30-01-2008, 06:02 PM
Three-Way Race for World No. 1
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After unrivaled possession of the World No. 1 ranking for more than three years, Roger Federer now faces the challenge of protecting his position atop the South African Airways ATP Rankings from the double threat of youngsters Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Nadal had gone to Melbourne with the opportunity to overtake the Swiss at the top spot - making it the first Grand Slam tournament since 2004 Wimbledon that Federer's ranking had come under threat - and Djokovic turned it into a three-way race for World No. 1 by finishing the fortnight with his first Grand Slam title.
Following the Australian Open, Nadal and Djokovic respectively stand 650 and 1,465 points behind the once untouchable Swiss with the 21-year-old Spaniard and 20-year-old Serb each boasting more than 5,000 Rankings points. The biggest lead Federer has held was a 3,900-point advantage on Nov. 20, 2006 (for six weeks) and the smallest lead was 350 points on May 10, 2004.
South African Airways ATP Rankings (as of 1/28/08)
1 Roger Federer 6630
2 Rafael Nadal 5980
3 Novak Djokovic 5165
Nadal has now ranked World No. 2 for 132 consecutive weeks since assuming the position on July 25, 2005 and, with the exception of one week, Djokovic has been ranked at No. 3 since July 9, 2007.
At other times during this past decade, their current point totals would have been enough to have secured them the top spot. Of the last five players who attained the No. 1 ranking prior to Federer, only one - Australian Lleyton Hewitt - managed to eclipse 5,000 points at his highest point total.
Highest Points Totals of Former No. 1s
Player Date at highest total Points
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 8/26/2002 5205
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) 9/24/2001 4750
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 10/20/2003 4570
Andy Roddick (USA) 1/19/2004 4535
Marat Safin (RUS) 4/16/2001 4270
But Nadal and Djokovic will have their work cut out for them early in the 2008 season with Rankings points to defend at the year's first two ATP Masters Series events, whereas Federer can widen his lead at No. 1 after early exits last year.
Djokovic has the most at stake, having amassed 1,035 points in four event appearances following last year's Australian Open. He earned 850 of a maximum 1,000 points at the ATP Masters Series tournaments last March, reaching the Indian Wells final to crack the Top 10 for the first time and solidifying his place in tennis' elite by clinching the Miami title.
Points to defend (result)
Federer Nadal Djokovic
Rotterdam - - 110 (SF)
Dubai 300 (W) 75 (QF) 75 (QF)
Indian Wells 5 (R64) 500 (W) 350 (F)
Miami 75 (R16) 125 (QF) 500 (W)
Totals 380 700 1035
Nadal has 700 points to defend, including the 500 received by winning the Indian Wells title, but could further increase his point total by reaching the semifinals or better in Dubai and Miami.
Meanwhile, Federer stands to collect an additional 920 points should he successfully defend his Dubai title and reclaim the Indian Wells and Miami shields. The Swiss won all three tournaments consecutively in 2005 and again reached the final at all three events the next year, finishing as runner-up to Nadal in Dubai before going on to defend his two ATP Masters Series titles.
Federer was chasing his fourth straight title at Indian Wells and his third straight in Miami last season when he was stunned by Argentine Guillermo Canas in his second-round opener and fourth round, respectively.
"He's gonna come back in a big style, of course," said Djokovic after the Australian Open. "He's still planning to be the best player in the world, so we all know how good is he. We're going to see a lot of him, of course, this year."
Federer has ranked No. 1 for 210 consecutive weeks since ascending to the top spot following his 2004 Australian Open triumph.
He became the new record holder for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings last year in Dubai when he eclipsed Jimmy Connors' 160 straight weeks at the top position, set back in the '70s. Federer also joined Connors as the only players to rank No. 1 every week during the calendar year in three different years.
The 26-year-old Swiss, who last season became the fourth player to finish No. 1 four (or more) consecutive years, is two year-end No. 1 finishes away from tying Pete Sampras's record.
