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Roger Federer, Hubert Hurkacz, and Others Who Are Significantly Impacted in ATP Rankings Due to COVID-19
Novak Djokovic retained his No.1 spot in the ATP rankings even after losing the US Open 2021 title. Even though Daniil Medvedev won his first major in New York and denied Djoker his Calendar Slam, he still continues to be the World No.2 player. However, what would have happened if the ATP rankings would not have been frozen?
The ATP decided to freeze its rankings for a period of 24 months starting from 2019. It was because of the coronavirus pandemic and the system only got back after the Cincinnati Masters 2021. Here is a list of players who would have had a great effect on their rankings if the coronavirus pandemic was not there.
Roger Federer
Federer would not have been there among the top-10 players if the rankings had not frozen. Instead, because he played very few matches and only around 7 tournaments in the last two years, he would be above World No.200 in the ATP rankings.
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 7, 2021. Switzerland’s Roger Federer wipes his face during his quarter final match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz REUTERS/Toby Melville
Surprisingly, Federer hasn’t won a single title since 2019. It is because of this reason that he would not be the World No.9 player if the rankings would not have frozen.
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Novak Djokovic
The recent system of the ATP would not have allowed Djokovic to retain the No.1 spot for such a long time. Instead, he would be the World No.2 player right now if the regular system was followed.
Novak Djokovic reacts after smashing his racket in the second set of the match against Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final. Day fourteen of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
If such a thing would have taken place, there is a chance that he might not be able to break Federer’s record of staying at the top spot for the most number of weeks as well.
Daniil Medvedev
Interestingly, if the rankings were not frozen, Medvedev would have been the No.1 player right now. He would be ahead of Djokovic, who would be a place behind him.
ATP Rankings if it wouldn’t have been frozen
1⃣ MEDVEDEV (2)
2⃣ Djokovic (1)
3⃣ Zverev (4)
4⃣ Tsitsipas (3)
5⃣ Rublev (5)
6⃣ Berrettini (7)
7⃣ Nadal (6)
8⃣ Ruud (10)
9⃣ Sinner (14)
Hurkacz (13)
(stat by @JeuSetMaths) pic.twitter.com/hJTgRM7qwX
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) September 18, 2021
If this would have happened, he would become the second player after Andy Murray to gain the top spot in the rankings apart from the ‘Big Three’ since 2004.
Jannik Sinner
The coronavirus pandemic denied Sinner to make his debut into the top-10 ATP rankings. Even though he is currently the World No.14 player, he would have been at the ninth place if there was no pandemic.
Jannik Sinner holds the championship trophy after his singles finals match against Mackenzie McDonald at Citi Open. Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports
It would also have been the career-high ranking for Sinner. He has played some brilliant tennis this year and deserves a spot in the top-10 list of ATP players.
Hubert Hurkacz
Hurkacz became only the second player to bagel Federer when he defeated the Swiss Maestro at the Wimbledon Championships 2021. He even emerged as the winner of the Miami Open this year.
Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – July 7, 2021. Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz celebrates winning his quarter final match against Switzerland’s Roger Federer REUTERS/Toby Melville
If the rankings would not have frozen, he could easily be the Word No.10 player instead of World No.13. However, he can still achieve the feat by playing consistently well on the tour.
Thus, there are quite a few players who have had a significant impact on their rankings because of COVID-19. It will be intriguing to see how they will rank now after the restoration of the original ranking system.
The post Roger Federer, Hubert Hurkacz, and Others Who Are Significantly Impacted in ATP Rankings Due to COVID-19 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
