ATP Rankings: Djokovic broke Steffi Graf’s all-time record under threat from champion Alcaraz in Buenos Aires

the Serbian Novak Djokovic his week started this Monday 377 from number one in the world in the ATP ranking, the same ones that the German managed to be at the top of the WTA Steffi Graffwhich has remained at the top of the world rankings for the most time in tennis history, including both branches.

Until now the German, who finished her career with 22 Grand Slam titles among the 107 trophies she lifted in her career, has been the athlete who accumulated the longest time as number one. Djokovic has already got there and, in seven days, the 35-year-old Balkan will be the male and female tennis player with the most weeks in first place in a ranking.

No one had managed to threaten Steffi’s historical dominance, until Djokovic and his stability appeared, recovering his calm after the anomaly caused by the pandemic and the conditions to which his plan was subjected by the demands of each country due of virus restrictions, and your decision not to get vaccinated.

Djokovic regained the number one position on January 30, after winning the Australian Open for the tenth time, on his return to Melbourne, leaving behind the painful experience of a year earlier when he was held up in a hotel in the Australian capital and subsequently sent off from the country.

The man born in Belgrade does not forget everything that happened, which he matched a month ago Rafael Nadal as the man who has achieved the most Grand Slams in the history of the men’s branch (22) and the same as Graf, while he is only one behind the American Serena Williams and two behind the Australian Court Margaretthe athlete who has accumulated the most majors during his career.

The Serbian always aims high. He has the successes of the youngest Williams and Court at his fingertips in a year where he still has Wimbledon and the United States Open ahead of him, scenarios in which he performs better than at Roland Garros, land where Rafael Nadal reigns, the other legendary survivor in the world of tennis.

Because no one else seems able to question the authority of these two sports giants. Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune or Felix Auger Aliassime are the main threats, after crossing the middle generation consisting of Alexander Zverev, Daniel Medvedev OR Stephen Tsitsipaswhich is not enough to bring down the survivors of the so-called Big Three together with the already retired Roger Federer.

Djokovic has the Grand Slam challenge ahead of him and also other runs that can come under their own weight, such as the oldest player at number one. At 35 years and eight months he is close to Federer who was at the top for a while 36 and ten months.

The Serbian has already caught up with Graf as the tennis player who has been at number one longest. Abandoned a long time ago Martina Navratilovwhich remained 332 and also a serene, which came to dominate for 319 weeks. the farther they are Roger Federerwhich reached 310, or pete sampraswhich lasted 286. nadalthe other still active, is even further away: it accumulated 209 at the time.

As far as overall ATP trophies go, Djokovic still has work to do. The Serbian has 93 career titles and can soon match ivan lendlwith 94. Although more distant it is Federer who retired with 103 and, even more, the American Jimmy Connorthe player with the most hits on the circuit during his career with 109.

Regrets Djokovic, however, do not count on popular fervor which encourages Nadal almost always or the admiration that Federer has always generated in his career. Although he has managed to become the best in history, the Balkans does not stop permeating the fan. He does not give the feeling that he could be close to the number one follower in the world, of which he was even suspected exaggerating an injury at the last Australian Open.

“In the next few days, I’ll tell everything. I’ve decided to hold a press conference”the Serbian announced hours ago that he has unfinished business and feelings to explain.

Baez also passed Schwartzman

Number 2 in the ATP rankings continues to be Carlos Alcarazabsent for three months between an abdominal muscle tear at the end of 2022 and a muscle injury at the beginning of 2023, and who is back on track with everything by winning the ATP in Buenos Aires for the first time, thus maintaining a significant advantage over the Greek Stephen Tsitsipaswhich completes the podium.

Relegated to twelfth position at the end of January, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, former world number one, won the ATP in Rotterdam – his sixteenth title – and returned to the Top Ten finishing 8th, relegating the Canadian to a chain Felix Auger-Aliasime (9th), to Norwegian Rune Holger (10th) and in Polish Hubert Hurkacz (11th).

Briton Cameron Norrie, who fell in the Buenos Aires final against Alcaraz, dropped to 13th place.

Among Argentines, the prospects are not encouraging diego schwartzmannwho lost back-to-back in his ATP debut in Córdoba and Buenos Aires, relinquishing the Legion No. 1 to Francis Cerundolowhich this Monday appears 33rd -three places behind- and followed by Sebastian Baez (35th, won one position).

ATP Ranking for Monday February 20th

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7,070 points
2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6,480
3. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 5.940
4. Casper Ruud (NOR) 5.515
5. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 3,860
6. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 3,815
7. Taylor Fritz (US) 3,660
8. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 3,250 (+3)
9. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 3,200 (-1)
10. Holger rune (DEN) 3.161 (-1)

Argentines in the Top 100

33. Francesco Cerundolo (ARG) 1,230 (-3)
35. Sebastian Baez (ARG) 1.105 (+1)
38. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 1,010 (-6)
56. Federico Coria (ARG) 810 (-7)
59. Pedro Cachin (ARG) 797 (+9)
75. Tomás Martín Etcheverry (ARG) 684 (+7)
87. Facundo Bagnis (ARG) 595 (+1)