The Baseline Top 5: Players ripe for a comeback in 2019

This year didn’t go exactly as planned for the following players, but there are five words that will serve them well as they prepare for the season ahead:

The only way is up.

With few points to defend after slumps or injuries led to a rankings decline, a return to a prominent place in the standings could be in store for these five stars in 2019.

1

Jack Sock

The American had a season for the ages—in doubles. Singles was full of misery as he finished the year outside of the Top 100. Any positive result in 2019 will lift his ranking as he tries to get back to his 2017 level, where he won his first ATP Masters singles title in Paris.

2

CoCo Vandeweghe

Injuries slowed the American, who finished 2017 in the Top 10 and led the U.S. to the Fed Cup title. She did manage some noteworthy moments in 2018 as she reached her first clay-court singles final in Stuttgart and claimed her first Grand Slam doubles title at the US Open (with Ashleigh Barty).

3

Grigor Dimitrov

The 2017 ATP Finals champion was far out of contention for a return appearance to the tournament as he only reached one final in 2018. He recently enlisted some top-level talent in the form of Andre Agassi as he tries to get back inside the Top 10.

4

Venus Williams

A year after finishing in the Top 5, the ageless wonder barely held onto a place in the Top 40. As she’s shown time and time again, though, she can never be counted out, and a return to a spot in the WTA Finals isn’t out of the question.

5

Andy Murray

The three-time Grand Slam champion will look to continue his comeback from the hip injury that stopped his reign at the top of the game. If this recent training video is any indication, the world No. 259 is ready for the battle.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias