The TENNIS Top 100: Players that need a fresh start

17

CiCi Bellis (No. 130)

2018 Notes: Played just 19 matches, and none since Miami Open

She’s dealing with a serious elbow injury, so her return is in question. Her competitive spirit is so good because she’s even-keeled with just enough fire. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Work on getting healthy and stronger

18

CoCo Vandeweghe

2018 Notes: Reached the Stuttgart final, but finished just 10–17 overall

She’s too flighty and has a sense of entitlement like she should be winning matches. She must control her head better—it’s bad for tennis when she breaks racquets. She can win points as well as anybody. — Martina Navratilova

New Year’s Resolution: Improve movement so she’s setting up for shots better

19

Svetlana Kuznetsova (No. 107)

2018 Notes: Won her 18th career title in Washington, D.C.

With her age and her wrist surgery, it will be tough for her to get back to the top. She’s dangerous when she’s able to hit a lot of forehands and step into the court. — Lindsay Davenport

New Year’s Resolution: Make one more deep run at a big tournament

20

Daria Gavrilova (No. 35)

2018 Notes: After two year-end Top 25 finishes, the Aussie stumbled

Starting in Australia, where she gets tremendous support, could really help propel her. She’s feisty and maximizes her game, but she doesn’t have any big weapons. — Chanda Rubin

New Year’s Resolution: Bank ranking points in the early-season events

Predicting what 2019 changes will be in store for 100 ATP and WTA players is the challenge we gave our staff and nine former pros for this year’s season preview. What are those 100 players’ strengths and weaknesses? What are their ceilings and forecasts? What should they resolve to achieve in the new year? The answers comprise The Tennis Magazine 100.

Bring on 2019: These players need a fresh start, and hope that the Aussie summer can provide it.

1

Sam Querrey (No. 51)

2018 Notes: Went 24–22 with one final and a run to Indian Wells quarters  He didn’t close out some matches that he should have in 2018.

With his firepower, he can have another Top 20 season, and he still has the capability to reach the Top 10. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Work on closing out tiebreakers

2

Serena Williams (No. 16)

2018 Notes: Reached—but lost— two major finals, at Wimbledon and the US Open

I applaud her for coming back at 37 with a baby in tow. No matter how long she’s away, her serve is always there. She’s in touching distance of a 24th Grand Slam singles title, and that’s too enticing to pass up. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Win another Grand Slam to tie Margaret Court’s record

3

Filip Krajinovic (No. 95)

2018 Notes: A Paris Masters finalist in ’17, he lost first round in ’18

He should be ranked higher—in the 30s, instead of in the 90s. That he made his run in Paris means great tennis is in him, somewhere. He has a solid, all-around game. — Jimmy Arias

New Year’s Resolution: Believe that his play in Bercy ’17 wasn’t a fluke

4

Stan Wawrinka (No. 66)

2018 Notes: Best results were semifinal finishes in Sofia and St. Petersburg

He’s only got one or two more years left in him. He doesn’t get enough credit for winning three Grand Slams during such a dominant era—with one of the best one-handed backhands ever. — Mark Knowles

New Year’s Resolution: Stay healthy and make his pushes at the majors

5

Lucas Pouille (No. 32)

2018 Notes: Collected his fifth career ATP title in Montpellier

He had such an up-and-down 2018 season—likely because of increased expectations. He’s dangerous on every surface and is a solid all-court player. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Regroup and manage the added pressure

6

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (No. 42)

2018 Notes: Went just 2–4 at the majors and 21–21 overall

With the weapons she has, she should be in the Top 10 and thinking she can win a major. She owns a big game, but her motivation seems to come and go. — Jimmy Arias

New Year’s Resolution: Work on consistent results week in, week out

7

Jared Donaldson (No. 111)

2018 Notes: Semifinals in Acapulco; knee injury ended his year in August

Tactically and technically, he’s really sound. He added a lot to his serve last year, making it a weapon. His best won’t come in 2019, but he’s on the right track. — James Blake

New Year’s Resolution: Avoid having to qualify for main draws at majors

8

Johanna Konta (No. 37)

