The new tennis season is getting closer, and there are players on the fringes of the Top 10 on the ATP Tour, looking to make a breakthrough.
Many of the names in the Top 10 have become consistent. Novak Djokovic is the most obvious example, but players like Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner have all become regulars in the Top 10.
Some players have briefly entered the Top 10, such as Frances Tiafoe, who recently parted ways with his coach, but others are hoping to make that breakthrough for the first time.
This article gives five players who have a chance of reaching the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings for the first time if they find their best tennis in 2024.
5. Tommy Paul
Tommy Paul had a remarkably consistent season in 2023. The highlights were an excellent semifinal run at the Australian Open, another semifinal at the Canadian Open, and two runner-ups in Acapulco and Eastbourne.
Those results saw Paul finish the year at No. 13, and he was No. 12 in October. The 26-year-old's style does not attract the same attention as some, but the consistent Paul is close to the Top 10, although he has a lot of points to defend at the upcoming Australian Open.
4. Lorenzo Musetti
The 21-year-old is extremely talented and reached a career-high ranking of No. 15 in June of this year. However, the two-time ATP titlist had a difficult second half of the season, and ended 2023 ranked No. 27, although he did win the Davis Cup with Italy.
Lorenzo Musetti is still very young. His serve and forehand are formidable, and if he can improve his one-handed backhand in particular, a strong run in 2024 to make him a Top-10 contender is not impossible.
3. Ugo Humbert
2023 was the strongest year of 25-year-old Ugo Humbert's career. He reached several quarterfinals and semifinals before glory arrived in his final tournament of the year, as he won his home event in Metz. That success took Humbert into the Top 20 for the first time.
The Frenchman has been guilty of a drop in form after previous successes. But Humbert possesses one of the most powerful games on the ATP Tour, and a further rise in the rankings is possible if he can be more consistent. The experience he has gained could help him do that.
2. Ben Shelton
21-year-old Ben Shelton's rise was sudden and came from success on hardcourts. The American started 2023 with an unexpected run to the quarterfinal of the Australian Open.
He went one better and memorably made the semifinal at the US Open before briefly breaking into the Top 15 after winning a maiden ATP title in Tokyo.
Shelton ended the year at No. 17. He may need to improve his performances on grass and clay next year to reach the top 10, where he struggled. Yet, Shelton's huge serve, forehand, and variety give him a chance of breaking into the Top 10.
1. Alex de Minaur
De Minaur has come closer to breaking into the Top 10 than anyone on this list. He ended the season at No. 12, and was No. 11 in October. The Australian reached a maiden Masters 1000 final in 2023 in Toronto, won the title in Acapulco, and made two more finals in Los Cabos and Queen's.
The 24-year-old is one of the most athletic and grittiest players on the tour. Few players have been able to match his intensity, and his mixture of skill and tenacity could see him break into the top 10 for the first time in 2024.
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