The TENNIS Top 100: Players who finished 2018 on a hot streak

Published January 02, 2019

A mega star on the rise. Her down-the-line backhand is money. She’s got improv skills—good hands and feet. It looks like she’s really hungry to do even more. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Play as well as she does in Asia around the world

Nikoloz Basilashvili (No. 21)

2018 Notes: Picked up second career ATP 500 title, in Beijing

With so much firepower, he can hurt anyone from any part of the court. His heavy weapons often render opponents helpless, even at the game’s very top level. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Translate his success at ATP 500s to the majors

Yoshihito Nishioka (No. 75)

2018 Notes: Won Shenzhen Open as a qualifier; played 70 matches

He had a remarkable comeback year after a knee injury derailed him in 2017. With his skill set, along with good health, he should move inside the Top 50 in 2019. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Compete in more ATP level tournaments

Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 15)

2018 Notes: To reach Toronto final, he beat Thiem, Djokovic, Zverev and Anderson

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.

Momentum is a fickle thing. These players finished 2018 on a hot streak, and will strive to sustain it.

Karen Khachanov (No. 11)

2018 Notes: Capped his career-best season with his first Masters title, in Paris

From the first time I saw him, he’s been my No. 1 guy. He’s like a Marat Safin 2.0—but with a strong mental game. He’s a huge player, yet he can move so well. He just needs to close points out at the net more. —Mark Knowles

New Year’s Resolution: Get himself into the second week at majors

Bernard Tomic (No. 83)

2018 Notes: Captured his first title in over three years in Chengdu

He’s a career underachiever, but it seems like he’s coming back after realizing that maybe he can still play. We’ll be able to tell a lot about him by February. — James Blake

New Year’s Resolution: Continue doing what he did during the fall stretch

Elina Svitolina (No. 4)

2018 Notes: Won three events before winning her biggest title, at the WTA Finals

The Ukrainian brings a lot of intensity onto the court for every match. She has great awareness in points of when to be aggressive and when to be consistent, which is a rarity in the women’s game. — Lindsay Davenport

New Year’s Resolution: Put a huge emphasis on peaking at the majors

Kevin Anderson (No. 6)

2018 Notes: Won two titles and reached Wimbledon final

Every year he’s still adding dimensions to his game and getting the most out of his ability. He puts in the hard work and will stay between No. 4 and No. 10. — James Blake

New Year’s Resolution: Maintain his ranking for optimal draws at Slams5

Sloane Stephens (No. 6)

2018 Notes: Won Miami; reached the French Open and Singapore finals

She took her time living up to her potential, but she might be better because of it. In 2018, she proved she can produce consistent results on the biggest stages. — Martina Navratilova

New Year’s Resolution: Win her second Grand Slam singles title

Kiki Bertens (No. 9)

2018 Notes: Enjoyed first Top-10 season with three tournament wins

Her game is not as natural as her peer group, but there’s many ways to have a great career. Her results are exceptional, and she’s capable of more big runs. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Retain her Top 10 ranking and return to WTA Finals

Novak Djokovic (No. 1)

2018 Notes: Won titles at Wimbledon, US Open, Cincinnati and Shanghai

He’s going to hold onto the No. 1 ranking for the next two years, and get to at least 18 Slam titles. He’s got a fire in his belly again, and he’s being more aggressive. — Mark Knowles

New Year’s Resolution: Finish more points at net, stay at No. 1 all season

Belinda Bencic (No. 44)

2018 Notes: Reached final of Luxembourg, won ITF title in Las Vegas

I give her a lot of credit for playing ITFs in the fall. She’s still very young, has great court sense and impeccable timing, and she’s beaten elite players in the past. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Control her emotions and remember her successes

Daria Kasatkina (No. 10)

2018 Notes: Reached two Slam quarterfinals and won Moscow

Her forehand is her biggest shot, but her backhand has reliable variety—including the jump shot, slice and drop shot. She mixes up the tempo really well. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Manage her nerves; get more pop on first serves

Karolina Pliskova (No. 8)

2018 Notes: Finished year with win in Tokyo, semis at WTA Finals

She seems motivated and believes she belongs at the top of the tour. There’s a lot to look forward to because she has so much game and so many weapons. — Chanda Rubin

New Year’s Resolution: Take the final step and win a Grand Slam title

Camila Giorgi (No. 26)

2018 Notes: Competed in her first major quarterfinal, at Wimbledon

She can blow the racquet out of anyone’s hand—which is both a blessing and curse. The difference between her good and bad days is still just too vast. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Work on improving questionable shot selection

Aryna Sabalenka (No. 13)

2018 Notes: Captured first career title in New Haven, then won Wuhan

The first thing I noticed about her is that she carries herself like a champion. She walks like she believes she’s going to win, and I believe it too. I think she’ll be winning Grand Slams. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Start the season strong, and become a big-match player

Dominic Thiem (No. 8)

2018 Notes: Won third title at St. Petersburg in fall; beat Nadal on clay (8)

He’s the secondbest player in the world on clay. But I was impressed with what he did late in the year on hard courts, taking his return of serve earlier. — Jimmy Arias

New Year’s Resolution: Play the same way he did vs. Rafael Nadal at the US Open

Qiang Wang (No. 20)

2018 Notes: Reached semis or better at last six events, going 21–6

A mega star on the rise. Her down-the-line backhand is money. She’s got improv skills—good hands and feet. It looks like she’s really hungry to do even more. — Tracy Austin

New Year’s Resolution: Play as well as she does in Asia around the world

Nikoloz Basilashvili (No. 21)

2018 Notes: Picked up second career ATP 500 title, in Beijing

With so much firepower, he can hurt anyone from any part of the court. His heavy weapons often render opponents helpless, even at the game’s very top level. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Translate his success at ATP 500s to the majors

Yoshihito Nishioka (No. 75)

2018 Notes: Won Shenzhen Open as a qualifier; played 70 matches

He had a remarkable comeback year after a knee injury derailed him in 2017. With his skill set, along with good health, he should move inside the Top 50 in 2019. — Jim Courier

New Year’s Resolution: Compete in more ATP level tournaments

Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 15)

2018 Notes: To reach Toronto final, he beat Thiem, Djokovic, Zverev and Anderson

Expectations will change, internally and externally. What will that do to his process? He has all the skills to reach the Top 10. There will be some bumps, but when you have his skill set, the ceiling is sky high. — Paul Annacone

New Year’s Resolution: Avoid the sophomore slump and beat more top-tier players

Borna Coric (No. 12)

2018 Notes: Runner-up in Shanghai; helped win Davis Cup for Croatia

He made a huge jump: all of a sudden, he started serving big. His forehand can break down under pressure, but he’s improved a lot. He has all the intangibles. — Jimmy Arias

New Year’s Resolution: Win an ATP Masters 1000 tournament

Ashleigh Barty (No. 15)

2018 Notes: Won her biggest career title at the WTA Elite Trophy

I think 2019 will be great for Barty. She’s one of the most athletic players on tour with big shotmaking ability, unbelievable hands and a lot of options. — Lindsay Davenport

New Year’s Resolution: Strike while the iron is hot at home, in Australia20

Caroline Garica (No. 19)

2018 Notes: Tianjin champion; didn’t surpass fourth round of Slam

She needs to raise her level at the Slams, relax—and believe that she belongs near the top, even if she’s not playing her best. She can rebound back into the Top 10. — Chanda Rubin

New Year’s Resolution: Produce her best tennis on the biggest stages