The 7 men with the most weeks in the top 50 of the ATP Rankings: Rafael Nadal with 996 weeks, Novak Djokovic 4th
Novak Djokovic holds the record for most weeks spent at No 1 in the ATP Rankings, Roger Federer leads the way for most weeks in the top five and Rafael Nadal is top when it comes to consecutive weeks in the top 10.
But who holds the record for most weeks in the top 50 of the rankings?
Unsurprisingly, it is a member of the Big Three as Federer is the man with the most weeks in the top 50 and he is the only player to notch up more than 1000 weeks.
There are three active players in the top seven, although it will become two after the end of 2024 season as Rafael Nadal will bow out.
The 7 men with the most weeks in the top 50 of the ATP Rankings in the Open Era for non-consecutive weeks:
7. John McEnroe – 827
Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe spent 170 of his 827 weeks at No 1 in the rankings.
The American first reached the top 50 of the rankings in August 1977 – eventually getting to No 1 in March 1980 – while his last appearance in the top 50 was June 1993.
6. Gael Monfils – 836
Frenchman Gael Monfils peaked at No 6 in the ATP Rankings in November 2016 on the back of reaching the US Open semi-final.
Monfils cracked the top 50 for the first time in August 2005 while he only made it into the top 20 three years later.
Following injury woes in 2023, Monfils slipped outside the top 300 in the rankings but made his way back into the top 50 at the start of 2024.
The 38-year-old, though, left the top 50 again on October 20, 2024, but there is still time for him to add a few more weeks to his tally before he retires.
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5. Jimmy Connors – 920
Jimmy Connors was the first man to spend more than 900 weeks in the top 50 of the rankings. In fact, Connors held several records before they were surpassed by others.
He initially held the record for most weeks at No 1, most weeks in the top 2, top 3, top 4, top 5 and top 10.
With the rankings only introduced in 1973, Connors has the “honour” of debuting inside the top 10 and there is no doubt his records would have been better had it been part of tennis before that.
His final appearance in the top 50 was September 1992.
4. Novak Djokovic – 937
Novak Djokovic spent 428 of his 937 weeks at No 1 in the ATP Rankings while he has spent 599 weeks in the top 2. He is currently on 862 weeks in the top 10.
The Serbian broke into the top 100 in July 2005 and in June the following year he hit the top 50 for the first time.
And he has been in the top 50 ever since with the closest he came to dropping out in 2018 when he slipped to No 22.
With Djokovic not ready to retire just yet, he is likely to move up a few spots.
3. Andre Agassi – 960
Andre Agassi first became world No 1 in April 1995 and he spent 101 weeks in total at the top of the rankings. Of his 960 weeks in the top 50, 747 were in the top 10.
The American first made his top 50 debut in October 1987 and stayed there until September 1997. He returned in March 1998 and exited the top 50 for the final time in September 2006.
2. Rafael Nadal – 996
Let’s start with the incredible fact that 912 of Rafael Nadal’s 996 weeks in the top 50 of the rankings were spent consecutively in the top 10.
The Spaniard, of course, is fifth on the all-time list for most weeks at No 1 with 209 weeks.
Nadal made his top 100 debut in May 2003 and three months later he reached the top 50 for the first time. He only left the top 50 again two decades later in June 2023 when he missed the season due to injury.
There will be no return to the top 50 as he will retire after the 2024 season.
1. Roger Federer – 1155
Roger Federer was the first man to spend more than 300 weeks at No 1 in the ATP Rankings as he initially set a record of 310 weeks, but that has since been overtaken by Djokovic.
He currently holds the record for most weeks in the top five with 859 weeks.
The Swiss made his top 100 debut in September 1999 and he had to wait until March the following year to break into the top 50.
Federer only left the top 50 again in June 2022.