good surprises and unpredicted performances, with the highlight being Novak Djokovic and his incredibly great run.

Props also to Mardy Fish and Janko Tipsarevic, who (in their late 20s) finished the year inside the Top 10.

It is time now to start thinking about next season and what will happen to the top players. Who will validate their 2011 performances, who will not and who will break through?

Let’s take a look at the Top 15 players in the world and what can be expected from each one of them in the next 12 months.

15) Gael Monfils

Moves down.

Gael Monfils is a talented and entertaining player, in addition to being a great athlete.

Unfortunately, it looks like he never set his priorities straight in his career and was more worried about showing off on the court rather than winning.

He is the type of player that is very difficult to coach and shouldn’t do anything meaningful going forward in his career.

14) Andy Roddick

Moves up.

Andy Roddick didn’t have a good year in 2011, to say the least.

If he finds motivation, however, he can be dangerous. He can beat any player in the world with the help of his big serve, and if he goes back to being more aggressive, with his forehand.

Don’t expect him to go out without a fine last run in his career.

Being No. 14 in the world doesn’t translate to his level as a player, and he should finish 2012 inside the Top 10.

13) Robin Soderling

Moves up.

Robin Soderling is one of the greatest ball strikers in the game and has proven that he can have success against the best players in the world.

He is finishing the year as No. 13 in the world due to health issues in 2011.

Expect him to come back strong next year and definitely break back into the Top 10.

12) Gilles Simon

Stays where he is.

This low-profile French player is as steady as one can be and flies under the radar all year round, accumulating good results.

The lack of a more powerful game and shot-making ability are what should prevent Gilles Simon from moving up in the rankings next year.

11) Juan Martin Del Potro

Moves up.

Expect the big-hitting Argentine to be the player with the most improved ranking by the end of 2012.

Juan Martin Del Potro is young, should be healthy next year and has shown he can beat the top guns in major events.

10) Nicolas Almagro

Moves down.

Nicolas Almagro is a great clay court player with one of the best looking one-handed backhands in the game.

Similarly to Tomas Berdych, however, Almagro is a player who doesn’t show that great desire to become the best he can be.

This trait and all the pressure to defend a lot of points on clay next year should take him out of the Top 10 in 2012.

9) Janko Tipsarevic

Moves down.

The Serbian had a great second half of the year, which took him to London as the alternate player and to a deserved spot among the elite 10.

It will be tough for Janko Tipsarevic to continue to move up, as he lacks a powerful shot that could make a difference at this level.

8) Mardy Fish

Moves down.

It is remarkable what Mardy Fish has done in the latest stage of his career. He has gotten fitter and has shown a great desire to become better and win.

From now on, however, things are not completely in his hands, as competition gets harder and harder as he approaches the top.

Expect him to fall out of the Top 10 next year.

7) Tomas Berdych

Moves down.

Tomas Berdych is a great talent who has yet to prove he is mentally tough and has the desire to defeat the top players in the world.

He is perfectly built for tennis and has a beautiful game, but he seems to disappoint his fans every time he is in a position to establish himself as a great one. 

Younger and hungrier players should surpass him next year.

6) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Stays where he is.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had a good year and impressive results in 2011.

In order to move up in the rankings, he will have to perform even better in 2012, and competition will be tougher with players like Del Potro and Soderling coming back healthy and strong.

He should have a tough time holding on to the No. 6 spot.

5) David Ferrer

Moves down.

Unfortunately (or not), David Ferrer reached the highest position he could possibly have achieved, as No. 5 in the world.

He is the perfect example of how to be the best one can be, regardless of one’s limitations, through hard work and mental toughness.

Younger players like Del Potro, however, should be able to surpass him in the ranking, and he shouldn’t remain as the world’s No. 5.

4) Roger Federer

Moves up.

Federer is finishing the year strongly and should start the next season in top form.

He is still highly motivated, despite being in the later part of his career, and has things he wants to accomplish.

Furthermore, he will have less points to defend next year than he has had in a long time, and that should help.

Expect a fine late-career run and Federer taking over the No. 3 position in the world.

3) Andy Murray

Moves down.

Andy Murray took the No. 3 spot from Roger Federer, but there are still high expectations on him to win a major.

He needs to believe he can overcome Djokovic, Nadal and Federer when it matters most and that he will not break down next time he reaches a major final.

Without some real coaching and some extra confidence, he will have a hard time holding on to the No. 3 spot in the ranking.

2) Rafael Nadal

Stays where he is.

Based on what happened in 2011, Rafael Nadal will have a tough time against Novak Djokovic, who consistently beat him on every surface.

Other players shouldn’t be a problem for him to handle, which is what will keep him as the world No. 2.

1) Novak Djokovic

Stays where he is.

After having what many people are considering to be the best season ever played, Novak Djokovic should be able to hold on to the top of the ranking next year.

His main obstacle will be his health, as he obviously needs to be 100 percent fit to perform at his best.

Other than that, he has shown he can beat any player in the world and should be able to handle the pressure of defending the top spot in the ranking.