Novak Djokovic drops from number one and breaks a 19-year hegemony of the Big 3

Losing ten days ago to Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros cost Novak Djokovic far more than the chance to be crowned a third time in Paris and add his 21st Grand Slam. Due to that too early elimination in the French race, the Serbian, who defended the title, will give up the world number one, who will remain in the hands, once again, of Daniil Medvedev. Though freight will not only lose the summit, but will also be overtaken by the German Alexander Zverev, will fall to the third step and end a nearly 19-year hegemony of the Large 3 at the top of the chart.

is that this Monday, for the first time in 18 years and seven months there will be no member of that elite group -completed by Nadal and Swiss Roger Federer- among the top two in the world rankings.

The last time that situation occurred was in the week of November 10, 2003, when the American Andy Roddick was number one, the Spaniard Giovanni Carlo Ferrero was second, and Federer, third. The following week, the Swiss moved up to second place (which he had temporarily occupied a few months earlier) and started that incredible series of victories that will end in the next few hours.

Federer first became number one in February 2004 and has since started the reign of those three extraordinary players, who have shared the prime position for more than 18 years, except for 41 weeks between November 2016 and August 2016. 2017, when Andy Murray reigned.

At the end of last February Medvedev climbed to the top for the first time (he was just three weeks old) and became the first player outside of those “Fantastic Four” occupy that place.

Now, the Russian and Zverev – who suffered a severe right ankle ligament injury during the Roland Garros semi-final against Nadal and will stay off the pitch for at least six weeks – will take over the top 2 and cut off another unprecedented hegemony. by Djokovic and company.

Why did the change of command take place only a week after the Roland Garros final, which Nadal won by extending his record of conquests in Paris to 14 titles and 22 Grand Slam trophies? Because last year the “big” Frenchman ended a week later than this 2022. So the points that the players had earned in the 2021 edition will only expire this Monday.

Djokovic will lose the 2,000 he got when he became champion just over twelve months ago; Medvedev, 360 in the quarter-finals; and Zverev, 720 from the semifinal. And so the Serbian will remain with 6,770 units, the Russian will jump to first place with 7,950 and the German, to the second with 7,075.

Good news for the Muscovite, who has been arriving for several months with setbacks. He skipped almost the entire season on clay due to a hernia operation. He didn’t do well at Roland Garros and said goodbye in the round of 16 against Marin Cilic. This Sunday he has the desire to add his first title of the season by falling in the final of ‘s-Hertogenbosch before the Dutch strangers Tim Van Rijthovenal, who hadn’t won any ATP-level matches in this tournament. And he will have to watch Wimbledon on television, since he cannot play the “great” English due to the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian players due to the invasion of Ukraine.

And bad news for Djokovic, who is experiencing a nightmare season. Is that after missing the Australian Open (he gave another 2,000 points) and the Masters of Indian Wells 1000 Y You love me Due to his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, he could not defend his title in Paris and will now go to Wimbledon to repeat last year’s celebration, but knowing in advance he will not be able to keep the 2,000 units he won in London twelve months. does.

Because in response to that prohibition that since All of England imposed on the tennis players of Russia and Belarus, the ATP has subtracted from the competition the points it distributes for the classification this season. freight, which has amassed a record of 373 weeks as number one in the world, will not be able to revalidate those it added in 2021 and will drop further in the rankings, to seventh place. And it will have to be seen if he, not being vaccinated, can enter the United States next month to play at the US Open, where he was a finalist last year.

Medvedev is guaranteed number 1 until 11 July, although he will miss the London Grand Slam. But on the concrete tour in North America, it will come to an end Flushing Mews from 28 August to 11 September there could be a new change at the top because there will be several players with the possibility of taking the lead. Up to Nadal, fourth today and in doubt for Wimbledon due to that chronic scaphoid injury in his left foot that forced him to play undercover for most of his campaign in Paris.

Is it time for the change of command that has been talked about in men’s tennis since the generation of Medvedev and Zverev entered the track? Or the old guard, now led by Djokovic, will have the strength to prolong the golden age Large 3? For now, this Monday will see the end of a historic hegemony.