TIMES’ TENNIS RANKINGS

Lisa Dillman’s top 10 rankings and comments for men and women. The number in parenthesis under player is the ranking by the men’s tour, the ATP’s Entry System, and the WTA, the women’s tour.

MEN

1. Patrick Rafter (No. 6 in ATP) Recent 0-for-5 drought in finals ends after injury forces Kuerten out.

2. Gustavo Kuerten (1) Played more doubleheaders--in Cincinnati and Indianapolis--lately than most baseball teams.

3. Tim Henman (9) Still seeing those four squandered match points against Kuerten in Indianapolis.

4. Andre Agassi (2) Suddenly, a slump. Failed to get in the Sjeng of things against Schalken.

5. Andy Roddick (18) He and his omnipresent baseball cap might be on TV a little more next week. Just a guess.

6. Juan Carlos Ferrero (5) Best recent finish by a Spaniard at the U.S. Open was Moya reaching the 1998 semifinals.

7. Greg Rusedski (31) Didn’t you used to be a U.S. Open finalist? Gradually finding form of 1997.

8. Marat Safin (3) Didn’t you used to be a U.S. Open champion? Reached one final in 2001.

9. Goran Ivanisevic (15) Wimbledon may not have been the end. Reached semifinals at Indianapolis

10. Pete Sampras (10) Didn’t you used to be a four-time U.S. Open champion? Enters Hamlet Cup.

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WOMEN

1. Venus Williams (No. 4 in WTA) This may be the only place where she isn’t dropping in the rankings after winning tournaments.

2. Lindsay Davenport (3) Criticized for curious injury withdrawal from Canadian event because of convincing Manhattan Beach win.

3. Serena Williams (10) Won emotional rematches against Seles, Capriati on consecutive days in Toronto.

4. Jennifer Capriati (2) Rugged French Open run was bound to take its toll. No titles in last three events since Paris.

5. Monica Seles (7) Creates best comeback story of 2001, well, at least since Capriati’s return to the top.

6. Martina Hingis (1) Just call her Semifinal Swiss Miss. Has failed to reach a final since April, a span of six tournaments.

7. Kim Clijsters (5) Looking to regain hard-court form in New Haven, Conn., fondly known as “The Have.”

8. Justine Henin (6) Reality test. Faced the old and new Seles in the same match in three-set loss in Toronto quarterfinals.

9. Nathalie Tauziat (9) Final-season results on circuit: Title in Birmingham, final in Dubai, semifinals in Manhattan Beach.

10. Anke Huber (17) The woman once called the “Next Graf” plans to call it quits, retiring after 2002 Australian Open.