What have you got to do to win 52 per cent or more of your points over an extended period? Basically, be Superman.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of points won over a five-year span from 2015-2019 identifies that only six active players won more than 52 per cent of their points. They were Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and Juan Martin del Potro.

Only Djokovic, Nadal and Federer were able to climb above the 54 per cent threshold, which is just another indicator of how the Big Three separate themselves from the pack. The win percentages for the six players are:

2015-2019: Total Points Won > 52 percent

Nadal led the Tour from 2017 to 2019 with points won in a single season, including the highest single-season percentage of 55.77 per cent (4,891/8,770), which he posted last year. The season leaders from 2015-2019 are:

Season Leader – Total Points Won
•2015: N. Djokovic = 55.53% (6054/10902)
•2016: N. Djokovic = 55.27% (5469/9895)
•2017: R. Nadal = 55.53% (5966/10744)
•2018: R. Nadal = 55.42% (4226/7626)
•2019: R. Nadal = 55.77% (4891/8770)

There are 16 more players who won between 51 per cent and 52 per cent of total points from 2015 to 2019, with the five highest being Marin Cilic (51.91%), Kei Nishikori (51.88%), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (51.81%), Dominic Thiem (51.74%) and Gael Monfils (51.72%).

You would think that posting a FedEx ATP Ranking around the Top 50 would also match with winning many more points than those lost, but only 53 players barely won more than 50 per cent of their points over the five-year period, with 47 of them living in the 50-52 per cent range.

Djokovic went on a tear to start 2020, going 18-0 in his first three events of the season. During the undefeated run, he only needed to notch up his percentage of total points won, which is typically right around 55 per cent, by one percentage point – to 56.03 per cent. The leading five players through the first two months of 2020 are:

2020 Leaders (Jan/Feb)
N. Djokovic = 56.03% (1635/2918)
R. Nadal = 55.46% (1330/2398)
R. Bautista Agut = 54.63% (1032/1889)
S. Tsitsipas = 54.07% (1241/2295)
A. Rublev = 53.71% (1464/2726)

Sixty-seven players won more points than they lost to start the 2020 season. When the Tour resumes, finding one or two more points out of every hundred will have real purpose now that we better understand the razor-thin margins that success in our sport are built upon.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have joined the large list of ATP Tour players who are staying at home and playing their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Djokovic took to Instagram on Sunday and encouraged fans to join him in practising social distancing. The World No. 1 said that flattening the curve will require a worldwide effort and saluted the medical professionals who are working to treat those currently infected.

“Very challenging times for everyone. I am sending support and prayers,” Djokovic wrote. “Please stay at home in quarantine and help frontline medical people to help all the people infected and in need. Let’s not burden them in these critical times more than they already are.”

“We are all one. We all live in the same world. Please treat people and nature like you would treat yourself. God bless you all. We will be stronger and more united, I am sure.”

?: @DjokerNole | #tennisathome

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 22, 2020

His views are also shared by Federer. The Swiss answered federal councillor Alain Berset, Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs, in an Instagram challenge. Berset stressed that everyone has a part to play in fighting the virus and invited Federer, along with TV host Christa Rigozzi and rapper Stress, to share the message with their social media followers.

“I wash my hands several times a day and I stay at home. It is very important to think about the older and more vulnerable people. We have to keep a distance of two metres and we don’t shake hands at the moment,” Federer said. “These are difficult times and I hope that everyone takes this seriously.”

Federer and Djokovic are both spending quality time with their families while staying at home. Djokovic urged others to do the same, be kind to others and try to make the best of the current situation.

“We can’t be healthy if our world isn’t healthy. This is the time for all of us to get together and unite,” Djokovic said. “Let’s really try to spend quality time with our family at home [and] enjoy the little things in life. Let’s try to laugh, love and dedicate time to inner work… This is a great opportunity to do that.

“We are all one. We all live in the same world. Please treat people and nature like you would treat yourself. God bless you all. We will be stronger and more united, I am sure.”