Rafael Nadal joins Roger Federer in achieving the record of staying in top-3 ATP rankings for 600 weeks
Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal achieved another new record in his career, becoming the second player since the beginning of the ATP ranking with 600 weeks in the top-3 on Monday.
He now joins World No.3 and Swiss maestro Roger Federer on the impressive list, adding another feather to his tally of impressive records that he has achieved in the game.
Federer, at the moment, leads the race as he stays on top above the rest, gathering 748 weeks in the top-3 and will be looking to improve his stats despite the fact that he will turn 39 this August.
Following Nadal closely behind are current World No.1 Novak Djokovic (569) and former American tennis great Jimmy Connors (591).
Achieving the top-3 in ATP rankings is one of the most demanding affairs in the game of tennis. Only those who have won a Major or competed on a high level for a whole calendar year have a chance of attaining it.
Nadal first entered the top-3 ATP rankings at just 19 years of age
Spaniard Rafael Nadal found himself in the top-3 rankings for the first time when he was just 19 years old after lifting his maiden Roland Garros title, back in 2005.
Nadal managed to stay in that spot for more than 7 years (excluding two weeks during Miami 2010), struggling with an injury and bowing out from the top-3 in the next 12 months.
However, he soon bounced back to the top, returning even stronger in August 2013. Following this, Nadal stayed in the top-3 for another one and a half years before dropping down the order in April 2015.
What followed later was the darkest phase in his career, plagued by injuries and poor results which saw him stay out of the top-three for another two years until he won his tenth crown at Roland Garros in June 2017.
Since then, the 32-year-old has never left the top-2 spot, battling it out with Federer and Djokovic, delivering consistent results for almost three years now.
More tennis news:
- “Tough losses are important for my career” – Tsitsipas admits defeat to Nadal was painful but necessary in 2019 Australian Open
- Bill Gates gets better of Rafael Nadal with skillful lob at the 2020 Match for Africa
- Rafael Nadal’s parents’ divorce – everything you need to know about Nadal’s family life
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