What did the men’s top 10 actually look like ten years ago? It doesn’t feel that far away, but when you look at the best tennis players… it’s been an eternity. Although five of the boys are still playing. But only one is still at the forefront: Novak Djokovic.
by Florian Goosmann
last edited: December 13, 2024, 7:21 a.m
© Jürgen Hasenkopf
#10: David Ferrer
The Spanish endurance runner had his best placement in July 2013 with third place in the ranking. Ferrer ended his career in 2019, after seven years in the top 10 (2007, 2010 – 2015). In 2013 he reached the final of Roland-Garros. After his career, he worked briefly with Alexander Zverev, among others. Ferrer is now the boss of the Spanish Davis Cup team.
#9: Marin Cilic
The Croatian celebrated his greatest success by winning the 2014 US Open – his only major title to date. Cilic has been out of action a lot in recent years due to injuries (the knee!), but in the late summer of the current season he surprised with a comeback title in Hangzhou. Current ranking: 180.
#8: Milos Raonic
At that time, Raonic was also still on the verge of his greatest success, reaching the Wimbledon final in 2016 – after a semi-final victory over Roger Federer. The Canadian has a long-term injury and keeps making short comebacks. Current long-distance ranking position: number 238.
#7: Tomas Berdych
The “Birdman” played his final tournament at the US Open 2019. And looks back on a strong career: he celebrated 13 titles and reached the final at Wimbledon in 2010 (defeat against Rafael Nadal). Best placement: number 4.
#6: Andy Murray
In 2014, Murray played a season that was below average for his standards – with the negative highlight at the end: at the ATP Finals he lost in front of his home crowd against Roger Federer 0:6, 1:6. Nevertheless, there were three tournament victories. In 2016, the Scot reached number 1 in the world. He also celebrated a comeback with art on his hip after a near-resignation in 2019. But it was no longer enough to return to the top 10. Murray ended his career this summer.
#5: Kei Nishikori
Another one plagued by injuries! The Japanese reached the final of the US Open in 2014 and was a regular player in the top 10 for a long time. But always with physical pain. Since then, Nishikori has repeatedly made short comebacks and was regularly active again in the late year. Current ranking position: number 106.
#4: Stan Wawrinka
“Stan the Man” stormed to his first major title at the Australian Open at the beginning of 2014 – followed by the French Open in 2015 and the US Open in 2016. Wawrinka, now 39 years old, is not thinking about quitting even after long problems with his knee and is getting up Play on the tour in 2025. Even if no longer as a top 10 man. He is currently number 161.
#3: Rafael Nadal
And now: the Big 3. In the 2014 year-end ranking, Nadal was “only” number 3, also because the year did not go quite as well as in his best times due to some physical problems. He was injured in the final in Melbourne, but of course he won in Paris – one of his crazy 14 triumphs. However, due to a wrist injury, Nadal had to cancel the US tour including the US Open.
#2: Roger Federer
As in 2013, the Swiss maestro failed to win a major title, although he came so close at Wimbledon – but in the end Novak Djokovic won. The big chance at the US Open came, but in the semifinals Federer met an “in the zone” Cilic. After his knee injury in 2016, Federer celebrated three major victories and a return to number 1 in the world in the following years. He ended his illustrious career in 2022.
#1: Novak Djokovic
The long-running favorite! Novak Djokovic is the only player from the top 10 ten years ago who is still there – even if only in 7th place due to a weak year for him. Whether Djokovic, the absolute record man on the tour, will find the motivation again next year to attack at the top? The will is there, as his boss move to hire Andy Murray as coach shows.
# And otherwise…
… Grigor Dimitrov would almost be on this list: The Bulgarian reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2014 and ended the year in 11th place. In the current ranking he is in 10th place.
