Federer slips down the rankings
When the ATP Tour started this year it would have taken a brave man to bet on Roger Federer not being in the world’s top two players after Wimbledon.
But those who did make the bet will be rubbing their hands because after being knocked out by Thomas Berdych in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, Federer has now slipped to third in the world rankings.
Having such a successful 2009 is proving to be a disadvantage for Federer and the No.1 spot now looks well out of his reach for the foreseeable future. He would have to win the US Open to gain points and would have to win, or match his performances from 2009, in all his upcoming tournaments to even get close to Rafael Nadal in the No.1 spot.
In fact, Federer would have to win next year’s Australian Open to retain the points he earned there this year, and hope that Nadal fares worse than he did this year - the quarter-finals.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t been this low in the rankings since November 2003 and now not only does he trail Nadal, but also Novak Djokovic who lies second.
Last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick fell two places to ninth while this year’s runner-up, Berdych jumped five places up to eighth place.
French Open finalist Robin Soderling moved up one place to fifth place and US Open Champion, Juan Martin Del Potro moved up one place to seventh, despite not even playing at the All England Club.
Britain’s Andy Murray, beaten in straight sets by Nadal in the semi-final at Wimbledon, remains in fourth.
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