There’s a persistent myth in the tennis world that the top players rarely change. If you follow the mainstream sports media, you might agree – for the last few years, players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have won more than 80 per cent of all men’s Grand Slam titles.
While the top tier of the tennis world doesn’t change all that often, players seeded below the top four are constantly moving up and down the ranks. From upcoming stars to established players having breakout years, we sat down with the tennis experts at WimbledonDebentureHolders.com to learn about 2014’s hottest players.
1. Juan Martin del Potro
The tennis world’s biggest forehand could belong to this upcoming Argentine star. A record-breaker at the age of 20, del Potro won four career titles in four tournaments during the 2008 season.
Now 25, del Potro is currently ranked No. 7 worldwide. While injuries have kept him out of many important tournaments, many believe he could emerge as one of 2014’s most dangerous and impressive players.
2. Pablo Carreno Busta
Last year, 22-year-old Spanish player Pablo Carreno Busta won more matches than Rafael Nadal, scoring an incredible 92 victories from 110 matches. This year, he’s hoping to smash his existing record and move even further up the ranks.
Carreno Busta reached the third round of the Men’s Doubles as this year’s Australian Open. After climbing 651 spots in the men’s rankings last year, he could become one of 2014’s most important players to watch.
3. Belinda Bencic
17-year-old Belinda Bencic has been called ‘Baby Hingis’ due to her Swiss origins and rapid rise up the rankings. This young star won three qualifying rounds during the Australian Open, beating Japanese professional Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Although she lost to Li Na in her next game, Bencic’s performance earned her praise from observers and competitors. Li Na reinforced her Baby Hingis image, comparing her to the Swiss former No. 1 for her consistent skill and focus.
4. Li Na
Currently ranked world No. 2 by the WTA, Li Na has climbed up the rankings over the past decade. This well-known Chinese player won this year’s Australian Open, defeating first-time finalist Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets.
Although her recent performance at the BNP Paribas Open wasn’t as impressive as her Australian Open victory earlier this year, Li Na remains one of the year’s most talked-about players and certainly a name to watch; indeed, the team at WimbledonDebentureHolders.com have been championing her winning formula for a while and enjoy watching her game move from strength to strength.
5. David Ferrer
Although injuries have hurt his performance in several recent tournaments, David Ferrer remains one of the tennis world’s fiercest competitors. In 2012, he won an incredible 76 matches. In 2013, he improved even more to rank third in the world.
After a disappointing end to the year, Ferrer parted ways with coach Javier Piles at the end of 2013. Although he’s started 2014 slowly, Ferrer’s ability to upset some of the world’s top players makes him a player to watch closely in 2014.
Watch the world’s top players live at Wimbledon 2014
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