ATP Rankings – Alcaraz and Nadal top-2, career-high for Nishioka and Huesler
For the first time since 2000, compatriots occupy the top two spots in the ATP rankings.
A pair of Spaniards occupy the top two spots in the ATP rankings on Monday, marking the first time that two compatriots rank No 1 and No 2 in the ATP rankings since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi in 2000.
World No 1 Alcaraz, who became the youngest No 1 in ATP history after the US Open, begins his fourth week atop the ATP rankings. He’s joined by his mentor and idol, Rafael Nadal, who comes in at No 2.
Catch up with all the risers, and find out who is closing in on Turin, in today’s report…
Alcaraz and Nadal No 1 and No 2, as Ruud drops to No 3
Casper Ruud dropped 205 points after losing in the quarter-finals at Seoul last week, which allowed Nadal to leapfrog the Norwegian for the second spot. Ruud is 165 points behind Nadal but can make up points this week with a good performance in Tokyo, as Nadal will not be active.
Ruud is 880 points behind Nadal in the Race to Turin, however.
Nadal, who has no points to defend for the rest of the season, has now spent 580 weeks inside the ATP’s top-2 (209 at No 1 and 371 at No 2), and this week marks the first time that two Spaniards have held the top two spots in the ATP rankings (since the rankings began in 1973).
8 of top 10 in Race to Turin will be in action this week
It could be a busy week in the Race to Turn standings, as eight of the top-10 will be in action, and angling for position. Four spots are still up for grabs (Note: Novak Djokovic is currently 15th and will qualify if he finishes in the top-20 due to his Wimbledon title).
Here are the current standings:
- Carlos Alcaraz | 6460 | Playing Astana, already qualified
- Rafael Nadal | 5810 | Not Playing this week, already qualified
- Casper Ruud | 4930 | Playing Tokyo, already qualified
- Stefanos Tsitsipas | 4630 | Playing Astana, already qualified
- Daniil Medvedev | 3375 | Playing Astana
- Andrey Rublev | 3055 | Playing Astana
- Felix Auger-Aliassime | 2860 | Playing Astana
- Alexander Zverev | 2700 | Not Playing this week
- Hubert Hurkacz | 2635 | Playing Astana
- Taylor Fritz | 2385 | Playing Tokyo
Nishioka, Huesler hit career-high rankings
Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka won the title in Seoul on Sunday and will rise to a career-high ranking of 41 (+15 from 56) thanks to his exceptional performance. The Japanese talent notched his career-best win in the quarter-finals when he took out No 2 Casper Ruud. He defeated Denis Shapovalov in the final.
Switzerland’s Marc-Andrea Huesler is the biggest riser inside the top-100 this week. The Swiss jumps 31 spots to a career-high ranking of 64 after claiming the Sofia title on Sunday.
Huesler entered the 2022 season with six wins to his name. After his triumph over Holger Rune on Sunday, he is 10-8 on the season.
Other significant risers:
- Roman Safiullin, +12 to 92
- Quentin Halys, +10 to 74
- Constant Lestienne, +7 to 61
- Holger Rune, +5 to 26
- Radu Albot, +5 to 86
Ram becomes oldest first-time doubles No 1
At the top of the ATP doubles rankings sits a 38-year-old American, Rajeev Ram. Ram makes history with his achievement – he is the oldest first-time No 1 in ATP history.
According to the ATP, the previous-oldest first-time World No. 1 was the first doubles World No. 1: Bob Hewitt, who was 36 in 1976.