9 players who were at the top of the ATP rankings for 100 or more weeks ft. Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are among the few tennis players who were at the top of the ATP rankings for 100 or more weeks.
The ATP rankings were introduced in 1973 and since then, a total of 28 men have been at the top. Carlos Alcaraz is the current World No. 1 and ensured his stay at the top after beating Novak Djokovic in an enthralling Wimbledon final.
Some of the greatest male tennis players of all time have held the top spot throughout their careers but only nine have done so for 100 or more weeks.
So, without any further ado, let us take a look at the players who have been at the top of the ATP rankings for over 100 weeks.
#9. Andre Agassi
Andre Agassi managed to be the World No. 1 for 101 weeks despite playing in the same era as Pete Sampras. He first attained the ranking in April 1995, dethroning Sampras.
Agassi's longest spell as the World No. 1 lasted 52 weeks from September 13, 1999 (shortly after he won the US Open) to September 10, 2000. The American won eight Grand Slam singles titles and is among the few players who have completed the Career Grand Slam.
Agassi's career came to an end in 2006 after he exited the US Open in the third round.
#8. Bjorn Borg
Perhaps the greatest tennis player to have ever come out of Sweden, Bjorn Borg was the World No. 1 for a total of 109 weeks. He first attained the ranking in 1977, overtaking Jimmy Connors before being dethroned by him the following week.
Borg's longest stint at the top of the ATP rankings lasted 46 weeks from August 18, 1980 to July 5, 1981. He tasted immense success throughout a rather short career that ended in 1982, winning 11 Grand Slam singles titles, including five successive tournament wins at Wimbledon.
#7. John McEnroe
John McEnroe was at the top of the ATP rankings for a total of 170 weeks. The American first became the World No. 1 in March 1980 by overtaking his rival Bjorn Borg.
McEnroe's longest stay at the top of the rankings was 58 weeks from August 3, 1981 to September 12, 1982. He had a total of 14 spells as the World No. 1, with his last coming in 1985.
The American won seven Grand Slam singles titles throughout his successful career, three at Wimbledon and four at the US Open.
#6. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest players of all time and has held the World No. 1 for a total of 209 weeks throughout his glittering career.
The Spaniard first attained the ranking in 2008, dethroning Roger Federer not long after beating him in that year's incredible Wimbledon. Nadal's longest stay at the top of the ATP rankings is 56 weeks from June 7, 2010 till the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
The Spaniard has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a whopping 14 tournament wins at the French Open.
#5. Jimmy Connors
Fifth on the list is Jimmy Connors, who spent 268 weeks as the World No.1, including 160 consecutive weeks. He first attained the ranking in 1974 and last held it in 1983.
Connors won eight Grand Slam titles in his career. He holds two prominent records in men's tennis in the Open Era, the most singles titles at 109, and most match wins at 1274.
#4. Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl spent a total of 270 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings. He first became the World No. 1 in 1983 by dethroning Jimmy Connors, the very same man whose record for the longest stay in the position he would break in 1990.
Lendl spent 157 consecutive weeks at the top of the ATP rankings and was the year-end World No. 1 for four seasons. Lendl won eight Grand Slam titles and triumphed in all Majors barring Wimbledon.
#3. Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras spent a total of 286 weeks at the top spot, including 102 consecutive weeks.
He first became the World No. 1 in April 1993, dethroning Jim Courier, and later surpassed Ivan Lendl for the longest stay in the position by a male player. He held the record for the longest stay at the top of the ATP rankings before Roger Federer broke it in 2012.
He ended the year as the World No. 1 six times in a row, a record that still stands. Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles, including seven at Wimbledon and five at the US Open, which is a joint-record in the Open Era.
#2. Roger Federer
Roger Federer has spent a total of 310 weeks as the World No.1. He first attained the ranking in 2004 and held it for 237 consecutive weeks, which is a record in men's tennis.
Federer finished five seasons at the top spot and won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, becoming the first man to reach that tally.
He holds the record for most Wimbledon titles (eight) and joint-most (with Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras) at the US Open (five) in the Open Era. Federer remains the only player to win five Major championships at three different slams.
#1 Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has spent a total of 389 weeks at the No.1 ranking, which is more than any tennis player in history, male or female.
The Serb first confirmed his place at the top of the ATP rankings by reaching the Wimbledon final in 2011, which he went on to win by beating Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
He broke Roger Federer's record for the most number of weeks by a male player at World No. 1 in 2021 and later surpassed Steffi Greaf for the longest stay at the position by any player, male or female, this February.
Djokovic's longest stay at the top of the ATP rankings is 122 consecutive weeks and he holds the record for most year-end No.1 finishes (seven). He also holds the most number of Grand Slam singles titles in men's tennis, having won his 23rd at this year's French Open.