Denis Shapovalov was on top of the world in 2020. That is the thing about life, what goes up must come down. Thus, it is impressive what Rafael Nadal was able to do. From 2005 to 2023, he was consistently ranked in the top ten. No other male tennis player can make this claim.

Consistency Is Important For Success

As tennis fans, we have been spoiled. We have had the privilege of watching some great tennis players, who performed consistently at their highest level. My observation is that the new crop of top ten players have not played quality tennis consistently. Their highest level is not impressive. They are also erratic, which can be attributed to their mindset and attitude.

Injury Sidelines Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov despite all the hype has only one career title to his name. Injury has been a big part of his story. The Canadian has been missing from action since July 2023 due to a left knee injury. This new era of tennis is following the trend of all sports. There is a certain nonchalance that was not there in the previous era. The new stars are not shining as brightly, which does not mean that tennis is losing its appeal. Instead, as fans we must adjust our expectations.

Top 100 ATP Ranking Changes

ATP & WTA Top 10 Ranking Changes

ATP: there were a few positional changes in the top ten members. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune traded places to #6 and #7, respectively. Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz swapped spots again to #9 and #10, respectively. The current top four players are: [1] Novak Djokovic; [2] Carlos Alcaraz; [3] Daniil Medvedev; and [4] Jannik Sinner.

WTA: there were no changes in the top ten.  The current top four players are: [1] Aryna Sabalenka; [2] Iga Swiatek; [3] Coco Gauff; and [4] Elena Rybakina.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Getty Images