David Goffin has entered the top-10, replacing Gael Monfils and is likely to put the pressure on Dominic Thiem. Roger Federer remains first into the Race to London and among the over-35’s, Alexander Zverev tops the rankings for the young players.
The best of the week:
Goffin enters the top-10, Alexandr Dogopolov returns to the top-50 after winning the Argentina Open.
The past week has seen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga triumph in Rotterdam against Goffin. Here are some consequences related to the two finalists:
– Tsonga had not won a title for almost two years (Metz in 2015).
– Tsonga has 13 titles, all on “hard”, 9 of which has been indoors
– Tsonga has won his second ATP 500 title, his first since the 2009 Japan Open in Tokyo.
– Goffin has lost his third consecutive ATP 500 final. It is also his sixth consecutive defeat in ATP finals.
– The Belgian finally enters the top-10 at 10th in the world. He remains just ahead of Tsonga (11), who is 15 points behind him.
In Buenos Aires Dolgopolov ended his title drought by stunning Kei Nishikori in straight sets at the Argentina Open. The outcome of the match was a significant milestone in the career of the Ukrainian player.
– Dolgopolov has once again returned into the top-50 (50) after six months.
– The title has ended his four-and-a-half-year trophy drought.
– In five previous matches, Dolgopolov had not won a set against Nishikori.
– Meanwhile, Nishikori has suffered his sixth consecutive lost in finals, matching that of Goffin.
At the Memphis Open Ryan Harrison won his first career title on the ATP Tour by beating Georgian player Basilashvili. For both players, their run to the final has resulted in them rising to a career ranking best – Harrison is 43 (+19) and Basilashvili is 53 (+14).
The top-20
Goffin, Tsonga and Roberto Bautista Agut make their way up the rankings as Gael Monfils slips from 10th to 12th.
Besides those trio, there has hardly been any other movements. Andy Murray remains in charge with a solid lead over Novak Djokovic (+1.715). Meanwhile, Jack Sock is just 20 points away from entering the top 20.
1] Murray 11.540
2] Djokovic 9.825
3] Wawrinka 5.695
4] Raonic 4.930
5] Nishikori 4.730
6] Nadal 4.115
7] Cilic 3.410
8] Thiem 3.375
9] Federer 3.260
10] Goffin 3.245 (+1)
11] Tsonga 3.230 (+3)
12] Monfils 3.145 ( -2)
13] Dimitrov 2.925 ( -1)
14] Berdych 2.880 ( -1)
15} Bautista-Agut 2.190 15] (+1)
16] Kyrgios 2.165 ( -1)
17] Pouille 2.131
18] a. Zverev 1.895
19] Gasquet 1.875
20] Karlovic 1.875
The week ahead
The Outlook for this week: Federer number 8 and Thiem is on the verge of exiting the top-10.
Removing the points expiring Monday, 27 February, and compiling the virtual rankings, here are the most important changes:
– Roger Federer is set to fall among the top 8 (8) and Tsonga in top-10 (10);
– Goffin (9), Monfils (11) and Pouille (16) could rise.
– Thiem could fall by four places and leave the top-10 (12);
– Nick Kyrgios drops further (17);
– other important downfalls: Tomic (40), Baghdatis (47) and Dolgopolov (70).
Here is where the top-50 players will play this week
Rio de Janeiro: Nishikori, Thiem, Ramos-Viñolas, Carreno Busta, Ferrer, Cuevas, Sousa, Lorenzi, Fognini, Dolgopolov
Marseille: Tsonga, Monfils, Kyrgios, Pouille, A. Zverev, Gasquet, Simon, Paire, Jaziri, Khachanov
Delray Beach: Raonic, Karlovic, Sock, Johnson, Tomic, Querrey, del Potro, Edmund
The top-100
Career best rankings: Goffin (10), Ramos Viñolas (25), Muller (27), m. Zverev (33), Harrison (43), Basilashvili (53), Herbert (68) and Tiafoe (90).
Highest jump: Herbert (68, + 41)
Biggest fall: Pella (162,-79)
Return to the top-100: Herbert (68, +41), Kukushkin (78, +25)
Leaving the top-100: Giraldo (103, -7), Pella (162,-79)
The top-10 over-35’s
Federer in charge, follows Karlovic and Feliciano Lopez.
1] (9, =) Federer
2] (20, =) Karlovic
3] (28, +3) f. Lopez
4] (40.0-3) Lorenzi
5] (54.0-2) Mahut
6] (80.0-16) Robert
7] (94.0-1) Estrella Burgos
8] (98.0-1) Stepanek
9] (101, +1) Mathieu
10] (120, +8) Benneteau
The top-10 under-21’s
1] (18, =) a. Zverev
2] (48, =) Khachanov
3] (59, +2) Coric
4] (83.0-1) Chung
5] (90, +1) Tiafoe
6] (111, +1) Rublev
7] (112, +2) Fritz
8] (113, +4) Escobedo
9] (115, +5) Kozlov
10] (135, +1) Lee
The best ranking, among others under-21s: Opelka (168, +12) and Mmoh (182, +2)
Race to London
Australian Open champion Federer leads Dimitrov. Djokovic and Murray still have work to do.
Dimitrov takes second place against Nadal and Federer is certain to remain prime even next week. Nishikori enters the first 8, replacing Raonic. At the moment some of the best players would be out of the Finals and even outside the top 16 – Murray (18), Djokovic (22), Monfils (44) and Cilic (63).
1] Federer 2.000
2] Dimitrov 1.310 (+1)
3] Nadal 1.245 ( -1)
4] Tsonga 995 (+3)
5] Goffin 830
6] Wawrinka 810 ( -2)
7] Bautista-Agut 520 ( -1)
8] Nishikori 480 (+6)
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9] Raonic 450 ( -1)
10] Harrison 427 (+27)
11] m. Zverev 400 ( -2)
12] Muller 385
13] Thiem 360 (+6)
14] Berdych 360 (+20)
15] Sock 340 (+5)
16] a. Zverev 340 (+6)
Race to Milan:
Alexander Zverev dominates, Escobedo and Fritz are approaching top 7
1] a. Zverev 340
2] Medvedev 205
3] Rubin 165
4] Rublev 159
5] Chung 157
6] Jasika 135
7] Tiafoe 111
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8] Escobedo 97 (+2)
9] Fritz 90 (+3)
10] De Minaur ( -2)
11] Mott 83 ( -2)
12] Bublik 80 ( -1)
NOTE: The article was originally written in Italian for ubitennis.com by Jonathan Spinoni.
