George W. Bush to Donald Trump: None of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are in the top 10 for the first time since 2002 | tennis news

Last time, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were not in the top 10 of the ATP rankings, George W. Bush was the president of the United States, the euro had just come into circulation and Ronaldo had just led Brazil to the FIFA World Cup title.For the first time since October 2002, the men’s top 10 no longer includes any members of the Big Three. Djokovic, the last active player of the trio, fell from No. 5 to No. 12 in the latest ATP rankings released Monday after his early exit at the US Open.Federer retired in 2022 at the age of 41, while Nadal retired in 2024 at 38. Djokovic, now 39, is the last member of the trio still playing.The rankings underline how much tennis has changed. In October 2002, Lleyton Hewitt was number one in the world. 1. Almost 24 years later, his 17-year-old son Cruz Hewitt is now beginning his own professional career.Djokovic’s fall came after a first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open. It was her first Grand Slam exit in 20 years, dating back to the 2006 Australian Open, and the first time she lost her first-round match at the US Open.“I have been very proud of all the achievements in the past, but now I am,” Djokovic said after the loss in New York.Djokovic remains the most successful men’s singles player in Grand Slam history with 24 major titles, ahead of Nadal’s 22 and Federer’s 20.

The numbers behind the Big Three

Federer entered the ATP top 10 at the end of October 2002 and remained there until the end of 2016. During that period, he also spent a record 237 weeks as world No. 1.Nadal broke into the top 10 in April 2005 during his rise on clay when he was 18 years old. It remained in the top 10 for a record 912 consecutive weeks before dropping out in 2023.Djokovic broke into the top 10 in 2007 and spent a record 428 total weeks as world No. 1.

A new generation takes over

The current ranking is still led by Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.This season has been very different from last year. Sinner and Alcaraz met in three of the four 2025 Grand Slam finals, but did not meet in any 2026 major finals.Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to a right wrist injury, while Sinner withdrew from the US Open with a right knee injury.While Alcaraz won the Australian Open and Sinner won Wimbledon, the most consistent player this season has been Zverev. He won the French Open and the US Open, finished runner-up at Wimbledon and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open.Even after winning his second Grand Slam title of the year, Zverev stopped short of calling himself the best player in the world.“If everyone is healthy, I think Jannik is still ahead,” Zverev said after beating Ben Shelton in the US Open final. “It’s as simple as that.”Ben Shelton, after reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open, rose five places to world No. 4 in the latest rankings.

Rybakina replaces Sabalenka at No. 1

On the women’s side, Elena Rybakina rose to World No. 1 after winning her second Grand Slam title of the season at the US Open, having also won the Australian Open earlier this year.Rybakina’s victory ended Aryna Sabalenka’s streak of 99 consecutive weeks as world number one.