ATP rankings: Daniil Medvedev is officially No 1; Vesely the biggest climber

For the first time since 2016, there is a new name at the top of the ATP rankings, while several others made big moves up – and down – the list

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev celebrates winning his quarter final match against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in Acapulco Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Simon Cambers

February 28, 2022

There is a new man at the head of the ATP rankings as Russia’s Daniil Medvedev reached top spot for the first time, breaking the hegemony of the big four; Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, one or other of whom occupied top spot since February 2004.

With no tournaments this week, Medvedev will retain the rankings for at least a few weeks. Here’s a look at the biggest movers and the biggest fallers this week.

Click here for the latest ATP rankings, released on February 28, 2002:

• A new world No 1: Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev celebrated a huge career milestone – and the fulfilment of a lifelong dream – when he was officially crowned the world No 1 as the new ATP rankings were released on Monday.

The greatest achievement in professional tennis.🙌

Congratulations @DaniilMedwed, the new #ATPRankings World No. 1🥇 pic.twitter.com/ovgz2WENY4
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 28, 2022

The 26-year-old Russian replaces Novak Djokovic, who has been No 1 for a record 361 weeks in all. The US Open champion is the 27th man to top the rankings since they began in 1973; he’s the third Russian to achieve the feat after Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin; and at 6ft 6in (1.98m), he’s the tallest ever world No 1.

“Of course I am happy to reach No. 1,” Medvedev told the ATP Tour’s website. “It was my goal since I was young and especially my goal in the latest times. I got a lot of messages from many people and from other tennis players and I just want to thank everybody for the big support.”

It is the first time since February 2004 (Andy Roddick) that the No 1 spot has been occupied by someone other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

• Biggest riser: Vesely back in the top 100 after Dubai run

Czech Jiri Vesely returns to the world’s top 100 after one of the best weeks of his life. The 28-year-old beat Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the ATP event in Dubai en route to the final, where only Andrey Rublev stopped him from taking the final. Vesely climbs 49 places to No 74.

Czech Republic's Jiri Vesely at the Dubai Tennis Championships — Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely at the Dubai Tennis Championships Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

• Nadal, Rublev edge higher after title wins

Rafael Nadal is up to No 4 after extending his winning start to 15-0 with victory in Acapulco. The Spaniard’s 91st title lifted him above Stefanos Tsitsipas and he’s now well clear in the ATP Race, which show the calendar-year rankings, having lifted his record 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne in January.

And Andrey Rublev‘s victory in Dubai, his 10th career title, puts him up to No 6, just one short of his career-high ranking.

Other notable risers include Pedro Martinez, up 22 places to No 50 and Sebastien Baez, up 16 to No 62, while Roger Federer, who has not played since Wimbledon last summer, is up two places to No 27 in a quirk of the ranking system as others around him fell.

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the final against Britain's Cameron Norrie at the ATP 500 Abierto Mexicano — Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the title at the ATP 500 Abierto Mexicano Image Credit: AI / Reuters / Panoramic

All the new career-highs in the top 100

Here’s a list of the players that sit at their career-high ranking for the first time this week.

Reilly Opelka, 17 (+1)
Carlos Alcaraz, 19 (+1)
Botic van de Zandschulp, 48 (+2)
Pedro Martinez, 50 (+22)
Tallon Griekspoor, 54 (+3)
Marcus Giron, 55 (+4)
Lorenzo Musetti, 57 (+1)
Sebastien Baez, 62 (+16)
Alex Molcan, 66 (+3)
Kamil Majchrzak, 75 (+2)
Oscar Otte, 77 (+5)
Daniel Altmaier, 81 (+3)
Alejandro Tabilo, 98 (+15)

•Biggest faller: Alexei Popyrin; now No 90

Alexei Popyrin slipped 24 places to No 90 in the latest list, the biggest fall of anyone inside the top 100, as the points he won in Singapore fell off the computer. The Australian is not alone though, with David Goffin sliding 20 places to No 68. Juan Manuel Cerundolo also dropped out of the top 100, dropping 40 places to No 119.