Report Card: Grading the Pros on September

The fall season is underway and the world?s pros are in need of grades. Here are the best (and worst) performers from the September weeks following the U.S. Open.

Head of the Class
Novak Djokovic takes the prize for his Davis Cup dedication. After a long and exhausting U.S. Open, where he lost in the final, Djokovic helped Serbia reach its first Davis Cup final by scoring a point in doubles and another in singles. The Serbs will host the final, against France, after Djokovic plays in the World Tour Finals in London. Djokovic has been pushing for changes to Davis Cup, including the possibility that the event be held at a neutral site every other year. Perhaps he?ll change his mind if Serbia wins its first title at home.

Fish almost single-handedly kept the United States in the World Group. (Guillermo Legaria/AFP/Getty Images)

Honor Roll
Mardy Fish for his three-point performance against Colombia in Davis Cup. Fish?s fine play saved the United States from an embarrassing demotion from the World Group.

Kimiko Date Krumm, age 95, for her defeat of Maria Sharapova. OK, OK, Date Krumm is only 40, but her victory over the former world No. 1 was impressive nonetheless.

Patrick McEnroe deserves honors, too, for leading the U.S. Davis Cup team for 10 years and winning a title in 2007.

Skip a Grade
Grigor Dimitrov, whose pretty strokes remind many scouts of Roger Federer, has won his last three Challenger events. The 19-year-old is ranked No. 135, which, it?s worth noting, doesn?t compare favorably with the 19-year-old Federer, who was ranked as high as No. 24.

Repeat a Grade
Great to see Juan Martin del Potro back on tour; not so great to see him struggling. If this keeps up, del Potro might need to enter a few Challenger events just to score some wins. Still, I?d be shocked if he isn?t a contender for majors by the end of next year.

Inflated Grades?
Caroline Wozniacki ought to finish the season as the No. 1 player in the world. She won?t have a major title to her name, and she won?t have a single victory over Venus Williams (0-4), Jelena Jankovic (0-4), Serena Williams (0-2), or Kim Clijsters (0-1). Suffice to say, 2011 is going to be an important year.

C-
Every man has his flaws. Roger Federer?s is Davis Cup. After losing a close semifinal at the U.S. Open, Federer rested as his Swiss teammates were demolished by Kazakhstan, 5-0.

Department of?Huh?
Rafael Nadal, winner of the last three Grand Slam tournaments, was cruising along in Thailand recently until?he lost to another Spaniard? And Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at that? Nadal had been 29-2 against Spaniards in the last three years.

Expelled
I remain convinced that Maria Sharapova can?and will?win more major titles, but I?m growing impatient. Where is the Maria of old?

Tom Perrotta is an editor-at-large at TENNIS. Follow him on Twitter.

latest tennis results laura robson australian open lawn tennis lawn tennis wimbledon learn tennis