Contest winner announcement: The best 2017 ranking predictor in unpredictable women’s tennis

10

In December last year my friend and Women’s Tennis Blog’s long-time reader and contributor John Bolan invited you to join him in the 2017 year-end WTA ranking predictions. The 2017 season has quickly gone by and now it’s time to compare your predictions to the actual year-end rankings, while the best predictor will be awarded a WTA autograph.

Serena Williams’ pregnancy, Angelique Kerber’s slump, Jelena Ostapenko’s totally unexpected title run at Roland Garros and other events shook up the rankings, showing once again how difficult it is to predict anything in women’s tennis nowadays. Let’s give the word to John, analyze the rankings and see who won the contest!

During December 2016, many of you and I attempted to choose the players we thought would finish in the WTA Top 10 at the end of 2017. The 2017 contest, as well the one for 2016, prove women’s tennis is in a transitional period. The most expert fans could not predict more than half of the Top 10. Players at the top of the rankings are being replaced and players of all ranks are more equal in their performances.

Here are the actual Top 10 WTA year-end singles rankings for 2017:

1. Simona Halep
2. Garbine Muguruza
3. Caroline Wozniacki
4. Karolina Pliskova
5. Venus Williams
6. Elina Svitolina
7. Jelena Ostapenko
8. Caroline Garcia
9. Johanna Konta
10. Coco Vandeweghe

2017 was a year of surprises on the WTA circuit. The Women’s Tennis Blog year-end Top 10 prediction contest was very difficult to say the least. No one picked Jelena Ostapenko or Coco Vandeweghe to finish in the Top 10, while only one person, Thomas Meier, picked Venus Williams. Only three fans picked Caroline Garcia. Most fans, including me, find it hard to believe Jelena and especially Coco made the Top 10.

On the other hand, every contestant picked Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber to finish in the Top 10, but neither player finished in the Top 20. Only two contestants, Jim and P!nky, did not include Agnieszka Radwanska in their Top 10, the Pole who finished 28th.

Nine fans picked five out of ten. They were Kabo, Roberto, Kueyseyra, Sam E, Ruta, James, Jim, LC and my friend – K Helf. JIM HAD THE CLOSEST PICKS AND IS THE WINNER. He actually picked three players (#4 Pliskova, #6 Svitolina and #9 Konta) in the exact order as they finished and picked Simona Halep number two behind Serena Williams. He also named seven out of the Top 10 women golfers for 2017, but received no bonus points despite his excellent golf picks. Congratulations, Jim, for being the best predictor for 2017!

Thank you to all the fans who took part in this contest. Let’s start thinking about our choices for 2018. In less than a month, the players will be back on the court for a new year. 2018 promises to bring great matches and a brand new Top 10 list!

10 COMMENTS

  1. 1. Garbine Muguruza
    2. Serena Williams
    3. Simona Halep
    4. Elena Svitolina
    5. Caroline Wozniacki
    6. Karolina pliskova
    7. Johanna Konta
    8. Caroline Garcia
    9. Kristina Mladenovic
    10. Ashleigh Barty

  2. Roberto Kummelstedt, we will have a separate post for the 2018 year-end ranking contest, so include your ranking picks in that post when it is published later this month.

  3. P!nky, yes you did! But just 2 of your Top 10 players actually finished in the Top 10 . Your honorable mentions were more correct. 🙂

  4. Wow it was a pure crapshoot and luck that I won, but that was to be expected in such a bizarre year in the WTA. However I am not surprised with the results of my golf picks as most of them were S. Korean and they absolutely dominated the LPGA in 2017. BTW there is a rare S. Korean at #141 in the WTA rankings I will be keeping my eye on. Her name is Su Jeong Jang and she lost in the finals in Hawaii recently to Zhang Shaui in 3 sets.

  5. Jim, crapshoot lol don’t underestimate your skills! 🙂 Congratulations for your victory and I hope that you’ll join our 2018 contest as well!

  6. I received my autographed picture of one Sam Stosur yesterday. It has already been framed and sits in my office. Wow, she has some impressive guns! 😉

  7. Jim, wonderful! I’m glad to hear you’ve already framed it 🙂 In a couple of days I’m posting the 2018 contest, so stay tuned and good luck again 🙂

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here