As the top five remains unchanged in the ATP Emirates rankings, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga emerges as the biggest winner of the week.
Following up on his Rotterdam triumph, the Frenchman secured back-to-back titles after winning the Open 13 in Marseille on Sunday. Claiming the 14th ATP title of his career, Tsonga has broken back into the top 10 for the first time since August at sixth in the world.
“I played great tennis all week, like last week,” Tsonga said about his recent form.“I was never in too much danger. I served very well each time it was close.”
Marseille runner-up Lucas Pouille has also given French tennis something to celebrate as he climbed two places up the rankings to 15th, equalling his career best. Last week the two-time grand slam quarter-finalist recorded wins over rising star Daniil Medvedev and tour veteran Richard Gasquet.
Jack Sock underlined his position as the best ranked American on the men’s tour by claiming his second title of the season at the Delray Beach Open. Sock rise to a career best of 18th was aided by Milos Raonic, who withdrew from their final clash due to injury.
The other winner of the week, Dominic Thiem, remains inside the top-10 at 9th (dropping one spot). The Austrian sealed his first title of the season by defeating Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-4. Carreno Busta has risen to a ranking high of 23rd.
Emirates ATP Rankings for February 27th, 2017
1. Andy Murray
2. Novak Djokovic
3. Stan Wawrinka
4. Milos Raonic
5. Kei Nishikori
6. Rafael Nadal
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (+4)
8. Marin Cilic (-1)
9. Dominic Thiem (-1)
10. Roger Federer (-1)
11. David Goffin (-1)
12. Gael Monfils
13. Grigor Dimitrov
14. Tomas Berdych
15. Lucas Pouille (+2)
16. Roberto Bautista Agut (-1)
17. Nick Kyrgios (-1)
18. Jack Sock (+3)
19. Richard Gasquet
20. Alexander Zverev
Outside the top 20, Argentina’s Nicolas Kicker has won the title of the biggest climber. His run to the quarter-finals at the Rio Open, an ATP 500 tournament, has sent the 24-year-old 23 places up the rankings to 100th, his best ever ranking. Another Rio quarter-finalist, Thiago Monteiro, has shot up 11 places to 74th position. Finally, Juan Martin del Potro has continued his quest towards the top by jumping 10 places from 42-32. Del Potro lost to Raonic in the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open
The five highest climbers (27/2/17)
1) Nicolas Kicker – 100 (+23)
2) Tiago Monteiro (+11)
3) Juan Martin del Potro – 32(+10)
4) Steve Darcis – 48 (+9)
=4) Jared Donaldson – 91 (+9)
This week will be the return of the big guns to the tour. Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Roger Federer will battle it out at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic will be joined by Rafael Nadal in Acapulco, Mexico. There is also a 250 event happening in Sao Paulo, but no top 20 players will take part.
ATP 500 Dubai – featuring Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer, Gaël Monfils, Tomáš Berdych, Roberto Bautista Agut, Lucas Pouille and Gilles Müller
ATP 500 Acapulco – featuring Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Marin Čilić, Dominic Thiem, David Goffin, Nick Kyrgios, Jack Sock and John Isner
ATP 250 Sao Paulo – featuring Pablo Carreño Busta, Albert Ramos Viñolas, Pablo Cuevas, João Sousa, Fabio Fognini, Diego Schwartzman, Federico Delbonis and Carlos Berlocq
