ATP Live Ranking: Roger Federer slides to sixth. Djokovic and Nadal advance
As always during the Major tournaments, the ATP ranking list will witness some significant changes in just 14 days, with the Australian Open reaching the critical semi-final stage. World's best players Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have both advanced into the last four, adding more points to their tallies (Novak was beaten in the fourth round last year while Rafa reached the quarters) and they will both have a chance to leave their rivals further behind, with almost nothing to defend before the clay season.
Before the semi-final matches, Novak currently stands on 9675 points, nearly 2000 points clear of Rafa who will try to reduce the gap here in Melbourne and also in February and March, having to defend a considerable number of points on clay. As was expected, Roger Federer has lost the third place on the list, heading to Melbourne with a slim advantage over Alexander Zverev and with 2000 points to defend. Stefanos Tsitsipas took down Roger in the fourth round and the Swiss will drop out from the top-five for the first time since April 2017, losing too many points to stay ahead of his closest rivals.
It was another poor Grand Slam run for Zverev, hitting the exit door after the fourth round loss to Milos Raonic but still doing enough to become world no. 3 again, just under 1500 points in front of Juan Martin del Potro who moves to 4th without even playing in Melbourne due to a knee injury. Kevin Anderson lost in the second round to Frances Tiafoe, missing a chance to pass del Potro but entering the top-five again as the third player who will overcome Federer on the list, 245 points ahead of the Swiss.
Kei Nishikori had to retire against Novak Djokovic in the quarters but he did enough to return into the top-seven for the first time since May 2017, 150 points away from Dominic Thiem who retired in the second round against Alexei Popyrin. Despite the first round loss, John Isner managed to gain one position, sending the last year's finalist Marin Cilic into the 10th spot, his worst ranking since November 2016! Karen Khachanov is still 11th but Isner, Cilic and him will have to slip down for one more place if the 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Rafael Nadal and enter the final.
The Greek is currently on 2805 points and he will crack the top-10 for the first time in a career if he topples the great Spaniard and reaches his maiden Grand Slam final. After a solid run, Milos Raonic gained three places, so as another quarter-finalist Roberto Bautista Agut who is back inside the top-20. Coming from outside the top-30, Lucas Pouille advanced into his maiden Grand Slam semi-final and he will pass Raonic if he beats Novak Djokovic on Friday. The quarter-finalist Frances Tiafoe will enter the top-30 for the first time on Monday, just behind Kyle Edmund who failed to defend the semi-final points from a year ago, struggling with a knee injury and losing in the opening round to Tomas Berdych. ATP Live Ranking before the Australian Open semi-finals:
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 9675 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7840 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6475 4. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 5060 5. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4845 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4600 7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4110 8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3960 9. John Isner (USA) 3155 10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3140 11. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2880 12. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 2805 13. Borna Coric (CRO) 2605 14. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2250 15. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2225 16. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2000 17. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 1955 18. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 1955 19. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 1870 20. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 1835
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2W9n9Cx
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