With less than a month to go before another ATP World Tour season begins, it’s not too early to start thinking about 2016. Nor is it too late to reflect on the year gone by. Let’s take a look at the 2015 award winners and predict what may unfold over the upcoming 11 months.
ATP World Tour No. 1
2015 winner: Novak Djokovic
2016 prediction: Novak Djokovic. He may not finish out in front by more than 7,000 points this time around, but there is no reason to bet against Djokovic in this department. Nobody looks strong enough at the moment to pose any real threat–not even if Rafael Nadal returns to form.
ATP World Tour No. 1 Doubles Team
2015 winner: Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau
2016 prediction: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. The 2015 race was an epic one in which four teams were still in year-end No. 1 contention going into the World Tour Finals. Although the Bryans’ days of complete domination are over, they should get back to the top. Injuries and family life got in the way this season, but the brothers are not going to go two straight years without winning at least one slam.
ATP Star of Tomorrow Award
2015 winner: Alexander Zverev
2016 prediction: Andrey Rublev. Like the No. 1 awards, this one leaves nothing up to voting. It is cut and dry. The youngest player in the top 100 of the year-end rankings wins it. Six months younger than Zverev, Rublev also made a name for himself in 2015. The Russian’s rise should continue in a big way from his current ranking of No. 174. Rublev has absolutely no fear facing tough competition and he is certainly not lacking confidence. Also check out the racket-head speed on his forehand whenever you watch him play.
Most Improved Player of the Year
2015 winner: Hyeon Chung
2016 prediction: Borna Coric. This is the toughest one to predict, because it can go in any number of directions. Ranked 44th right now, Coric undoubtedly has top 20 potential in 2016. He just hired Miles Macalagan, who did well with Andy Murray in the relatively early stages of the Scot’s career. Other contenders could be Zverev, Lucas Pouille, Jared Donaldson, and Elias Ymer. If it goes to someone a generation ahead, don’t be surprised if it’s current IPTL standout and U.S. Open doubles champion Pierre-Hugues Herbert. And my long-shot is a veteran, of 2015 Wimbledon fame–Dustin Brown.
Comeback Player of the Year
2015 winner: Benoit Paire
2016 prediction: Grigor Dimitrov. The sentimental favorite here is Juan Martin Del Potro, but picking him to win this would be overly optimistic. Del Potro, among many others, has been dealing with debilitating injuries. Dimitrov, on the other hand, will be trying to come back from nothing more than poor play. That could hurt him in an effort to win this award, but he may do enough in 2016 such that voters have no choice. With Franco Davin (Del Potro’s former coach) now in his corner, the Bulgarian should make a charge toward to the top 10.
Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award
2015 winner: Roger Federer
2016 prediction: Roger Federer. Is there any way he doesn’t?
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Fritz for star of tomorrow in my opinion. Tiafoe a possibility as well. I say fritz because he is around the ranking of rublev and has a little less of a temper in my opinion plus I like his game and attitude more than rublev’s and I’m thinking he wins star of tomorrow. How brutal for rublev if he and fritz both cracked top 100 and fritz won being 7 days younger. Oh and for comeback player I agree with dimitrov. He seemed to be getting some of his mojo back at the end of 2015 but he’ll need a good start at the Australian open next year in my opinion.
Dustin Brown really? U have to be good at some point in ur career to be eligible for a comeback
i didnt say he would be comeback
Right u r. I misread. Still very unlikely he will be most improved either. Only a grass player
i dont think he will be either. I picked Dimitrov. Brown is wildly talented. He has a chance. (And he is decent on hard)
U forgot to predict fan favorite which would obviously be Lukas Rosol hands down.
Yep. No point in predicting it!
Ricky, even you know that Dustin Brown’s only claim to fame is beating Rafa at Wimbledon.
I’m glad you picked Novak for YE #1 because that means it’s unlikely to happen.
why? he is generally good with predictions
vamosrafa,
Yes, I agree with you! Ricky’s got a good track record!
I would like to think that Dimitrov could make a comeback in 2016. He’s far too talented to have a year like 2015. He seemed to be making great strides and then just lost it in 2015. I think that’s a good pick.
Zverev and Rublev are both guys to watch in 2016.
Ticking.