The dawn of a new era is taking shape on the international tennis scene, with the next generation of stars set to take over from three all-time greats of the sport.
Novak Djokovic drops two places down to 3rd in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings, marking the first time since 2018 the Serb has been ranked outside the top two in the world.
(Photo by Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)
For the past 19 years at least one of the famed ‘Big Three’ – Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer – has been consistently ranked inside the top two spots of the ATP rankings. Now, for the first time since 2003, neither of these three icons are placed first or second in the world.
Djokovic has lost the 2,000 ranking points from his Roland Garros triumph last year, falling from 1st to 3rd in the latest ATP rankings released on Monday. Newly-crowned French Open winner Nadal remains 4th, whilst injury-embattled Federer has dropped 18 places down to 68th – his lowest ranking since 2000.
Federer turns 41 in August and has been out of tennis action for the best part of two-and-a-half years due to persistent knee troubles. The Swiss sensation last played at Wimbledon last year and is all but ruled out of competing at the forthcoming edition of the oldest major on the tennis calendar.
When asked about his return to the court, Federer responded saying he is ‘hopeful’ and ‘not far away’, adding that “The next three or four months will be extremely important”.
(Photo by Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
Daniil Medvedev has inherited the top ranking for a second time this year, despite losing to Tim van Rijthoven in the final of the Libéma Open (Hertogenbosch) in the Netherlands on Sunday. In February, Medvedev became the first player other than Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, and Andy Murray to occupy the summit of the men’s tennis rankings since Andy Roddick in early 2004.
Medvedev is barred from competing at Wimbledon later this month after the All England Club prohibited Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the most prestigious tennis Grand Slam, in light of Russia’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine.
In turn, Wimbledon has been stripped of its ranking points over its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 135th Championships due to commence on June 27. This move will largely benefit the absent Medvedev, with reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic set to lose out on a further 2,000 points on July 11.
Djokovic has the opportunity to score valuable points at the Halle and Queen’s tournaments ahead of Wimbledon, albeit the 35-year-old remains at risk of being placed outside the top five for the first time since he was 12th in the 2017 year-end rankings.
Alexander Zverev rises to 2nd in the latest rankings, however the 25-year-old German will be unavailable for an undisclosed period after undergoing surgery on torn ankle ligaments he suffered in his French Open semifinal bout with Nadal. Casper Ruud, 23, of Norway climbs to a career-high ranking of 5th after ending runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros.
