Don't miss any stories Follow Tennis View

Sleepers To Watch In 2017

Nov 11th 2016

2016 is not yet quite in the books, but it is never too early – especially in light of the extremely short tennis off-season – to start thinking about 2017.  Members of the Big 4 are apt to capture a fair share of the headlines, but as has become increasingly clear over the course of this year, their reign cannot last forever.  New faces will soon take their place, and there are more than a few who could make moves towards doing just that next season.

Jack Sock

Jack Sock is a player from whom many have been expecting big things for the last few seasons.  The American has not quite lived up to the potential those fans see in him, but he is hardly out of time. Sock is approaching his mid-twenties, which has lately become a popular time for many players to hit their stride.  There is no question he has the weapons, and the fact that he has notched wins over the likes of Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, John Isner, and Juan Martin del Potro prove that.  His first serve is more than decent, and his forehand has been a formidable weapon from the start.  His play in the forecourt also tends to be underrated.  In total, he has a very solid all-around game that should be adaptable to any surface.  His biggest hurdle has always been between the ears.  Perhaps with age will come maturity, which might just get him over the hump and into the Top 20 in 2017.

While fans are still waiting for Sock to fully realize his potential, Alexander Zverev is wasting no time in giving pundits a reason to believe he could be a future Grand Slam champion.  The German teenager has already earned some stellar results that include victories over Tomas Berdych, Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer, and he came within a point of defeating Rafael Nadal this past spring.  He broke through to bag his first title this autumn at St. Petersburg and reached the Top 20 last month.  Suffice it to say, he is a promising talent.  He has an impressive ground game, comfortably able to go for his shots from either wing and moves exceptionally well given his height of 6'6''.  He is still on the thin side, but as he begins to put on muscle and grow into his body, as well as shore up his net game, there is no telling how high this young talent may go.

Alexander Zverev

Where Sock and Zverev are easy picks as men to watch next season, one who could only be classified as a “sleeper” is Kyle Edmund.  The young Brit is well within the shadow of his successful countryman Andy Murray, but it is not inconceivable that he may soon be grabbing headlines of his own.  Edmund has started to more regularly find footing on the main tour and is presently ranked just outside of the Top 40.  He has gotten the better of players such as David Ferrer and John Isner, and he has even played Murray tight.  He was the hero that kept Great Britain in the hunt to retain the Davis Cup when he led a Murray-less Team Britain in July and reached his first fourth round of a major weeks later at the US Open.  He has a huge forehand, an aggressive mindset, and a respectable serve to back it all up.  As he continues to refine his game and gain experience, he could emerge as a dangerous threat to those ranked ahead of him.

For sure, 2017 will have a plethora of story lines to follow.  Chief among them will probably still be how the Big 4 perform, but they cannot and will not win everything.  Others will emerge.  The question is who has the guts and the talent to do so, and no doubt Sock, Zverev, and Edmund will be keen to be among the movers and the shakers of the ATP World Tour.