Our look at season 2018 on the ATP World Tour for the top 50 players continues with a look at players ranked 30-39 including Aussies Nick Kyrgios, John Millman and Alex De Minaur, you can review players ranked 40-50 here.
39: Frances Tiafoe
20 year old Frances Tiafoe reached a career high ranking in 2018 and won his first career title as this young gun American continues to rise up the rankings. Tiafoe went 28-26 on the season with a notable win over Juan Martin Del Potro en route to his maiden title in Delray Beach. Tiafoe also reached the Estoril final and two more ATP quarterfinals on the season. In 2019 he’ll be hoping to make more of an impact in the slams and Masters series events and crack the top 25.
38: John Millman
At 29 Millman finally made good on his promise and become an ATP top 40 player, compiling a 19-19 tour level record. Millman at one point considered quitting tennis, but a stunning US Open upset of Roger Federer introduced a global audience to his talents. Millman reached the US Open quarterfinals and also reached a final in Budapest, his season wasn’t as consistent at some at this level, but he has to be one of the favorites to win a maiden title in 2019.
37: Andreas Seppi
34 year old Andreas Seppi remained relevant at the ATP level with an average 24-23 record that included an upset win against Alexander Zverev and three ATP semifinals. Seppi isn’t an elite player, but he’s carved out a profitable career for himself and will try to maintain his level as an ATP caliber player in 2019.
36: Marton Fucsovics
The Hungarian #1 Fucsovics was a big mover up the rankings in 2018, Fucsovics posted a 25-24 tour level record and won a maiden ATP title on clay in Geneva. Fucsovics had three more quarterfinals but didn’t secure a top 10 win. He’ll need to perform better at the elite level to break into the top 30.
35: Nick Kyrgios
Season 2018 started well for Kyrgios with a title in Brisbane, but it was a disappointment overall for the former top 15 player who is still just 23 years old. Kyrgios battled mental health challenges and an elbow injury to post a 25-13 record that included a pair of semifinals to go with his Brisbane result. Kyrgios decline was noticeable against top players, as he failed to take a major scalp and was drummed out by Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov in the hard court slams this season. Kyrgios also had 4 losses to players ranked outside the top 50 on the season. In 2019 the pressure will be on for Kyrgios to return to the game’s elite.
34: Philipp Kohlschreiber
The 35 year old Kohlschreiber will battle to remain in the top 40 in 2019 as his career is likely slowing down from its previous top 20 peak. Kohlschreiber was just 2-8 against top 10 players on the season but he did upset German #1 Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic on hard courts. His overall record was 24-24 but he reached just one final at home in Munich and also a quarterfinal at Indian Wells.
33: Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson doubled his career ATP titles, winning Newport and Houston on home soil in 2018. Johnson posted a 27-24 record that included a final in Winston-Salem and two more semifinals. The California based player will need to improve his results outside of the United States if he’s going to make a big move into the top 20.
32: Lucas Pouille
Pouille reached a career high of #10 during the 2018 season but it fell off quickly and he finished up at 32 after posting a 25-21 record that included a home title in Montpellier. Pouille also reached the final in Marseille and Dubai, as he started the season hot and had an incredible month of February. He posted just one semifinal later in the year though and was a non-factor in major tournaments. He enters 2019 in shaky form and could fall from the top 50 if he doesn’t find form quickly, a loss in the 2018 Davis Cup final was not a confidence builder.
31: Alex De Minaur
With a 28-23 tour level record the 19 year old De Minaur reached a career high ranking in 2018, a breakthrough year for yet another Australian talent on tour. De Minaur looks set to win his maiden title in 2019 after reaching the Washington and Sydney finals (and the Next Gen finals, final) in 2018. ADM had two more semifinals on the season, and he did all that without a top 10 win. As he matures and also adds physical size and strength, he should move into the top 20.
30: Gilles Simon
With a 33-23 record and two titles, Gilles Simon had a resurgent 2018, though he is still a long way off his career high of #6 in the world. Simon upset Marin Cilic to win a title in India to start 2018, and also lifted the trophy in Metz. A final in Lyon at home was one more notable result for the 33 year old. 2019 looks set to be an unpredictable year.
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