Jannik Sinner is spending his 31st week as world no. 1. The Italian dethroned Novak Djokovic after Roland Garros in June last year. He produced a stellar season, leaving everyone behind and building a massive advantage over his closest rivals.
While Sinner’s streak of 31 no. 1 weeks is still not that impressive, it becomes if we place it in another contest. Inaugural runs on the ATP throne are never easy, of course, if you are not Roger Federer!
Many players spent only a couple of weeks on the ATP throne, struggling to keep up with the pace that sent them to the top. Sinner’s run is the eighth-best inaugural ATP reign, with the Italian leaving Andre Agassi on 30!
Jannik Sinner, Rotterdam 2024© Stream screenshot
Ilie Nastase, the first world no. 1 in ATP history, spent 40 weeks at the top in 1973 and 1974. Jimmy Connors collected a marvelous 160 world no. 1 weeks during his first run on the ATP throne.
He could have forged an even more impressive streak of 245, but Bjorn Borg interrupted it for a week in August 1977. As we already said, Jannik left Andre’s run behind. Thus, the next world no. 1 we should mention is Lleyton Hewitt.
The young Aussie stayed on the ATP throne between 2001 and 2003, staying there for 75 weeks. Roger Federer wrote history books between 2004 and 2008! The Swiss kept all the rivals behind for four and a half years, accumulating brilliant 237 weeks during his first no. 1 stint!
Jannik Sinner, 2024 ATP Finals© Stream screenshot
Rafael Nadal passed him in the summer of 2008 and provided 46 weeks on the ATP throne, standing fourth on the list. Novak Djokovic joined the party in 2011, besting Nadal’s numbers and adding 53 world no. 1 weeks during his first visit to the pinnacle of men’s tennis.
Andy Murray fought for the ATP throne with Novak Djokovic in 2016, earning it in the ATP Finals title match! The Briton notched 41 world no. 1 weeks during his only run, passing Ilie Nastase and standing sixth on the list.
Jannik Sinner, Miami Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
With a massive advantage over Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner will pass Nastase and Murray in March, regardless of the results. The Italian also looks good to match Nadal’s run at the end of April and climbed through the list.
If he stays at the top until Roland Garros, Jannik will catch Djokovic’s 53 weeks. After that, only three players will be ranked ahead of him, but we should speak about that in a couple of months.
Tennis World USA