Final Power Ranking for 2016

1. Andy Murray – Tune-in tomorrow to see who my player of the year for men is, but my Power Ranking’s unscientific approach is to weight to recent results the most.  Murray won every tournament match he played after the US Open including a win over Novak Djokovic to close the World Tour Finals in his favor.
   

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2. Novak Djokovic – Nole has not looked like himself since the close of Roland Garros.  His diminished form still yielded a Masters 1000 shield in Canada, a US Open runner-up finish, and a World Tour Finals runner-up finish.  Novak being close to where he needs to be vs. being in a decline is a story for 2017 to determine.  
   

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3. Milos Raonic – The big man gave Murray a battle in London.  
   

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4. Stan Wawrinka – Stan did not do much after his US Open triumph, but his 3rd major title, semifinal finish at Roland Garros, and 3 other singles titles land Wawrinka at #4.
   

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5. Marin Cilic – His wins in Cincinnati and Basel boost him above his ATP year end ranking in my view.  Had Cilic played better at the US Open or had he closed out the final match of the Davis Cup for Croatia with a win, I might be placing him as high as #3.
   

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6. Juan Martin del Potro – This is probably a spot or two too high, but his late season title in Stockholm added to Davis Cup wins on the road against Andy Murray and Marin Cilic boost Delpo’s momentum to close 2016.  It is too bad that he has decided to skip the 2017 Australian Open as a preventative measure for future injuries.
   

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7. Kei Nishikori – Kei played well enough in London to close the year and reached the US Open semifinal round.  Still, his health may be a bigger question mark than even Delpo’s.
   

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8. Dominic Thiem – He needs to make adjustments on faster surfaces to some of his striking preferences, but recognition is deserved anytime a player wins 4 titles, reaches 6 tournament finals, and reaches his first major semifinal.  Thiem looked reasonably good in London to end 2016.
   

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9. Gael Monfils – Gael had a strong hardcourt season in 2016.  His title in Washington, DC and strong runs in Canada and New York land him the 9th spot.  
   
   

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10. Lucas Pouille – The Frenchman reached two tournament finals in 2016 winning one title.  He electrified the New York  crowd with a 5 set win over Rafael Nadal at the US Open.  Reaching the quarterfinal round of both Wimbledon and the US Open land Pouille a player to watch in 2017 and 10th spot in my final power ranking of 2016.