Who do you think will be in the top 5 at the end of this year, and more importantly what order do you think they'll be in?

Will Federer lose his number 1 spot? It is possible that he could lose it at the AO, or that it'll be very close between him and Rafa. Do you think we could have a new year end number 1?

What about Djokovic? Will he suffer from "second season syndrome" (respectfully stolen from Wise) and drop down the rankings? or will he challenge Nadal for the second spot? Will it just be a three-way thing between him, nadal and federer?

Will davydenko drop down the rankings because of the ATP conspiracy to have him removed from from the top 10?

Are there other players you think might make it.

State them, rank them (as best you can) and explain your choices :)

I have a feeling Nadal won't be in the top 5..or maybe 5th at best.

Here is my take:

1 - Fed
2 - Djoko
3 - Nalby (if back holds)
4 - Davydenko (if nerves hold)
5 - Nadal/Gasquet/Murray

My list...
1 federer
2 Nadal
3 Nalbandian
4 Ferrer
5 Djokovic

1. Federer
2. Nadal
3. Nalbandian
4. Djokovic
5. Murray

NOT a predictions contest! :lol:

:giggle:

I nearly spat my tea eveyhwere with laughing when I saw that! :D

I was considering a top 5 thing as part of stage 2 in the predictions comp actually (like after Wimby). I think I've developed OPD - Obsessive Predictions Disorder! :D

my pick would be:

1. Federer - I think he'll just hold the number 1 spot, but i do wonder if he might lose it at some point during the year and then regain it in the american hard court season

2. Djokovic - If Djokovic has a good beginning and a *much* better end to the season as well as a reasonable clay season I think it's entirely feasible that he could knock Nadal from the number 2 spot.

3. Nalbandian - this is all incredibly dependent on injuries and lack of pork-pie eating, but hopefully he'll have gained some confidence from last year's victories over Fed and start the year strongly :ok:

4. Nadal - He's got a lot of points to defend over the clay season, and seems to have constant injuries.

5. Murray - he has absolutely no points to defend from about half way through the clay season until well after wimbledon :ok: he should climb in to the top 5 so long as he stays uninjured - in fact I may be being under-optimistic. If Nalby goes back to eating donuts, then Murray could climb higher i think......or i've been brainwashed by the British media...... :P

I haven't doen the full analysis of points etc but I do sincerely beleive that Murray will be in the top 5. I don't think Nalby will though. And Fed has gotta stay at the top, and Rafa will be there but nto sure fi he will hold on to 2.

:crazy1:

That would be pretty much exactly the same as mine... with the Nalbandian pick a mixture of hope and expectation. He and Murray have to have pretty good seasons to get there, but with few points to defend they both have a good chance, especially the Scot.

Davydenko's the only one who might be able to prevent that I feel, with Ferrer and Roddick just not quite being good enough.

1.Federer
2.Djokovic
3.Nadal
4.Murray
5.Nalbandian(Argentinian and could pretty much lose interest at any point)

Roddick,Gonzalez,Davydenko and Gasquet fighting for the Sixth spot.

You could still stay polite Liam! :rolleyes:

1. Federer
2. Djokovic
3. Nalbandian
4. Murray
5. Roddick

1.Federer
2.Djokovic
3. Nadal
4. Roddick
5. Murray

3 and 4 could be the other way round .

I feel Nadal wont be as successful this year even on clay .

As for Nalbandian, I dont think he'll be consistent enough to be in the top 5.

Murray is well capable of going higher, but thats next years prediction. :)

No Gasquet in the top 5 this year , hope he proves me wrong though.

Anyone keen to review his/her top 5 after the AO?

maybe i was a wee bit over-enthusiastic about nalby :blush: and possibly Murray too, although he does have this huge bonus of having no points to defend for a few months, so i'll leave him there :unsure:

Hmm.Roddicks about the only one I would change .Could be out of the top 5 altogether .

Same here regarding Nalby. But I did mention his health as a condition.

I d be very surprised if Roddick were to stay in the top 5 Biggy.

He could be out of it soon . Murray has a great chance of replacing him there if he keeps his form up.

IMO Nalby will be lucky to hold on to top10. Don't know his points but he's not consistent enough. Davydenko may hang in, if not top 7. :shrug:
Roddick I think thiough will slip out, but he's still capble of quarters/smies depending on the draw. In terms of new folks, I ca still only see Murraqy prividedhe has a good year,

On my predictions just 2 doubts.I have no doubt my Top 3 will stay the same.Nalbandian at 5,I put could lose interest at any point,but didn't expect it in the third round of the first event.
Murray,well has he learned to hit the ball harder,because if you take in the destruction of Nadal,and the final itself,Murray would be ill advised to continue hanging on to his sit and wait style.It just won't cut it.
Plus I'm still waiting for "the clay is my best surface" claim to ring true.
If so Murray could still be at 4.