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

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!