The 10 men to spend 52+ consecutive weeks as world No 1: Jannik Sinner guaranteed milestone
Jannik Sinner is guaranteed to become just the tenth man in ATP Tour history to spend 52 consecutive weeks as the world No 1, reigning for a full year.
Here, we look at the nine ATP greats the Italian is in line to emulate.
Roger Federer – 237 weeks
At the peak of his powers, Federer spent a staggering 237 straight weeks as the world No 1 – over four-and-a-half years at the very top.
The Swiss debuted as the world No 1 in February 2004 and did not lose that ranking until August 2008, the longest debut run in ATP rankings history – and the longest run full stop.
This was Federer’s only spell of 52+ weeks as the world No 1, though he reigned for 310 weeks in total.
Jimmy Connors – 160 + 84 weeks
Connors was one of the dominant forces in the early years of the ATP Rankings, spending 268 total weeks at the top, and had two spells of 52+ weeks as the world No 1.
The US icon first topped the ATP Rankings in July 1974 and ultimately held that ranking for 160 weeks until mid-August 1977, the second-longest run in history.
It took just one week for Connors to regain the world No 1 ranking from Bjorn Borg, and he would reign for another 84 weeks before being dislodged by the Swede once again in April 1979.
Ivan Lendl – 157 + 80 weeks
Lendl’s 270 weeks as the No 1 are the fourth-most in ATP Tour history, and he twice reigned for 52 consecutive weeks or more at the very peak of his powers.
The Czech’s longest spell of 157 weeks started in September 1985, the eight-time Grand Slam champion remaining at No 1 for three whole years before being replaced by Mats Wilander in September 1988.
Lendl regained the top ranking in January 1989 and spent a further 80 weeks at the top before losing the No 1 ranking for the final time, replaced by Stefan Edberg.
Novak Djokovic – 122 + 86 + 53 + 52 weeks
No man comes close to matching Djokovic’s 428 weeks as the world No 1, and the Serbian has a staggering four separate spells of 52+ weeks to his name.
Djokovic was No 1 for 122 weeks from July 2014 to November 2016, his longest spell at the top, while he reigned for 86 weeks from February 2020 to February 2022, factoring in the COVID pause.
His first spell as No 1 from July 2011 to July 2012 lasted 53 weeks, while he was No 1 for 52 weeks from November 2018 to November 2019.
Pete Sampras – 102 + 82 weeks
Only Djokovic and Federer have bettered Sampras’ haul of 286 weeks as the world No 1, with the American reigning for 52+ weeks across two separate spells.
Sampras’ longest spell atop the ATP Rankings came from April 1996 to March 1998, reigning for an impressive 102 weeks before being dislodged by Marcelo Rios.
He had previously spent 82 straight weeks as the world No 1 from September 1993 until April 1995, when he was replaced by chief rival Andre Agassi.
Lleyton Hewitt – 75 weeks
One of the dominant forces of the early 2000s, Hewitt spent a total of 80 weeks as the world No 1 across his career.
The Australian’s longest spell lasted for 75 weeks, debuting as the world No 1 in November 2001 and holding that position until April 2003, replaced by Agassi.
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John McEnroe – 58 + 53 weeks
McEnroe spent 170 weeks atop the ATP Rankings at his prime, with two spells of over a year as the world No 1 to his name.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion’s longest spell at the top saw him reigning for 58 straight weeks, from August 1981 to September 1982.
McEnroe also spent 53 weeks as No 1 from August 1984 to August 1985.
Rafael Nadal – 56 weeks
Nadal’s 209 weeks as the world No 1 is the sixth-most in ATP history, and he is one of the 10 men to have a spell of 52+ weeks at the top.
The Spaniard’s longest reign came from June 2010 to July 2011, spending 56 straight weeks as No 1 before being replaced by main rival Djokovic.
Andre Agassi – 52 weeks
One of just nine men in ATP Rankings history to spend over 100 weeks as world No 1, Agassi’s longest spell at the top came when he was at the peak of his powers.
The American returned to the top of the rankings in September 1999, after his US Open triumph, and reigned for 52 consecutive weeks until September 2000.
Jannik Sinner – 52* weeks
Thanks to Carlos Alcaraz’s Madrid Open withdrawal, Sinner is guaranteed to hit a full year as the world No 1 in June.
Sinner became world No 1 in June 2024 after the French Open and is guaranteed to remain atop the rankings regardless of results at the Italian Open and Roland Garros in the coming weeks.
All eyes will be on how long the 23-year-old can now reign at the very top.
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