Today, while procrastinating, I decided to have a look at the current ATP top 10 rankings. Browsing through them, I came to the realisation that I’m now writing about: I do not think that anyone in the top 10 as of today (30th of May 2025) that doesn’t yet have a major title will ever win one in their careers. That’s 7 out of those 10. Now before you yell at me, at least walk with me first. Bring your pitchforks for a wander and then, when all is said and done and you’ve heard my explanation, if you still think me a fool, burn me at the stake of stupidity and let me rot.
Deal?
Deal.
Let’s get to it then!
Embed from Getty ImagesAlexander Zverev, world number 3 – I think it’s very likely that Zverev ends his career and takes up the title as the greatest player of all time to never win a major. That, in and of itself, is some achievement and requires a demonstration of talent so ridiculous, that it’s quite unbelievable that said player never won one. Zverev has it all, aside from a major. Multiple Masters 1000s, ATP Finals, Olympic Gold, an arrogance and list of excuses for why he loses. The lot. And yet, he’s been surpassed by younger, fresher names. I don’t see him overcoming the mental hurdle, that brain blockade that must scream at him every day that he should already have a major, so why doesn’t he?!
Embed from Getty ImagesTaylor Fritz, world number 4 – Listen, I like Fritz! He’s like an American frat boy but he seems harmless, just a dude you’d see walking the streets. I feel like he’d tip well at a restaurant and tell you to have a nice day at the checkout if you sold him something. Unfortunately, none of this translates to major glory. He doesn’t have the depth to his game. It’s all a bit too janky and awkward. Better players are better players and none of them are willing to let Fritz through. His movement lacks and makes him sluggish. It’s his big undoing.
Embed from Getty ImagesJack Draper, world number 5 – Now this… this is where things get hard to justify. A couple of years ago, as Draper worked his way through the rankings, I thought there was no chance. Didn’t achieve the early career goals of someone I’d expect of a major winner. And yet now, today, he’s the enormous question mark in this article because the improvement has been astronomical! Huge, massive, big time. He could well prove to be my biggest embarrassment when writing this rundown in the future when he wins a Wimbledon. And yet, his fitness is to be questioned, his injury history there to be judged. And while making this claim, I’m judging it and judging it HARD. As a result of it, he never finds a way to work through two weeks and best of 5 set tennis to lift a trophy – in my opinion.
Embed from Getty ImagesLorenzo Musetti, world number 7 – It’s nice to see a one-handed backhand here in the top 10 and his runs this year at tournaments have been impressive. He’s young still too so time is on his side. But man, his forehand is awkward, that backswing a bit too unconventional, and when properly pushed by a great player, it faulters, especially with lower bounces. While his backhand is nice, it’s still a one-hander and that comes with all the issues a typical one-hander does regarding high-bounces and perfect set-ups required constantly. Unless you’re a Stan Wawrinka or Dominic Thiem, it’ll always be a liability and that’s enough for me to confidently say that I don’t think Musetti ever wins a major title.
Embed from Getty ImagesCasper Ruud, world number 8 – He seems like a sweetheart, I really mean it. A man you’d love to be friends with and introduce to your parents. I heard him speaking Spanish a few weeks ago and my god, I had to take a minute! But sexy pronunciations don’t automatically make major winners. Ruud’s tennis – as world class as it is! – is simply too unimaginative. It doesn’t have the creative edges that it needs and he lacks pace on his shots to really damage opponents that will lift these trophies ahead of him every time. He’s had chances as well, against the then-current, now-past Rafael Nadal and the then-future, now-current Carlos Alcaraz, and come up wanting. He simply does not have it in him and he actually seems somewhat content with it!
Embed from Getty ImagesAlex de Minaur, world number 9 – He’s a Duracell bunny of a player and it’s impressive every time you watch him systematically dismantling players he should be systematically dismantling. That, though, is his biggest problem: he wins against those ranked below and completely faulters against those ranked higher, meaning he’ll never crawl over those above him to one of these titles. His game has no real kill-shot, no weapon that you put house-money on. Nothing screams champion about his tennis and that’s OK because he’ll keep running and running and running. Just not in the direction of a major trophy.
Embed from Getty ImagesHolger Rune, world number 10 – This is my second big banana peel of the list. Part of me thinks he could really be the third name in a Alcaraz/Jannik Sinner trio to dominate men’s tennis for the next decade. For the sake of this article, I really hope not, but it could happen! I’d lean towards no if pushed though. He’s got a lot going for him. Wins over Novak Djokovic are not to be sniffed at. And yet, best of 5 over two weeks is a scary beast that roars in his direction whenever it can and I don’t think Rune can roar back when all is said and done. He’s a bit too angsty, a bit too desperate to prove himself. He’s young and could figure things out with time… but I’m yet to be sold on him.
***
And that… is sort of that! People that follow me on twitter (I appreciate you if you do btw, thanks very much!) will point to tweets of mine recently – especially regarding Draper! – that imply I think he will win a major and while that’s entirely fair, you need to understand that a huge amount of what I tweet is total rubbish! Or rather, things I feel entirely different about 5 minutes after sending out. I’m nothing if not consistently talking complete crap. This article could very well serve as an example. Just watch Draper win the US Open later this year or something! But for now, I’m standing by it and if you so wish to burn me alive, so be it. I can take it!
…
*proceeds to howl in unimaginable pain and suffering as my body turns to ash*
Popcorn Tennis 