TennisX's 2003 Year-End Predictions

Not sure if this has already been posted. But I found it quite amusing. It's very interesting how unexpected the year-end results of 2003 were.

For those who don't know, at the end of 2002, TennsX staff took the top 10 ranking and made predictions for the end of 2003 and where those players would be.

ATP 2003 YEAR-END RANKING PREDICTIONS

1. Lleyton Hewitt
-> Still the man, er kid, to beat, and at crunch time he remains head and shoulders above the rest.

2. Marat Safin
-> Will claim some major titles but inconsitent play/desire/heart continues to keep the Russian from a year-end No. 1 finish.

3. Roger Federer
-> The Swiss star should continue his rise behind his solid all-court play and improved performance during the U.S. summer swing and in the Slams.

4. Tim Henman
-> His serve-and-volley should annoy and beffudle opponents enough for a Top 5 finish.

5. Carlos Moya
-> "King Carlos" came on strong in 2002 and found form, a Slam title at Roland Garros and a return to No. 1 could be in the cards.

6. Juan Carlos Ferrero
-> A solid clay season and good hardcourt play makes this Spaniard a Top 10 stalwart, though a Slam title run will have to wait yet another year.

7. Andre Agassi
-> With contemporaries Sampras and Chang on the way out, this charismatic champion is now the elderstatesmen of the game, a role he will not cherish as his aging body will further limit his game.

8. Gustavo Kuerten
-> "Guga" will start the year slow but make a nice recovery following an injury-riddled 2002 and vault back into the Top 10 to earn the last spot at the TMC Houston.

9. Andy Roddick
-> Should improve upon his poor '02 Slam play but injuries and pressure will interfere with higher aspirations.

10. Guillermo Canas
-> As long as he stays injury-free, this indefatigable Argentine figures to be a major factor on all surfaces in 2003.

Wow, could they be more wrong?! LOL

the only one who is close is Federer, one spot off.

but Hewitt, Guga, and Cañas are totally out of the Top Ten picture!

thanks, that was interesting.

Wow, could they be more wrong?! LOL

the only one who is close is Federer, one spot off.

but Hewitt, Guga, and Cañas are totally out of the Top Ten picture!

thanks, that was interesting.

Absolutely. Not to mention Henman's injury-ridden season, and Safin's virtual disappearance for most of the season.

It really is astounding to me to remember the expectations for this year and realize how completely different it all turned out. Reminds me that anything can happen next year.

Shows their pretty clueless.
The easiest pick for 2003 was Ferrero winning the French and they muddled that

I know, :rolleyes: at them predicting Ferrero would not win a Slam. He was always the favourite to win RG 2003. LMAO at Henman at #4 too! No one would have predicted that at the end of last year, unless they were a Henman fan.

not forgetting ferrero even reached 2 slam finals....trusting them predicting that he still have to wait another yr before he gets it......guess not counting the chicks before they are hatched is really true.....well what can we say about 2004.....lets stop predicting cos it may jinx the players....hehehhe look at hewitt n safin....;p

yea tennis-x is still pretty amusing!

They predicted great things for the wrong Guillermo. :)

I think Bob Larsen has more reasoned analysis than this group. They bought into several message board myths. But it goes to show that you don't know what is going to happen in tennis. Who knew that Andy would change coaches and that the change would ignite a surge to the top ranking? Coria was a blip on the outer edge of the radar. Putting Canas in there was sort of dunderheaded. Marat didn't show anything in 2002 that would lead one to believe he was going to be a contender for the top spot. (lol talk about hype!!) I can see why Lleyton got the top spot, but before the end of last year he was saying that he was going to cut way back on his schedule. That should have been a clue.

Such bad predictions. No correct guesses, although I'll give them credit for Federer. They probably also believed at that time that the Wimbledon final for Nalbandian was a fluke.

I can live with them picking Hewitt and Safin but they said Moya could return to #1 and win the French, also picked Henman for #4, said Ferrero would have to wait another year when it was clear 2002 was the "waititng year" for Ferrero

Did they predict anything for 2004? If they did, then we will know who's not going to be in the top 10 next year!

LOL!!!!!

I'd guess they'll do it in the next few weeks before the season starts.....

Interesting train of thought.

:haha: Really good one

It certainly was very dumb of them to pick Henman to stay in the Top 5 considering that he ended last year with his shoulder injury already very apparent and it was clear he wouldn't be able to play at the start of 2003. I suppose with Safin, you wouldn't have guessed his injury problems until they started to develop in Australia... and Canas was another ill-advised choice, he barely played a match after he won Toronto last year. But you can't fault some of their predictions, whoever would have thought that Hewitt and Roddick's rankings would go in opposite directions so quickly?

But you can't fault some of their predictions, whoever would have thought that Hewitt and Roddick's rankings would go in opposite directions so quickly?

I'll take a stab at that... no one, probably not even either of them lol. A slight digression but I can't wait til they play each other again!

Oh, I can certainly picture the rematch. AO 2004, 4th round, Hewitt v Roddick. Break point Hewitt, Roddick hits a massive serve which the Aussie scrapes back into play, a big forehand approach which Hewitt dashes all the way over to and threads cross-court into the opposite corner at full stretch. "C'MOOONNNN!!!!!!!!" Commentator: "The beast is back!"

Or something of that nature. Ahem.

Oh, I can certainly picture the rematch. AO 2004, 4th round, Hewitt v Roddick. Break point Hewitt, Roddick hits a massive serve which the Aussie scrapes back into play, a big forehand approach which Hewitt dashes all the way over to and threads cross-court into the opposite corner at full stretch. "C'MOOONNNN!!!!!!!!" Commentator: "The beast is back!"

Or something of that nature. Ahem.


hahaha good one.. though I would hope it would turn out in the other favor ;) I just think with all the improvements Andy's made since that USO match that it would be quite interesting now.

anyway, as random as tennis-x sometimes is, they add an interesting viewpoint for sure. And at least they deride everyone fairly equally LOL

It's all about the entertainment, nevermind the sport. ;)