Top 3 men with most consecutive weeks as ATP world No.1; ft Roger Federer
Roger Federer tops list of men's players who have spent the most consecutive weeks at the World No. 1 of the ATP rankings.
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Roger Federer (via LiveAbout)
Since the official ATP rankings began back in 1973, a total of 29 men’s players have laid claim to the World No. 1 spot. However, only a few have held the long spells for consecutive weeks in that position. While fans will look forward to the Big 4 to fill this chart, it will surprise you that even Novak Djokovic couldn’t make the Top 3 on this list.
The Serbian spent 122 consecutive weeks at World No. 1 but was leapfrogged by Andy Murray on November 7, 2016. However, Roger Federer holds the record for longest spell of consecutive weeks at the peak of the ATP rankings.
Here, we will take a look at the top three players who have held the World No. 1 ranking in men’s tennis for the longest consecutive weeks.
3) Ivan Lendl – 157 weeks
Lendl remains one of the greatest players to have ever graced the tennis court. The Czech Republic legend dominated the ATP during the 1980s and won 94 career singles titles. He began his seventh and longest stint at the World No. 1 after ousting American John McEnroe from the sport in September 1985.
He spent 157 successive weeks at the top of the ATP rankings until he was dethroned by Mats Wilander on September 11, 1988, after losing to the Swedish player at the 1988 US Open final. In Lendl’s three-year spell as No. 1, he claimed 25 titles, including four Majors and three year-end championships.
2) Jimmy Connors – 160 weeks
One thing Jimmy Connors is famously known for is his 109 singles career titles that no player had been able to match. Despite dominating the men’s tennis in the 1970s, his legacy lives on. He also has the highest number of career match wins (1,274) and a winning percentage of 82.4.
The American was World No. 1 for 160 consecutive weeks after replacing John Newcombe on July 29, 1974, to become the top-ranked player for the first time. He held on to the position until August 23, 1977, when he was overtaken by a brilliant young Bjorn Borg.
Connors had become the World No. 1 after winning the 1974 Wimbledon Championship, and he secured 30 titles, including two US Open crowns, during his spell at the top of the ATP rankings. He also won the season-ending championship once and finished as runners-up in four Major events.
1) Roger Federer – 237 weeks
Roger Federer is arguably the greatest player to ever grace the court. The Swiss Maestro began dominating the ATP in the early 2000s and ousted Andy Roddick on February 2, 2004, to become the World No. 1 for the first time, just days after winning his second Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
Federer held the top spot for 237 consecutive weeks, approximately four and half years. He was overtaken by Rafael Nadal on August 18, 2008, a few weeks after the Spaniard defeated him at the Wimbledon Championship final. During the period of Federer’s dominance, he won 43 titles, including 10 Grand Slams.
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Victor Okechukwu
(719 Articles Published)