ATP ranking: change of command in the Argentine ‘1’, Báez’s dream and the record that Djokovic aspires to beat Federer

Sebastián Báez is experiencing the best moment of his career. This Monday’s ATP ranking update confirmed the native of Buenos Aires – champion on Sunday at the ATP 250 in Santiago de Chile – as number 1 in Argentina, overtaking Francisco Cerúndolowhen it is in place 19, the highest since he turned professional. The ranking continues to be dominated by the Serbian Novak Djokovicfollowed by Spanish Carlos Alcaraz and the Italian one Jannik Sinner.

Báez, 23, moved up two places compared to the previous week and had started the season in 28th place. After reaching the round of 32 at the Australian Open, the semi-finals in Córdoba, the quarter-finals in Buenos Aires and the victory in Rio and Santiago, its growth has been unstoppable.

The one born in the San Martín match in Buenos Aires became the twentieth Argentine tennis player in history to reach the Top 20 of the ATP ranking. He is the one who achieved the most victories in the year (16), which is why he placed fifth in the 2024 Race, which ranks the ATP Finals.

He added 1000 points in three months and has a lot ahead of him Alexander Zverev (1235 points, semifinalist at the Australian Open and the ATP 250 in Los Cabos); Alex de Minaur (1295 points, champion in Acapulco and finalist in Rotterdam); Daniel Medvedev (1500 points, finalist at the Australian Open and semi-finalist at the ATP 500 in Dubai; e Jannik Sinner (2500 points, Slam champion of Oceania and in Rotterdam).

Báez has never participated in this competition but participated in the Next-Gen Finals 2021 (tournament for the best Under 21s on the circuit), where he arrived as a semi-finalist after overcoming the group he shared with Lorenzo Musetti, Sebastiano Korda AND Hugh Gaston. There he was defeated by the champion of that edition: Carlos Alcaraz.

The last Argentine to compete in the ATP Finals was Diego Schwartzmann in 2020 (eliminated in the group stage), whereas previously this tournament was played by David Nalbandian (historic champion in 2005), Juan Martin del Potro, Guillermo Coria, Gastone Gaudio AND Guillermo Vilas.

The list of Argentinians in the Top 100 is then completed by Cerúndolo (22, -2), Tomás Martín Etcheverry (30, -3), Facundo Diaz Acosta (52), Mariano Navone (59, +1), Pedro Cachin (79, -1), Federico Coria (90, -2) e Thiago Tirante (97, +3).

The other leap in the rankings was that of the French Ugo Umbertochampion in Dubai this weekend and before that in Marseille, to finish fourteenth, climbing four steps, and at 25 he is closer than ever to the Top Ten.

Rublev’s revenge: the points and the silver were returned to him

At the top of the ranking, the three on the podium are followed by the Russians Medvedev and Andrei RublevGerman Alexander Zverevthe Danish Rune Holger and the enamel Hubert Hurkacz.

Go up two steps, up to the ninth, the Norwegian one Casper Ruud and down one, in tenth place, the Australian Alex de Minaur.

Rublev’s case is particular, because he appealed to the ATP after his disqualification at the ATP 500 in Dubai and obtained the refund of the money for reaching the semi-finals (157,000 dollars) and the points, but they imposed a fine of $36,000.

The episode occurred during the duel against Alexander Bublikin which they had played a tie-break in the first two sets with high intensity and everything indicated that they were heading towards a new tie-break, when a ball from Rublev went long and put his rival ahead 6-5.

The clock showed two hours and 26 minutes of play. A joy for the public. However, it would all end in a matter of seconds, with a sad outcome. Thanks to the tension of the moment, perhaps also a victim of his strong character, the Russian exploded at one of the linesmen and was disqualified “for unsportsmanlike behavior”.

What happened is that another of those present, very close to the scene, understood that Rublev had shouted at him “idiot” the linesman in Russian. The player defended himself by saying that he never said anything like that. “I was speaking to him in English,” he repeated several times to Rolan Herfel, ATP supervisor, who came to the court accompanied by a translator. The decision had already been made.

In any case, given the rigor of these times, it is not necessary to know what he said to understand that disqualification was the only possible way out. German referee Miriam Bley acted correctly in deciding to disqualify him.

Djokovic, chasing another Federer record

There’s an upcoming record waiting Novak Djokovic. You also don’t need much to get it. Let time pass, about five weeks surpass the Swiss Roger Federer as the oldest number 1 in history.

The Swiss, who will retire in 2022, reached the summit for the last time on 24 June 2018 and became the best in the ranking with 36 years and 320 days.

However, the goal that seemed unbeatable and would remain forever in His Majesty’s power is about to be surpassed. It’s that Djokovic, with 36 years and 287 dayswe are just under five weeks away from passing this milestone.

The little more than 1000 points difference that the Serbian has on Alcaraz should not represent a problem, because the Spaniard defends a Masters 1000 title (Indian Wells) and the semi-finals of another (Miami), while ‘Nole’ has not played any of both in 2023, so everything would be in profit.