To this point in 2024, the younger weapons have dominated the ATP Tour forward the clay season. Three massive titles have been claimed, divided amongst two of the tour’s finest younger stars.
However that was all on onerous courts. The following few months can be all about clay, which has the potential to shake up the tour.
This week, the NBO Energy Rankings panel dives into how the world’s finest stand on the dust.
(Brackets point out change in place because the final version of the Energy Rankings from earlier than Indian Wells.)
1. Carlos Alcaraz (+4)
Precise Rating: 3
2024 Document: 15-4
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells Champion
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid Champion (2022, 2023), Roland-Garros SF (2023)
Carlitos is again! After an prolonged droop with no title following his Wimbledon crown final summer season, the Spanish phenom righted the ship at Indian Wells, successful his thirteenth profession ATP title and fifth Masters 1000 crown.
Although he would falter within the quarter-finals of the Miami Open to a red-hot Grigor Dimitrov, the swap has undoubtedly flipped. Alcaraz can use his full toolbox of pictures, heavy spin and energy, and dynamic, electrical motion to dominate the clay, a floor the place he already boasts an elite 80.5% successful proportion.
– Ben
2. Jannik Sinner (-1)
Precise Rating: 2
2024 Document: 22-1
Notable Current Outcomes: Miami Champion
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome QF (2022), Roland-Garros QF (2020)
Jannik Sinner is having a second.
With three new crowns in his trophy case because the begin of yr and a glowing 22-1 document, he’s using excessive into the clay season. The newly minted World No.2 may profit from the change of courts to stake his declare on the very prime of the ATP hierarchy, however first he’ll should get previous Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, who’ll be vying for the titles of king of clay and the ATP.
What ought to we anticipate from Jannik over the subsequent few weeks? He’s obtained solely 585 factors to defend, so something’s attainable.
– Sarah-Jade
3. Novak Djokovic (-1)
Precise Rating: 1
2024 Document: 8-3
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells R3
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo (2x), Madrid (3x), Rome (6x) and Roland-Garros (3x) Champion
It’s essentially the most weak Novak Djokovic has seemed in years. The world no. 1 is but to win a title in 2024, misplaced in his second match at Indian Wells to little-known Italian Luca Nardi, pulled out of Miami, after which let go of his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Nevertheless, he’s proven an immense capacity to bounce again after powerful defeats.
Final season, he struggled heading into Roland-Garros earlier than turning as much as his win his third profession French Open. He stays one of many fittest, most elite athletes on this planet and already arrived at Monte Carlo early for clay preparations.
– Ben
4. Alexander Zverev (NEW)
Precise Rating: 5
2024 Document: 18-6
Notable Current Outcomes: Miami SF
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Madrid (2018, 2021) and Rome (2017) Champion, Roland-Garros SF (2021-2023)
Zverev had a stable run throughout the Sunshine Double, reaching the Indian Wells quarter-finals and Miami semifinals. Having performed properly on the hard-court 1000s, expectations can be excessive for him because the tour shifts to clay.
Learn additionally: Clay-Courtroom Transition Additional Distinguished on 2024 Calendar
The German has three 1000 titles on the dust to his title, two in Madrid and one in Rome, and has reached three straight Roland-Garros semifinals. The final time he was totally wholesome throughout the clay season in 2022, he reached the semis or higher at each massive occasion on the floor.
– Pete
5. Daniil Medvedev (-2)
Precise Rating: 4
2024 Document: 18-4
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells Runner-Up
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Rome Champion (2023), Roland-Garros QF (2021)
A card-carrying member of the High 10 since 2019, Daniil Medvedev has confirmed time and time once more that he’s a contender at each event he enters.
He’s been fairly open about how he feels about clay and nonetheless managed to win the 2023 Rome Masters with out dropping a set. A finalist in Indian Wells, Mr. Octopus can be reaching for each ball and forcing his opponents to make errors.
