ATP ranking: Federer at the lowest for 22 years, Djokovic still in the lead

Djokovic still in front, Ruud grabs, Norrie passes a course

The absent are always wrong, says the proverb. If it is true in many cases, it does not really apply to Novak Djokovic. Deprived of a North American tour because of his unvaccinated status, the Serb could expect to see Daniil Medvedev take off. And yet, despite an absence of a month, he retains the reins of the ATP ranking ahead of the Russian for 10 tiny points. The advantage is certainly negligible, but his dolphin who could not do better than a third round in Indian Wells, followed by a quarter-final in Miami, clearly missed the boat.

Especially as the victim of an inguinal hernia, Medvedev will miss a good part of the spring on clay (or even more). Before switching to ocher, three important changes are to be noted among the top 10. First, Alexander Zverev (3rd) returns to Rafael Nadal (4th) for 80 units thanks to his quarter in Florida. Finalist, Casper Ruud doubles, he, Andrey Rublev – eliminated from the start and who loses the benefit of his half last year – in 7th place for … 5 points. Finally, Cameron Norrie (10th) also reached his best ranking and joined this elite, taking advantage of the points lost by Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner.

Always in a hurry, Alcaraz is eyeing the Top 10

The Pole and the Italian, precisely, who had faced each other in the final in Miami last year, limited the damage, defending part of their capital with respectively a half and a quarter. But they still slip slightly to 14th place for Hurkacz, and 12th for Sinner. Both are thus doubled by the man of the week, even of the American tour, Carlos Alcaraz. Thanks to his first Masters 1000 title even before his 19th birthday, the Spaniard has gained five ranks, now displaying the number 11… 29 points from the Top 10.

At this rate, it should quickly make its entrance. Because at the Race (ranking since January 1), his record is even more impressive. At the end of this first quarter of 2022, he scored more points than all the other players on the circuit with the exception of his idol Rafael Nadal who also barely beat him in the semi-finals in Indian Wells. Alcaraz could make up for some of its delay from the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo where the Majorcan will not appear because of a cracked rib.

Federer leaves top 40, Cerundolo leaps

Absent because of his right knee for eight months and a quarter-final at Wimbledon, Roger Federer continues to decline in the hierarchy, slowly but surely. The Swiss, who had retained half of the points of his title in Miami in 2019 (500) thanks to the gradual thawing of the classification last year, abandons them. He therefore slips 18 ranks and is now 44th. He had not pointed so low since June 5, 2000 (54th at the time). Miomir Kecmanovic, still a brilliant quarter-finalist last week, is one of those who grill him politely (38th, +10 places).

Moreover, Francisco Cerundolo is reaping the rewards of his incredible career in Miami (semi-final). Not only does the Argentinian find the Top 100, but he is now even flirting with the Top 50 (51st). The one who had never won a single hard match on the ATP circuit before the Florida tournament recorded the most impressive progression of the week among the top 100 with 52 places gained.

Back in the 100, Kyrgios continues his recovery

If he progresses less quickly than Cerundolo, Kyrgios will not have made the trip to the United States for nothing. The two invitations obtained by the Australian allowed him to chain a quarter in California and an eighth in Florida. Result: from 132nd in the world at the start of March, he rose to 94th place at the start of April. Without overflowing nervousness, he could probably have hoped for even better, but here he is again temporarily eligible for the big tables of the Majors without a wild card. He also closely follows his doubles buddy and compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis who establishes himself in 85th place, very well surrounded between Andy Murray (84th) and Richard Gasquet (86th).

Highs and lows

• They are 11 to post the best ranking of their career in the Top 100 this Monday: Casper Ruud (7th, +1 place), Cameron Norrie (10th, +2), Carlos Alcaraz (11th, +5), Tommy Paul (34th , +3), Jenson Brooksby (36th, +3), Pedro Martinez (46th, +1), Francisco Cerundolo (51st, +52), Alex Molcan (60th, +5), Hugo Gaston (64th, +4), Daniel Altmaier (67th, +2) and Oscar Otte (72nd, +2) approach spring with a smile.
• For others, times are tougher: John Isner (27th, -5 places), Roger Federer (44th, -18), Adrian Mannarino (68th, -7), James Duckworth (69th, -7), Pablo Andujar (73rd, -6), Emil Ruusuvuori (80th, -9), Jordan Thompson (83rd, -5), Richard Gasquet (86th, -5), Joao Sousa (90th, -8), Mikael Ymer (92nd, -9 ), Alexei Popyrin (99th, -7), Alejandro Tabilo (100th, -5), Kevin Anderson (107th, -16) and Gianluca Mager (109th, -10) are losing a lot of ground.

The Top 20 as of 04/04