é Getty Images
After unrivaled possession of the World No. 1 ranking for more than three years, Roger Federer now faces the challenge of protecting his position atop the South African Airways ATP Rankings from the double threat of youngsters Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Nadal had gone to Melbourne with the opportunity to overtake the Swiss at the top spot - making it the first Grand Slam tournament since 2004 Wimbledon that Federer's ranking had come under threat - and Djokovic turned it into a three-way race for World No. 1 by finishing the fortnight with his first Grand Slam title.
Following the Australian Open, Nadal and Djokovic respectively stand 650 and 1,465 points behind the once untouchable Swiss with the 21-year-old Spaniard and 20-year-old Serb each boasting more than 5,000 Rankings points. The biggest lead Federer has held was a 3,900-point advantage on Nov. 20, 2006 (for six weeks) and the smallest lead was 350 points on May 10, 2004.
South African Airways ATP Rankings (as of 1/28/08)
1 Roger Federer 6630
2 Rafael Nadal 5980
3 Novak Djokovic 5165
Nadal has now ranked World No. 2 for 132 consecutive weeks since assuming the position on July 25, 2005 and, with the exception of one week, Djokovic has been ranked at No. 3 since July 9, 2007.
At other times during this past decade, their current point totals would have been enough to have secured them the top spot. Of the last five players who attained the No. 1 ranking prior to Federer, only one - Australian Lleyton Hewitt - managed to eclipse 5,000 points at his highest point total.
Highest Points Totals of Former No. 1s
Player Date at highest total Points
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 8/26/2002 5205
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) 9/24/2001 4750
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 10/20/2003 4570
Andy Roddick (USA) 1/19/2004 4535
Marat Safin (RUS) 4/16/2001 4270
But Nadal and Djokovic will have their work cut out for them early in the 2008 season with Rankings points to defend at the year's first two ATP Masters Series events, whereas Federer can widen his lead at No. 1 after early exits last year.
Djokovic has the most at stake, having amassed 1,035 points in four event appearances following last year's Australian Open. He earned 850 of a maximum 1,000 points at the ATP Masters Series tournaments last March, reaching the Indian Wells final to crack the Top 10 for the first time and solidifying his place in tennis' elite by clinching the Miami title.
Points to defend (result)
Federer Nadal Djokovic
Rotterdam - - 110 (SF)
Dubai 300 (W) 75 (QF) 75 (QF)
Indian Wells 5 (R64) 500 (W) 350 (F)
Miami 75 (R16) 125 (QF) 500 (W)
Totals 380 700 1035
Nadal has 700 points to defend, including the 500 received by winning the Indian Wells title, but could further increase his point total by reaching the semifinals or better in Dubai and Miami.
Meanwhile, Federer stands to collect an additional 920 points should he successfully defend his Dubai title and reclaim the Indian Wells and Miami shields. The Swiss won all three tournaments consecutively in 2005 and again reached the final at all three events the next year, finishing as runner-up to Nadal in Dubai before going on to defend his two ATP Masters Series titles.
Federer was chasing his fourth straight title at Indian Wells and his third straight in Miami last season when he was stunned by Argentine Guillermo Canas in his second-round opener and fourth round, respectively.
"He's gonna come back in a big style, of course," said Djokovic after the Australian Open. "He's still planning to be the best player in the world, so we all know how good is he. We're going to see a lot of him, of course, this year."
Federer has ranked No. 1 for 210 consecutive weeks since ascending to the top spot following his 2004 Australian Open triumph.
He became the new record holder for most consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings last year in Dubai when he eclipsed Jimmy Connors' 160 straight weeks at the top position, set back in the '70s. Federer also joined Connors as the only players to rank No. 1 every week during the calendar year in three different years.
The 26-year-old Swiss, who last season became the fourth player to finish No. 1 four (or more) consecutive years, is two year-end No. 1 finishes away from tying Pete Sampras's record.
Feyenoord? Het enige dat ik van Feyenoord weet, is dat ze uit het land van Ajax komen - Fabio Capello