Tennis player watchability rankings: Part 2

Welcome to the Part 2 of the Tennismash Watchability Rankings! Here staff writers Bede Briscomb and Matt Trollope rank forty star tennis players on their entertainment value. Today we’ll be running through Tiers 3 and 4. Tiers 1 and 2 will drop later this week.

You can find the criteria in Part 1.

Tier 4

29. Daria Gavrilova

Briscomb: Dasha is the Broad City of tennis players: always sprightly, never dull and occasionally the best thing on TV.

28. Gael Monfils

Trollope: Who knows what you’ll get from Monfils? The elastic Frenchman is famous for appearing on highlight reels, whether it’s diving forehands, leaping lunges, trick shots or extraordinary injections of pace (no-one will ever forget that 190km/h forehand winner at the Australian Open). Has swagger, loves the big stage and typically puts on a great show.

27. Caroline Garcia

Briscomb: It took me a while, but I’m finally flying with Caro. In fact, I just bought two business class seats at the front of the plane.

26. David Goffin

Trollope: Another one for the tennis purists. Goffin instantly becomes a sympathetic figure because of his height and weight deficit against other top players, but this sympathy soon gives way to awe when fans see first-hand his ability to take the ball early, out-manoeuvre opponents and generate surprising pace for his size.

25. Milos Raonic

Briscomb: Getting injured isn’t very watchable, so Raonic is in danger of slipping to Tier 5 — but when he’s fit, Milos the Missile is a treat. The Canadian is one of, if not the hardest hitting all-rounder of all time; Serena Williams said if she could take any aspect of any player it would be Raonic’s serve (Victoria Azarenka later said, “Get in line lol”).

24. Denis Shapovalov

Trollope: What a find. Watching the teenage lefty blast past Nadal at the Montreal Masters – before rapturous crowds – was one of the more shocking results of the season, and introduced the world to a ceaselessly attacking, athletic, bold shot-maker. He’s a really nice kid, too, and hails from sports-mad Canada, which certainly won’t hurt commercial interest in both him and the sport.

23. Petra Kvitova

Briscomb: Kvitova has a rare combination of humility and intensity, and the force of her down-the-line lefty forehand is always a sight to behold.

22. Madison Keys

Trollope: Keys is incredibly athletic and has a rocket of a forehand. She also has an extra gear that very few women can get to, and when it happens it’s downright scary (and fun to watch).

21. CoCo Vandeweghe

Briscomb: As the President of the Racquet Smashing Fan Club, this warms my heart. Dropping the racquet before the ball hits the net, pulverising it into oblivion not once, not twice but three times, releasing a sadistically satisfied smile and then chucking the wreckage into the crowd. Somewhere in the Bahamas and surrounded by eight supermodels is Marat Safin smiling with a tear in his eye.

Related: Every country’s best shot at a future world No.1 

Tier 3

20. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga

Trollope: The Frenchman has been a fan favourite for a decade, ever since he made that incredible run to the Australian Open 2008 final. He’s a tremendous athlete. Has the coolest hair. Produces explosive, unorthodox shots. Bears that incredible likeness to Muhammad Ali. And celebrates distinctively. If he’s on, he can blow anyone off the court. And it’s incredible to watch.

19. Caroline Wozniacki

Briscomb: If you’re the ninth most marketable athlete without winning a Grand Slam, you’re doing something right. The counter-puncher’s game isn’t entirely captivating, but she doesn’t take herself too seriously, always look glamorous in her Adidas x Stella McCartney kits and is happy to play a point with her hair tangled around her racquet.

18. Dominika Cibulkova

Trollope: The Slovakian pocket rocket brings the energy to every match she plays. The way she launches herself into every shot and celebrates winners and victories with such passion is magnetic. She’s fast, intense, and dynamic, and has a knack of embracing spectators, her fans and the big occasion.

17. Andy Murray

Briscomb: The Oranges: he has funny, genuine interviews and seems like the best bloke on tour. The Lemons: he is super defensive and has been involved in a great many Grand Slam final duds.  His Under Armour outfits are as plain as an arrowroot biscuit.

16. Sloane Stephens

Trollope: Sloane is the complete package – a fabulous player expertly blending offence and defence, an engaging personality and social media presence (when she’s winning) and she now has the Grand Slam title and comeback queen story to command show courts the world over.

15. Angie Kerber

Briscomb: Watching Angie Kerber is like watching Bob, my beloved miniature fox terrier, strutting around the park: he is down to earth, runs rings around dogs half his age, never tires and is universally respected. Unfortunately, like Bob, Angie is showing signs of a lost step, but if anyone can squeeze out another one or two years of top ten tennis, it’s her.