Anderson Cracks Top 5, Reaches Another New Career-High
Anderson Cracks Top 5, Reaches Another New Career-High
No. 5 Kevin Anderson, +3
On the back of his maiden Wimbledon final, the 32-year-old South African cracks the Top 5 for the first time and celebrates a new career-high ATP Ranking. Anderson’s Top 5 debut also continues his steady climb up the ATP Rankings.
Before 2018, the 6’8” right-hander had spent exactly one week in the Top 10 – 12 October 2015, just after advancing to his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open. But this season, Anderson re-joined the Top 10 on 19 February and has made himself at home there.
Read More: Anderson Incredibly Proud, Looks To Future
No. 8 John Isner, +2
At last, Isner has reached No. 8 in the ATP Rankings. The top-ranked American had hit No. 9 on three different occasions: April 2012, April 2014 and April 2018. But he had always stayed there or fallen backward. Until now, thanks to his maiden Grand Slam semi-final run at Wimbledon (l. to Anderson).
Isner saved two match points against Belgian Ruben Bemelmans in the second round and beat 2016 finalist Milos Raonic to advance to only his second Grand Slam quarter-final (2011 US Open, l. to Murray). The 33-year-old Isner will look to hike even further up the ATP Rankings during the North American hard-court swing, which has traditionally been a successful time for the former University of Georgia Bulldog.
No. 10 Novak Djokovic, +11
His ATP Ranking still has one too many digits for his most passionate fans, but Djokovic’s return to the Top 10 is a vast improvement for the Serbian, who won his fourth Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam crown on Sunday. He will only keep climbing from here as well.
The former World No. 1 didn’t play another tournament last year after Wimbledon because of his right elbow injury, so he can only add ATP Rankings points for the remainder of the season.
No. 20 Kei Nishikori, +8
Nishikori, similar to Djokovic, continues to show some of his best form after missing time last year because of injury (right wrist). The Japanese star beat Aussie Nick Kyrgios in the third round and Latvian Ernests Gulbis to make his first Wimbledon quarter-final (l. to Djokovic).
Nishikori, also like Djokovic, should only climb for the rest of 2018. The right-hander played only two events after Wimbledon last year, making the Citi Open semi-finals and the second round of the Coupe Rogers in Montreal.
No. 45 Frances Tiafoe, +7
The #NextGenATP American would have preferred a different final match at Wimbledon – Tiafoe was leading Russian Karen Khachanov two sets to zero but lost in the third round 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-1. But the 20-year-old Tiafoe still reached his first third round at a Grand Slam and achieved another career-high in the ATP Rankings.
Tiafoe also solidified his place in the ATP Race To Milan. He remains in fourth place with 828 points, 123 ahead of #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur. The top seven players in the ATP Race To Milan will qualify automatically for the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 6-10 November in Milan, while the eighth spot will be reserved for the winner of an all-Italian qualifier tournament. To be eligible, players must have been born in 1997 or later.