2018 ATP Rankings & Schedule

^^Such a glorious sight! I just can't get enough of looking at the 5-digit number; it reminds me so much of the old school rankings chart where Roger was untouchable by consistently laying down those kinds of results. That he's been able to do it with only counting 12 tournaments (11 if we discount the anomaly of carrying a 0 pointer in Stuttgart) is mind-boggling.

I keep harping on it, but I'm glad that Roger is still considering playing in Dubai because I absolutely want him to play with no pressure to defend Miami if he chooses not to do so. It would be so amazing for him to hold on to number 1 throughout the clay season even if he doesn't play (there aren't many points available after Miami for the current #2 to edge ahead of him, should Roger manage to keep his nose in front.)

It's a guilty (greedy) pleasure of mine to see him atop the rankings and such an abhorrence when other players usurp his rightful spot. However, I'm very aware that Roger is not at all motivated to chase rankings willy-nilly and prefers for things to happen organically, if at all, through his results at tournaments that make sense for him to play. As Luthi commented, the #1 ranking is good for an extra boost of confidence, but certainly not worth taking unnecessary chances with health and fitness--I would add: especially at tournaments where Mirka and the kids don't make the trip (two ColdPlay concerts...really, Roger?    4am bedtime?  )

Nevertheless, I'm happy that he's having fun and staying relaxed and motivated. He said in his post match interview after the Final in Rotterdam, that he's looking forward to being a good dad and spending time with his kids upon his arrival home from clinching the Rotterdam title and securing the #1 ranking. That's the balance of family and career milestones that have been a winning formula since the kids arrived...the results just follow. So, I'm at peace with whatever decision he takes. It's good news that he's made it through another tournament feeling healthy and with no physical issues, beyond being tired.

Love your post, MaxUS!  

Love it!  

Not often you see Ivan and Severin beaming like this!

Cromar wrote:Love your post, MaxUS!  

  Me too. Thank you!
And thank you Cromar for all the goodies...

This is the list of the top 50 Roger is referring to in the above video. Only three players, besides Roger, are still active, and I hadn't noticed, but Roger did (awkeye!)... all three are Spanish!  I am not sure, however, if we should to read anything into that?

Too bad we couldn't get a picture with Stefan Edberg in there with the other 4. He might not be his coach now but those couple years must have helped him get here.

It makes me want to cry with joy, too, to see his jubilation! Remember....remember....the time when they tried to 'write him off, more or less, or relegate him with his already superior achievements to the back of the line? I do, and I wish all those comments had been written down on sandpaper and those who said them would have to eat them. Some nasty stuff had happened there.
I AM SO GLAD that Roger kept the belief in himself. He also knew that there were people around him who believed, and amonog his fans, too, worldwide.
The Rightness of it comes from who he is, the super talent, the physical suitedness and work, and love of the sport. It is not always easy to go on when results don't come the way one hopes they would, but it was his loving tennis, pacing, and patience that kept him and brought him to this high peak. And he is thankful, you can see that, not 'but of course, no chest beating."
And look, others struggle to not only get one slam but then to try to wtring some together--while he had taken off from the first one like a falcon in full flight! Thank you for the unalloyed pleasure, RF!

An interesting graph, published by the Swiss magazine Blick, showing Roger's incredible road from No. 17 to No. 1 in 13 months!
I added an English translation below the 'month' timeline.


 

Just try and remember that at the start of 2017, the chatter basically was "How long will Roger continue playing when he realizes that 17 is reflective of his ranking?" (Actual Brad Gilbert Line during the ESPN AO coverage of 2017) - Remember they all expected Roger to go out early, he would have dropped to #30 if he had lost to Berdych in R3 and several people expected him to lose that match. I actually remember wondering similar things myself obviously hoping that things would improve for Roger and hoping to see him peak by Wimbledon. Winning Australia in 2017 changed everything. #1 when he is well over 36 has to be arguably one of the greatest achievements in tennis. Hopefully he is #1 on his 37th birthday. It will be a special one.

^^^
Amem, tvradke! You know? Everytime I think on the nr. 1 I am teary. And I know, I am not alone.

Now, with Nadal out of Indian Wells and Miami, Roger needs 710 points from these two tournaments to remain the world #1 after Miami (and most likely until Rome, too, as Nadal can't gain any points from his scheduled tournaments until the tournament in the Eternal City). That means one title or at least two semifinals. After Indian Wells he remains #1 if he will reach at least SF.

IW will be precarious. I had thought that with the 455 point cushion from Rotterdam that IW would have been less of a nail-biter, but I had forgotten just how early the two met at IW last year.

From the article on the ATP website regarding Nadal's withdrawal:

Because Nadal will only drop 90 ATP Rankings points following a fourth-round exit in 2017, he could return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings on 19 March after the BNP Paribas Open. Current World No. 1 Roger Federer, who is defending 1000 points after winning the Indian Wells title last year, must reach the semi-finals to hold onto top spot.

It's not going to be a cakewalk, that's for sure... 2000 points are never easy to defend! Should Roger not make it in IW, he will have a little reprieve in Miami, however, as Nadal will be dropping 600 points then.

Kemik outlined what he needs to do to remain No 1 until, at least, the Eternal city - I like that!    (and maybe for eternity, then!!  ) With his current form, I think it's quite doable.