ATP Rankings: Novak Djokovic moves closer to Roger Federer and Pete Sampras

For the first time since March 16, the ATP Rankings are back and running this week. Since the first week of March, there were no professional men's tournaments, with the coronavirus halting the action for more than five months. In the previous week, Challengers had announced the return of professional activities, with world no. 17 Stan Wawrinka winning the title in Prague, his first on that level in ten years. Thanks to those 125 points, the Swiss gained two positions on the list, passing Denis Shapovalov and Karen Khachanov and competing in Prague again this week, reaching the quarters but withdrawing due to an injury. That was the only change in the top-65, with other players waiting for Cincinnati and the US Open to make some progress and gain positions. That will not be easy, though, with the ATP introducing post-coronavirus rules that allow the players to keep the points from the previous season if they skip an event or lose earlier from where they were in 2019.

Novak Djokovic is back in chase, celebrating his 283rd week as world no. 1 and moving closer to Pete Sampras, who is only three in front of him. The Serb needs nine more months on the ATP throne to become the record holder and pass Roger Federer who stands on 310. Novak is 370 points clear of Rafael Nadal, with a massive chance to add more fuel to that gap in Cincinnati and especially at the US Open in the next two weeks, failing to reach the quarters in New York a year ago. Novak is through to the semi-final in Cincinnati, the first Masters 1000 event of the season, following wins over Ricardas Beranskis, Tennys Sandgren and Jan-Lennard Struff. Last summer, Daniil Medvedev halted the Serb in the semis. He will try to take a step further in the semi-final encounter against Roberto Bautista Agut later on Friday.

Novak Djokovic is spending the 283rd weeks as world no. 1.

Novak looked impressive against Struff, beating him 6-3, 6-1 in 62 minutes, advancing to his 68th Masters 1000 semi-final. In January, Jan-Lennard took a set away from Novak in Melbourne, competing nowhere near that level in Cincinnati and hitting the exit door after the first Masters 1000 quarter-final. Novak has won the 21st straight match in 2020, winning the title at the ATP Cup, the Australian Open and Dubai, hoping for more of the same in Cincinnati and chasing the second title after 2018. Djokovic saved two out of three break chances, losing focus for a minute while serving for the victory at 5-0 in the second set but recovering soon after that to seal the deal with his fifth break of the encounter. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3b3S7DI