– Abraham
6. Casper Ruud (+1)
Precise Rating: 8
2024 Document: 18-5
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells QF
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo (2021), Madrid (2021), and Rome (3x) SF, Roland-Garros Runner-Up (2022, 2023)
Will 2024 be Casper Ruud’s yr?
He obtained his season off to a stable begin and can be bringing excessive expectations to the clay courts. On his absolute favorite floor, he holds 9 singles titles, two RG finals (2023 and 2022) and a 217-102 document.
Learn additionally: Who Can Problem Iga Swiatek on Clay?
May he go three for 3 at French Open finals and perhaps even convey the Coupe des Mousquetaires dwelling to Norway?
– Sarah-Jade
7. Holger Rune (+2)
Precise Rating: 7
2024 Document: 13-7
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells QF
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo and Rome Runner-Up (2023), Roland-Garros QF (2023)
If there’s anybody wanting poised to take a step ahead from the 2023 clay-court season, it’s 20-year-old Holger Rune. The younger expertise has rapidly emerged as a High 10 participant within the ATP rankings and has proven unbelievable prowess on clay prior to now. Rune made three clay-court finals in 2023 together with a title in Munich, and finalist outcomes at each the Monte-Carlo and Rome Masters 1000 occasions.
Learn additionally: 5 Canadians Kicking Off 2024 Clay Season
He ended his early season onerous court docket swing with a whimper, being defeated by Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 6-1 in Miami which ought to give him loads of motivation to get again on monitor on the purple clay in Europe.
– Mike
8. Grigor Dimitrov (NEW)
Precise Rating: 9
2024 Document: 20-5
Notable Current Outcomes: Miami Runner-Up
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo (2018, 2022) and Rome (2014) SF, Roland-Garros R4 (2020, 2023)
Grigor Dimitrov turned again the clocks in Miami, reaching his third Masters 1000 last in dramatic style by taking down three of the High 10 seeds, Hubert Hurkacz, prime seed Alcaraz, and Zverev, on his solution to a finals conflict with Sinner.
It’s been a stable run of late for the resurgent former world No. 3. He has now reached three finals in 2024 and two of the final three Masters 1000 finals relationship again to Paris final November. He has performed properly on the clay 1000s prior to now, having reached the Monte-Carlo and Rome Semis and the Madrid quarters.
– Pete
9. Andrey Rublev (-3)
Precise Rating: 6
2024 Document: 15-6
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells R3
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo Champion (2023), Roland-Garros QF (2020, 2022)
Andrey Rublev is certainly wanting ahead to the clay court docket season. The reigning champion in Monte Carlo can be centered on defending his title after a disappointing Sunshine Double.
Learn additionally: WTA Pre-Clay Energy Rankings
The World No. 6 could put on his coronary heart on his sleeve, however he stays a harmful opponent with an arsenal of weapons. To achieve his objectives, he’ll should battle his rivals and his demons.
– Abraham
10. Stefanos Tsitsipas (NEW)
Precise Rating: 12
2024 Document: 11-6
Notable Current Outcomes: Indian Wells R4
Greatest Massive Clay Outcomes: Monte-Carlo Champion (2021, 2022), Roland-Garros Runner-Up (2021)
Flying considerably below the radar so far in 2024 is Stefanos Tsitsipas, though the world No. 12 ought to very a lot be included when speaking in regards to the prime clay-court gamers on this planet. He’s a former French Open finalist, has gained the title in Monte-Carlo twice, and has reached the finals of Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.
Learn additionally: Shapovalov – 2024 Version
His document on the massive clay court docket Masters 1000 occasions and the French Open is a powerful 60-21. In 2023 he was bested by Carlos Alcaraz within the finals of Barcelona in addition to the quarter-finals in Paris, however can be seeking to get again to his ordinary consolation degree on the floor this Spring.
– Mike
The Nationwide Financial institution Open Energy Rankings are a bunch collaboration by the Energy Rankings Panel which incorporates:
The ATP’s finest return to Montreal this summer season for the Nationwide Financial institution Open August 3 to 12, 2024 at IGA Stadium. 2024 Tickets are on sale. Get your tickets at this time!
