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Djokovic Tops ATP Rankings, Federer Falls

Jackie Owens |
October 20, 2011 | 10:41 a.m. PDT

Staff Writer

Djokovic won three of the four Major titles in 2011. (globalite/Wikimedia Commons)
Djokovic won three of the four Major titles in 2011. (globalite/Wikimedia Commons)
It’s official. Novak Djokovic will end the year as the unquestioned number one player in the world.  And Roger Federer will finish…fourth?  

You might have done a double-take when looking at the number “4” next to Federer’s name in this week’s ATP standings. The once seemingly invincible Federer has dropped out of the top three in men’s tennis for the first time in eight years. It is his lowest ranking since July 2003.  

Andy Murray replaced Federer as No. 3 in the world after defeating fifth-ranked David Ferrer at the Shanghai Masters to capture his third straight ATP title in the last month.  The victory adds to Murray’s 15 match win streak since losing to Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the U.S. Open.  

And while the Scot surely earned his spot as the third-ranked player in the world with his recent success, does Federer deserve to be pushed out of the top three?  Two years ago it was hard to believe Federer was anything but the No. 1 player in the world.  Now, his No. 4 ranking is almost inconceivable.  It’s simply hard to imagine a tennis world in which Roger Federer is not among the elite three.    

The truth at the moment is, Djokovic and Murray are hot and Federer is not.  

Back and leg problems have sidelined Federer from tennis action of late, contributing to his drop in the ATP rankings.  And while he’s only behind Murray by 45 points, it’s hard to deny the fact that his game isn’t near the level it used to be.  

In his heyday, he would only lose about a half-dozen matches a year and would easily win at least two Grand Slams. 

But times have changed. Djokovic is now the unmistakable number one.  

The 24-year-old Belgrade native is the first Serbian man to finish No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings, after boasting an impeccable 64-3 match record, beginning the year with a 41-match winning streak and winning three majors. 

He’s had an outstanding run to say the least and no one seems to be able to stop him, including Federer.    

It’s no secret that Federer’s career has been on the decline, but does this mean retirement is inevitably in his near future? 

Roger Federer (Edwin Martinez/Wikimedia Commons)
Roger Federer (Edwin Martinez/Wikimedia Commons)
My prediction: Federer, 30, will ultimately make one last push for another Grand Slam in 2012 before he even considers retiring. 

And here’s why…

Speculation surrounding the end of Federer’s dominance is nothing new.  

It first surfaced in the beginning of 2008, when Djokjovic abruptly snapped the former’s streak of 10 consecutive Grand Slam final appearances at the Australian Open. But despite talk about his decline after this early exit, Federer went on to win four more Grand Slams, bringing his total championships to a record 16.  In 2009, he captured his first French Open title and won Wimbledon that same year, erasing all doubts surrounding his game and even sparking talk of him being the best player of all time.  

Despite failing to hoist a Grand Slam trophy in the year 2011 – for the first time since 2002 - the Swiss superstar still made it to a Grand Slam final and two semifinals, one of which saw Federed have a couple of match points on his racquet. 

The season-ending Barclay’s World Tour Final in London, which invites only the world’s top eight players, is also right around the corner and will be a good opportunity for Federer to regain his confidence and carry it into the 2012 season.  Success is routine for Federer at this tournament; he is the defending champion and has won five of the six season-ending finals he’s been in.    

If that isn’t enough motivation for the former world number one, the possibility of one more Wimbledon title should be enough to keep Federer hungry for more.  

And capturing another grass-court championship is something Federer mentions frequently. So don’t expect him to disappear from tennis anytime before the grass season begins in May.  

Maybe I’m just being optimistic since I can’t bear to think of a tennis world without arguably the greatest player in history, but if Federer is going to make his move, it’s got to be in 2012.  

It’s now or never.  And for this reason, expect the former king of the court to make a surge and be crowned a Grand Slam champion once again before saying goodbye to professional tennis forever.     

________________________

Reach Jackie by email.

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