2018 Notes: Made Nottingham final and Moscow semifinal (37)

I think her shortcomings are technical. She’s too bent at her waist and elbow. She would get so much more speed on the ball if she straightened out more. — Martina Navratilova

New Year’s Resolution: Extend her body on contact point

9

Maria Sharapova (No. 29)

2018 Notes: Went 20–11 without reaching a final; ended year after US Open

It’s surprising that she’s struggled for this long since coming back, considering she wasn’t out because of injury. Her opponents don’t have the same level of awe. — Chanda Rubin

New Year’s Resolution: Wipe 2018 clean; ensure she can physically hold up

10

David Goffin (No. 22)

2018 Notes: Made semifinals of Cincinnati and three other events

He’s punched above his weight thanks to having such a complete game and an eye for the ball. If he can keep a clean bill of health, he’ll return to the Top 10. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Reach another Grand Slam quarterfinal

11

Andrea Petkovic (No. 64)

2018 Notes: Went 28–24 overall and 4–4 at the Grand Slams

With charisma and game, she will return to the heights she scaled earlier in her career. She is not afraid to compete and seems to enjoy the rigors of the tour. — Mark Knowles

New Year’s Resolution: Stay healthy and maintain her positive attitude

12

Monica Puig (No. 53)

2018 Notes: As a qualifier, made semifinals in New Haven, quarterfinals in Beijing

She’s got Top 20 potential. After her life-changing Olympic gold in Rio, she has yet to recapture that incredible form. I can’t quite figure out the reason why. — Mark Knowles

New Year’s Resolution: Recapture the belief in her game from Rio

13

Andrey Rublev (No. 68)

2018 Notes: A quarterfinalist at the ’17 US Open, he went just 20–23

He’s a mix between Davydenko and Kafelnikov— if you let him get the first strike, you’re in trouble. I think he’ll have a good 2019 after some adversity in ’18. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Move past his slump and into the Top 20

14

Yanina Wickmayer (No. 123)

2018 Notes: Won an ITF title, reached third round of Wimbledon (123)

She’s had success in the past and knows the game really well, which causes problems for her opponents. But she may never get back to where she was. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Return to the Top 100 and main draws of Slams

14

Jack Sock (No. 107)

2018 Notes: Won nine singles matches. Won two Grand Slam doubles titles (107)

After a dismal season in singles, Jack should have a strong bounceback year. He’s one of the best athletes in the game. His talent is intact and he should be fitter and focused going forward. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Pick singles or doubles, and fully commit to it

16

Garbine Muguruza (No. 18)

2018 Notes: At Slams, lost three second-rounders and made one semifinal (18)

When she’s on and her game is flowing, she can smother opponents. She just can’t figure out how to win when things get dicey, and last year she looked blank. — Lindsay Davenport

New Year’s Resolution: Reset her attitude and mindset

17

CiCi Bellis (No. 130)

2018 Notes: Played just 19 matches, and none since Miami Open

She’s dealing with a serious elbow injury, so her return is in question. Her competitive spirit is so good because she’s even-keeled with just enough fire. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Work on getting healthy and stronger

18

CoCo Vandeweghe

2018 Notes: Reached the Stuttgart final, but finished just 10–17 overall

She’s too flighty and has a sense of entitlement like she should be winning matches. She must control her head better—it’s bad for tennis when she breaks racquets. She can win points as well as anybody. — Martina Navratilova

New Year’s Resolution: Improve movement so she’s setting up for shots better

19

Svetlana Kuznetsova (No. 107)

2018 Notes: Won her 18th career title in Washington, D.C.

With her age and her wrist surgery, it will be tough for her to get back to the top. She’s dangerous when she’s able to hit a lot of forehands and step into the court. — Lindsay Davenport

New Year’s Resolution: Make one more deep run at a big tournament

20

Daria Gavrilova (No. 35)

2018 Notes: After two year-end Top 25 finishes, the Aussie stumbled

Starting in Australia, where she gets tremendous support, could really help propel her. She’s feisty and maximizes her game, but she doesn’t have any big weapons. — Chanda Rubin

New Year’s Resolution: Bank ranking points in the early-season events