Not that this picture I chose has ANYTHING to do with rankings but it's Monday after a major final weekend so a pick-me-up was in order...
Novak Djokovic had another disappointing end at the Aussie Open falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals while feeling all kinds of bad. Last season, the sexy Serb (and defending champ) retired from his match at the same hurdle due to heat-related illness.
But he's feeling pretty good today after waking up as the new World No. 2, his highest career ranking, in the ATP World Tour rankings according to his website:
"I am happy to go one more step in my career and get even closer to one of my life time goals which is to become #1. This career high ranking is important for the moment since I had been close before. It was unfortunate for me this Australian Open, a tournament that really got me to one of my peaks so far, but that's how the competition is. I am now back at home and soon resuming practice so I can compete."
Other Top Ten movers this week include Andy Murray climbing back up to the third spot on the heels of his finals appearance in Oz; Rafael Nadal falling two spots to fourth after retiring in the quarters due to injury (his first time out of the Top 3 since June 2005); Jo-Wilfried Tsonga inching up one to grab the 9th spot; and Marin Cilic making his debut in the Top Ten based on his first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal.
Fernando Verdasco took a big hit falling out of the Top Ten to No. 12 after getting knocked out of the Aussie Open in the fourth round. Last year the Spanish chorizo made a surprise run to the semifinals losing to Rafa in an epic 5-set marathon.
1 Federer, Roger (SUI) 11,350
2 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 8,310
3 Murray, Andy (GBR) 7,800
4 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 7,670
5 Del Potro, Juan Martin (ARG) 6,400
6 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 5,290
7 Roddick, Andy (USA) 4,150
8 Soderling, Robin (SWE) 3,375
9 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 3,235
10 Cilic, Marin (CRO) 2,970
[Photo(s): Clive Brunskill/Getty Images]
Wow. Roger is 3000+ ahead of everyone else. And with not much to defend until Madrid, that pretty much puts him in the driver's seat. I do hope he wins a Masters title (just one!) before Madrid.
ReplyDeleteI also hope Nadal doesn't go below the top 4 before the French Open. How criminal would it be for him to be ranked lower than #4? A possible Rafa-Roger SF is scary enough. I don't even want to think about the possibility of a Rafa-Roger QF (or worse).
Picking up on what Ryan T. posted, unfortunately the glory days of Fed/Rafa meeting routinely in Slam finals is over. With Rafa's ongoing injuries and the depth of the top ten, we will continue to see various names in finals now.
ReplyDeleteIt's likely Fed/Rafa will meet again in a Slam final, but SF and QF meetings will become the norm for quite some time.
Hmm...I think I was in that same position last night...only it wasn't a racquet in my hands...;)
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with the FO officials seeding Roger either at #1 or #2 (wherever he wants - sometimes #2 has the best draw) and then putting Rafa at the other spot, no matter his ranking? You mean to tell me he isn't still the most feared clay courter? For at least this year, I think that's what the French should do. Any one of the top ten shouldn't have a problem with it, either.
Gawd natch we are living the same lives...
ReplyDeleteGreat point. Let's hope the RG officials put Rafa at either #1 or #2 regardless of his ATP ranking. They can make that call though they didn't seed him #1 at RG until last season I believe because Fed was #1 in the rankings those other years Rafa was defending champ.
That being said having him at #2 versus coming in at #4 or lower would be SCARY for the other top seeds and for our viewing pleasure.
Who cares about Roger or Rafa when you have Nole #2! Congrats sexy!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS NOLE!!! Now, hold onto it.
ReplyDeleteI think Nadal will def. fight his way back to the top! And we'll have more Fed-Nadal matches,I'm hoping!!
ReplyDeleteI really can't understand how Djokovic can find the fact that he is No2 positive and an achievement since the only reason is that Rafa is actually injured. He had another clown perfomance in Australia, where he was announced as the new king of tennis by his mother a few years ago, after last years pitty and he feels OK with that?
ReplyDelete