Akhenaten wrote:

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My predictions are...

Andy 8
Boggo 80
Tim "back-attacks" Henman 90
Josh 199
Jamie B 200
Bloomers 275
King Mac 300
Jonny M 325
Martin Lee 350
Aucks, Lee Childs, Morgan Phillips, Greg Rusedski (ret.) 400
Slabba, Chris Eaton 500
James Ward 600
Miles Kasiri, Tom Rushby, Ross Hutchins, Tom Burn 700
Flan The Man, Andy Kennaugh, Rob Searle, Matt Smith, Jamie D (ret.) 800
Dan Cox, David Brewer, Neil Bamford 900
Ed Allinson, Richard Irwin, Sean Thornley 1000

Big Arvs ret.

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Wow! You're the first one that actually predicts that any of our players are going to go backwards, please tell the rest of us what it's like on Planet Earth

The Tiger is pretty pessimistic for 2007. Why do you think that Delgado and Smith will retire, do you know something we don't ?

Matt's had a bad year but if he stays fit next year, he can get back into the top 350, injuries keep curtailing his progress, do you know what kind of injury he's struggling with ?

I very much doubt that Delgado will retire especially if he achieves his lifetime ambition and makes the top 100, albeit in doubles. He's really shot up the doubles rankings this year, unless he really starts to stall and go backwards, surely he's going to want to see how far he can go.

I see that you're not particularly confident of Boggo's chances next year, I reckon he'll start to push on further into the top 100, he's already beaten quite a few guys between 50-100 the next step is beating guys ranked in the top 50 [he's got 2 wins so far] but he's got the weapons to do that. In the States, he's going to do a lot of work on his intensity and fitness which will help take his game to the next level, particularly on the slower outdoor surfaces. During the Henman match in Bangkok, the commentators said that Alex has great hand skills and he uses these to create angles and get himself out of trouble. Unfortunately this has meant that his footwork isn't as intense or as precise as it should be, and this results sometimes in balls which shouldn't put him on the defensive, doing so.

No one seems to be predicting a good year for Mackin. I reckon he's going to be the surprise package for 2007, I predict top 150 at least. He's gunning for top 250 by the end of this year !!

Martin's been unlucky this autumn with some really rough draws, his form and confidence seem to have taken a battering. I think Goodall and Bloomers will push on to about 150 but I'll change my prediction about Martin. On reflection I reckon that he'll dip down to about 270 but end the year ranked about 225.

I agree with Jonny Marray, the problem he's got is that his game only seems to be really effective for about 6 and a half months of the year in total. The rest of the time, he has to play on outdoor hard and clay. He's had some sporadic good results on those surfaces in futures but hasn't been able to do it consistently enough to make a big difference to his ranking.

Bladetiger, you've missed James Ward, Dan Cox, Rob Searle, Tom Burn, Neil Bamford

Ok here goes....

Andy M. = 9
Tim.      = 40-50
Greg      = Retired
Boggo    = 90-100
Goodall  = 170-180 (Have hopes he can go higher though, I like his mentallity)
Mak-King = 190-200
Baker Boy/Bloomers = 220-230
Jonny M = 240-250
Lee       = 280-290 (I think injuries are taking there toll on him)
Childs    = 350-360
Phillips   = 430-440
Fleming  = 450-460
Kasiri     = 550-560
Slabba   = 650-660
Ward     = 720-730
Cox/Wright/Allinson to break top 1000.

Player to watch = Goodall - I think qualifying for 2 grand slams in 1 year at his age is a great sign and has made some adjustments to his game which should help him gradually rise up the rankings.

ultimateshedman wrote:

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He came close to making the top 250 in 2004. He's our only active player outside the top 4 to have won an ATP match outside the grass court season.

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James Auckland??? Also, Jamie D won quite a few matches on hard.


Talent doesn't disappear. Lee was world class as a 16 year old and very good at 18. If he can sort out some mental difficulties he surely faces, he can be a top 250 player at the start of 2008.

Oops !!!

I'd completely forgotten Auckland in Mumbai and also Delgado made an ATP quarter-final in Tashkent in 2000, gave Safin a close match too.

I think Lee's problems are more game-style related than anything...he's got the big serve and forehand but so has everyone else in the top 300, you need to have something extra to be able to make inroads. From what I've seen, he sometimes lacks consistency from the baseline, particularly on the backhand which opponents target. I don't think he comes to the net enough, he's a quality volleyer - won the US Open junior doubles in 2000. I've been surprised that he hasn't played much doubles.

Thought I'd summarise our predictions.  And see how we're all doing. I know it's early days, but I thought it would be interesting to update every so often.

Green is within 20% of actual ranking
Dark Green is within 50% of actual ranking
Orange is 100% of actual ranking
Red is outside 100% of actual ranking

Looks to me like DeadRubber and Kundalini are doing best at the moment.
Arka has yet to score a green.

But like I say, it is very early days.

...and Robert Dee came so close to a tie-break for JohnnyLad last week, managing a galant 5-7 lose. 

-- Edited by Akhenaten at 13:20, 2007-02-08