Six top 50 players who failed to serve up a winning record in 2023 – from Andy Murray to Ben Shelton

Kevin Palmer
Andy Murray and Dan Evans are British Davis Cup team-mates
Andy Murray and Dan Evans are British Davis Cup team-mates

They are the chosen few who have found a home in the top 50 of the ATP rankings, but that doesn’t mean winning is a habit they used to.

The season that came to an end at the ATP Finals in Turin in November threw up some intriguing statistics that confirmed some big names lost more matches than they won over the last 12 months.

A good run at tournaments that offer high-ranking points can shape an entire season, with these players hanging onto their place in the top 50 of the ATP rankings despite indifferent form in 2023.

DAN EVANS
2023 record: 18-26
Prize money: $1,519,445

The British No 2 ended the year at No 38 in the ATP rankings, even though he lost eight more matches than he won in 2023.

Victory in the ATP 500 event in Washington in July was a career highlight and the ranking points collected from that event helped to prop up a dip in form that could have seen Evans slip out of the top 50.

Evans confirmed he is still a big threat to the game’s biggest names after a couple of epic clashes with Carlos Alcaraz and this feisty performer will be eager to get more wins on the board in the New Year.

ALEXANDER BUBLIK
2023 record: 24-28
Prize money: $1,570,556

This enigmatic performer is a handful for any opponent when he is on top of his game, but he can allow his mind to wander when the tide turns against him.

A Kazakhstani who won two ATP titles in 2023, he beat Andrey Rublev to lift the ATP 500 title on grass in Halle and then won the European Open in October.

Outside of those wins, he has a tough year other than a run to the fourth round of Wimbledon.

READ MORE: Thirteen tennis winners and losers from 2023 – including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu

MAX PURCELL
2023 record: 18-21
Prize money: $817,031

This Aussie enjoyed a breakthrough year on the ATP Tour, with his run to the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters in August including a win against world No 7 Casper Ruud.

He struggled to back up that form in other events but will look back in 2023 with pride after starting the year playing on the second tier ATP Challenger circuit.

This Aussie will be eager to hit the ground running in front of his home fans at the Australian Open.

ANDY MURRAY
2023 record: 16-17
Prize money: $989,396

This three-time Grand Slam great won on the ATP Challenger circuit in 2023, but his record on the top-level tour highlighted his frustrations.

While Murray was close to wins against many of the game’s top-ranked players, he came up short too often when the pressure was applied at the end of matches.

He clearly still has a passion for the game and will head into 2024 with renewed hope that he can climb back to the top.

LORENZO SONEGO
2023 record: 29-29
Prize money: $1,270,396

A solid start to 2023 was followed by a disappointing second half of the season for this talented Italian.

Sonego reached the fourth round at the Miami Open and the fourth round at the French Open, but struggled in a lot of the marquee events on the ATP Tour and failed to serve up a winning record as a result.

BEN SHELTON
2023 record: 25-25
Prize money: $2,323,394

A quarter-finalist at the Australian Open and a semi-finalist at the US Open, Shelton’s breakthrough year also included some harsh lessons on the ATP Tour.

He finished 2023 ranked inside the top 20 after winning his first ATP 500 title in Tokyo in October and will be a player to watch in the new year.

Look out for Shelton to make a big leap up the ATP Rankings this year as he has big scope to claim points in tournaments outside of the handful of events he performed well in over the last 12 months.

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