Today, I will be begin to look at a few trends in from year end top ten junior stats from this previous blog.
Players who did have a successful ATP career
Andy Roddick transitioned from a successful junior career to a successful pro career, winning 1 Grand Slam and 32 titles. |
I have decided to only include results from the year that year end top ten status was achieved and years after for players that reached the top ten before their last year of eligibility. I did not want to punish players that managed to make the main draw of these junior events at a young age, but struggled because they were not yet top juniors.
Andy Roddick (2000 and after)
GS Wins
- 2000 Junior US Open
GS QF
- 2000 Junior Australian Open
- 2000 Junior Roland Garros
Andy Murray (2003 and after)
GS Win
GS SF
- 2004 Junior US Open
GS QF
- 2005 Junior Roland Garros
GS 3rd Round
- 2003 Junior US Open
- 2003 Junior Roland Garros
GS 1st Round
- 2004 Junior Wimbledon
- 2003 Junior Wimbledon
Bernard Tomic (2007 and after)
GS Wins
- 2009 Junior US Open
GS SF
- 2008 Junior Australian Open
- 2009 Junior Wimbledon
GS QF
- 2008 Junior Wimbledon
GS 3rd Round
- 2008 Junior Roland Garros
- 2009 Junior Roland Garros
GS 2nd Round
- 2007 Junior US Open
- 2007 Junior Roland Garros
GS 1st Round
- 2007 Junior Australian Open
- 2008 Junior US Open
Note: These three players combined for 11 grand slam quarter-finals or better in 19 opportunities.
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Players who did not have a successful ATP career
Sebastian Rieschick struggled in junior grand slam events and that struggle went with him to the pro circuit. |
My choices for the category of players that did not have success are Ramon Valent (2000, 2001), Sebastian Rieschick (2003) and Stephane Piro (2006). Sebastian Rieschick reached a career high of #1 in the world, while Roman Valent and Stephane Piro reached #3 and #4 respectively.
Ramon Valent (2000 and after)
GS Win
GS QF
- 2001 Wimbledon
GS 3rd Round
- 2001 Australian Open
GS 1st Round
- 2000 Wimbledon
- 2001 Roland Garros
- 2000 US Open
- 2000 Roland Garros
Sebastian Rieschick (2003 and after)
GS 3rd Round
- 2004 Wimbledon
- 2003 US Open
GS 2nd Round
- 2003 Wimbledon
- 2004 Roland Garros
GS 1st Round
- 2004 Australian Open
- 2004 US Open
Stephane Piro (2006 and after)
GS 3rd Round
GS 2nd Round
- 2007 Roland Garros
GS 1st Round
- 2007 US Open
- 2007 Wimbledon
GS Failed to Qualify
- 2006 Roland Garros
- 2006 Australian Open
Note: These three players combined for 2 grand slam quarterfinals or better in 17 opportunities.
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I will fully admit that my sample size is small but I do see a conclusion here.
Conclusion: Success in grand slam junior singles seems to be a better indication of ATP tour success than year end rankings.
What does this mean for 2012 prospects?
Filip Peliwo made all four grand slam finals in 2012, winning Wimbledon and the US Open. |
What does it mean for 2013 prospects?
I want to make a prediction here, but with so many of these top ranked players still being eligible for junior tennis this season, it is still too difficult to see who will fit which trend.