ATP Ranking: Novak Djokovic moves closer to Roger Federer. Rafael Nadal counts..

The updated ATP ranking list saw no new players in the top-50, despite the opening two events of the season in Antalya and Delray Beach. Novak Djokovic is enjoying his 304th week on the ATP throne, moving six away from Roger Federer's record and having to wait until March 8 to pass the Swiss and secure the ultimate ranking record. Novak is currently in Adelaide, serving a two-week quarantine before heading to Melbourne for the ATP Cup and the Australian Open. Novak became world no. 1 after Wimbledon 2011 and has been the player to beat in the previous ten years, standing above all the rivals and preparing to take the record that will take some beating in the future. Rafael Nadal will open the season ranked 2nd, traveling with Novak to Adelaide and shaping his game before the ATP Cup that starts in two weeks. This is the 570th top-2 week for the Spaniard, and more importantly, the 800th consecutive in the top-800, proudly topping the charts and achieving one of the most impressive ranking records in history.

Nadal cracked the elite group in April 2005 and hasn't left it since, dealing with many injuries but always doing enough to keep his place in the exclusive company. Nadal is 11 weeks ahead of Jimmy Connors, who collected 789 consecutive top-10 weeks, and it is safe to say that no one will catch him in the distant future. Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Roger Federer complete the top-5 group, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, Diego Schwartzman, Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini remaining in the top-10. David Goffin earned 90 points for the Antalya semi-final to gain two places on the list and move in front of Milos Raonic and Pablo Carreno Busta ahead of Melbourne's real action.

Novak Djokovic opens the 304th week as world no. 1.

There are no new players in the top-20, which should change in the next four or five weeks. Alex de Minaur stayed 23rd following his fourth ATP title in Antalya, gaining confidence ahead of the Aussie swing.

On the other side of the planet, Hubert Hurkacz won the second ATP crown in Delray Beach, beating four rivals from outside the top-100 and gaining six positions on the list to return into the top-30. Alexander Bublik retired against Alex de Minaur in the Antalya final, failing to fight for the title but passing four rivals on the list. Sam Querrey moved in front of five players, standing on the verge of the top-50 and missing a chance to become the only new face in the mentioned group. Jeremy Chardy, Cameron Norrie and Gianluca Mager enjoyed the opening week and earned ranking spots, with more changes coming from February 8.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/35RCn5A