ATP Rankings: Djokovic on top; Tsitsipas back in top 10 and Shelton is new American No 1

Djokovic begins his 421st week atop the world rankings

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic at Roland-Garros 2021 Image Credit: JB Autissier / Panoramic

April 15, 2024

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic continued his reign atop the ATP world rankings despite a semi-final exit at the recently concluded Monte-Carlo Masters. The Serb begins his 421st week as the world No 1 and enjoys a 1,285 point lead over his closest challenger, Jannik Sinner.

Sinner, who also lost in the semis in Monte-Carlo, remains at No 2, just ahead of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz by 105 points. However, with the Spaniard pulling out of Barcelona this week, it will be tougher for him to get back inside the top 2 in the coming weeks. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev and Germany’s Alexander Zverev retain their positions at No 4 and No 5 respectively to complete the top 5.

Monte-Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas climbs five spots to return to the top 10 at No 7, now one of two players with one-handed backhands inside the top 10 – the other being Grigor Dimitrov at No 10. Norway’s Casper Ruud, who lost in the final to Tsitsipas, jumps four spots to No 6. Andrey Rublev, who won the title in 2023 but lost in the opening round in Monaco, drops two spots to No 8, while Hubert Hurkacz drops one spot to No 9. Denmark’s Holger Rune, the Monte-Carlo runner-up last year who was defeated in the quarter-finals this time around, drops five spots to No 12. Frenchman Ugo Humbert moves up two spots to No 13 – his best career ranking so far.

21-YEAR-olD Shelton becomes the top-ranked American on the ATP Tour

Elsewhere, 21-year-old Ben Shelton becomes the top-ranked American player for the first time in his career. The left-hander stays put at No 14 while Taylor Fritz drops two spots to No 15 to make Shelton the third left-hander to become the No 1 American on the ATP Tour. The two before him – Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe – both went on to become multiple Grand Slam champions and world No 1s. He is also the youngest American No 1 since Andy Roddick in March 2004.

The biggest climber in the top 100 this week is India’s Sumit Nagal, who jumps 13 spots to a new career-high of No 80 after qualifying and winning a round in Monte-Carlo. Meanwhile, Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis moves up 12 spots to No 94 after winning the Sarasota Challenger.