Rafael Nadal has not dropped out of the top 10 since he first broke in 18 years ago but after his second round exit at the Australian Open his unbelievable reign among the world’s elite is under threat.
The Spanish legend is well and truly on top of the list of men’s players to stay in the world’s top 10 for consecutive weeks, cracking an astonishing 900 weeks in a row in December last year. That record puts a host of tennis legends in the shade, with Jimmy Connors second on the list with a comparatively meagre 789 straight weeks in the top 10. Roger Federer (742), Ivan Lendl (619), and Pete Sampras (565) round out the top five.
Nadal’s best case scenario when the ATP rankings are released after the Australian Open is to drop from his current position of second out of the top five to sixth.
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He could fall further depending on the results of world No.7 Felix Auger Aliassime and No.8 Daniil Medvedev, who are both still alive at Melbourne’s grand slam.
Yet even if he clings to sixth, Nadal faces the daunting prospect of defending his rankings points at Acapulco, where he was a finalist in February last year, and Indian Wells – a Masters 1000 event – in March, where he was also runner-up in 2022.
Given the uncertainty around his fitness and his schedule after he injured his hip against Mackenzie McDonald, it’s entirely plausible that Nadal will not be able to defend that mass of points, all but guaranteeing that he’ll be out of the top 10 for the first time since 2005 before his beloved clay court swing gets under way in Europe.
If that’s how it plays out, it will end a top-10 reign that is unlikely to be matched ever again (barring perhaps a freakish next two decades from his countryman and current world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz).
Nadal’s fall down the rankings is another reminder of the changing of the guard, which is being cemented by the march of Father Time, with the ‘big three’ era soon to be a memory.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ The Morning Serve, Jelena Dokic was in awe of Nadal’s top 10 stint.
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“It’s hard to put into words, it’s actually really hard to believe that he’s been in the top 10 for 18 years even with all the injuries that he’s had,” Dokic said.
“We talk about the 22 grand slam titles and everything that he’s accomplished, but that is a big one to be almost 20 years inside the top 10 consistently. It says everything about his career, his consistency, how well he competes and how well he fights even with all the injuries he’s had.”
Dokic added that Nadal’s refusal to quit against McDonald was just another demonstration of his “class” and added to his legacy at the Australian Open.
“He was all class (on Wednesday), it was actually really hard to watch and he didn’t want to retire as the defending champion . He really doesn’t like doing it no matter how hurt he was. I’m not sure what it would take to stop Rafael Nadal from finishing a match and that says everything you need to know about him.”
Dokic conceded that Nadal had struggled with injury “since the ab tear in Wimbledon last year” but said “I don’t think he’s done” and tipped that he would be back for at least one more Australian Open.
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But if that wish doesn’t come true, Dokic said he’d be remembered at the Australian Open for his “tough moments” and “tough finals” as well as his crowning moments in 2009 and 2022 when he lifted the trophy.
“I think wherever he goes, whether that’s in Australia or anywhere else in the world, he gets love and he gives all of that love back to us as well,” Dokic said.
“He’s just one of those people, when you see him he puts a smile on your face but when you see him on court he competes, he gives you this incredible energy, and motivation and fighting spirit, even after you stop watching his matches.”
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