Tennis world rankings: Carlos Alcaraz cracks the top 20 for the first time - and moves ahead of Rafael Nadal
Carlos Alcaraz (ATP No. 20) pushed himself into the top 20 tennis players in the world by winning the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro - at just 18 years old.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 21, 2022, 11:33 am
Carlos Alcaraz continues to climb the tennis world rankings at a fast pace. Thanks to his victory in Rio de Janeiro, Alcaraz made up nine places and was already 20th.
The Spaniard has never been this high, and only a few his age before him: At 18 years and 9 months, Alcaraz is the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to break the top 20. Only Pete Sampras (18 years, 6 months) and Andrej Medvedev (18 years, 5 months) have been younger since the ATP record records from 1990. (Players like Boris Becker, Aaron Krickstein or Michael Chang used to be younger.)
Novak Djokovic remains number 1
Nothing has changed at the top as far as the ranking is concerned: Novak Djokovic leads here in front of Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev , Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal.
However, the Australian Open points from 2021 have now fallen out of the standings (in 2021 the Australian Open only took place in February), Djokovic's lead over Medvedev has shrunk to less than 500 points. Medvedev could replace Djokovic as world number one in Dubai this week.
Dominic Thiem only in 52nd place
Dominic Thiem continues to lose ground due to injury, is only number 52 in the world this week.
The best German players after Zverev are Dominik Koepfer (54th) and Jan-Lennard Struff (56th).
Oscar Otte sets a new career high with 82nd place.
To the men's individual world rankings
Julia Grabher with a new career high
In the women's, Ashleigh Barty is a relaxed leader ahead of Aryna Sabalenka and Barbora Krejcikova, while Paula Badosa has moved up to 4th - a new record for the up-and-coming Spaniard.
Jelena Ostapenko, the winner of Dubai, is also heading towards the top again, she is currently number 13.
Angelique Kerber remained the best German player in 18th place, Andrea Petkovic number 59.
In Austria, Julia Grabher is the measure of all things, she now has her points from the tournament victory in the week before last and has improved to place 151. She's never been that high!