UTR's Best Bets to start the 2020 season

Though the tours both have their own rating and ranking systems, UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) offers another level of analysis. Players are on rated on a 1.00 to 16.50 scale regardless of age, gender, geography or skill level, based on their last 30 matches.

Get it while it's hot: These five players are poised to climb up the ATP and WTA ranks.

1

Vasek Pospisil

After struggling with a back injury in 2019, Pospisil is finally healthy and fit. He ended the season with two ATP Challenger titles, to go along with wins over Diego Schwartzman, Karen Khachanov, Reilly Opelka, and Fabio Fognini. Currently sitting at No. 146 in the world, Pospisil is poised to skyrocket up the ATP rankings in 2020. Ride him like Seabiscuit to start the year as he has no points to defend until July.

2

Jennifer Brady

Armed with underrated athleticism and a humungous forehand, Brady is here to stay. The former UCLA Bruin defeated Maria Sharapova and world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in Brisbane. Her success has been streaky, but Brady is a baller, and offers tremendous value to start the 2020 season. The world No. 49 has a real chance of beating Simona Halep in the first round of the Australian Open.

3

Ekaterina Alexandrova

Alexandrova has won the last two tournaments she’s played, in Limoges and Shenzhen. She’s long been a UTR darling, but her WTA ranking couldn’t quite keep up (right now she's ranked No. 26 on tour and No. 17 by UTR). Alexandrova should have plenty of momentum entering the Australian Open.

4

Emil Ruusuvuori

This 20-year-old is the real deal. In 2019, Ruusuvuori climbed nearly 300 spots from No. 400 to No. 104 in the world. He and Jannik Sinner are two of the game’s brightest young stars. Though his ranking is still in the 100s, UTR rates him as Top-50 caliber; once you watch him play you’ll see why.

5

Hubert Hurkacz

His UTR rates him as the 27th best player in the world. After his dominant ATP Cup where he defeated Dominic Thiem, Borna Coric and Diego Schwartzman, that seems about right. The world No. 34 lets his racquet do the talking, and should get off to a hot start Down Under after reaching the semifinals in Auckland.