The ATP rankings for March 20, 2023 are out, and Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in 18 years.
Rafa, who has been out injured since a second-round exit at the Australian Open, fell to 13th place. Our champ had previously been inside the top 10 since April 2005. He moved up and down the rankings for nearly 2 full decades, but never did he fall out of the Top-10.
Spanish teenager Alcaraz cruised past Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final to retake top spot from Novak Djokovic who was missing Indian Wells due to being unvaccinated against Covid.
The top 20 for the week of March 20, 2023 are as follows:
1. Carlos Alcaraz 7,420 pts (+1)
2. Novak Djokovic 7,160 (-1)
3. Stefanos Tsitsipas 5,770
4. Casper Ruud 5,560
5. Daniil Medvedev 4,330 (+1)
6. Felix Auger-Aliassime 3,415 (+4)
7. Andrey Rublev 3,390
8. Holger Rune 3,325
9. Hubert Hurkacz 3,065 (+2)
10. Taylor Fritz 2,975 (-5)
11. Jannik Sinner 2,925 (+2)
12. Cameron Norrie 2,815
13. Rafael Nadal 2,715 (-4)
14. Frances Tiafoe 2,710 (+2)
15. Alexander Zverev 2,580 (-1)
16. Karen Khachanov 2,505 (-1)
17. Pablo Carreno Busta 2,230
18. Alex de Minaur 2,085
19. Tommy Paul 2,045
20. Borna Coric 1,905
Rafa should soon have the chance to get back into the top 10 if he does return in Monte Carlo as he doesn’t have many clay points to defend before the French Open.
Rafa has won the Monte Carlo Masters a record 11 times in his career and will be bidding to win a 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open which gets underway on May 28.
Source: AFP
VAMOS RAFA LOVE YOUR STYLE WANT TO SEE YOU PLAY AT WIMBLEDON!!!
A terrific feat and a mark of Rafa’s consistency and longevity. I’m sad that this 18 year run has come to an end, but happy that this record is one that no one will better.
Rafa is quietly going about his business, working hard to get back to full fitness and knowing our champ, he’ll be determined to prove that he’s not done yet and eager to climb back up the ranks of the top 10 where he belongs and he will.
Get well soon Rafa. We miss you❤️
CONGRATULATIONS Rafa for your nomination on the LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR.
All the best!
The end of Rafael Nadal’s all-time record 912-week streak in the top 10 is just like the end of an era, an era that spanned almost 18 full years. This tennis record will likely never be broken again, just like that 100-point game by Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA, or the seven consecutive NBA titles won by the Boston Celtics from 1959 to 1966.
Vamos, Rafa! We’re looking forward to your coming back into the top 10 again. At this point, everything else is gravy.
No one brings greater respect or joy to tennis than Rafa. How you were missed at Indian Wells. No one brought the excitement you generated to the tournament. Look forward to
your return. All the best to you, the family,and the team👏👍💪🤛🎾🍀❤️
Rafa will soon be back in the top 10 get well soon
Agree 100%, Isabel.👍 Luckily I saw Iga and got her autograph. I told her I love her and Rafa.😊
Hi Rafael such an wonderfull succesfull person You are .keep up the good work.
Greetings
Magalie S Burke
Correction:
CONGRATULATIONS Rafa for your nomination on the LAUREUS WORLD SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR.
All the best!
Cannot wait for your return rafa practice looks to be going well vamos rafa
We now you will be back vamos rafa being in good health is all that matters your practice is going well hope to see you soon you can do the return vamos rafa
No importa el ranking, tú serás siempre número uno, a estas alturas que importa el ranking, ganar lo que has ganado a ver quién lo iguala, Siempre CONTIGO!!!!
Dear Rafa first or last makes no difference
to me as your fan since 2002. For you as my Hero, Champion, Brave soul through the adversity of injury plaguing you time and time again, I just wish you good health so you can resume playing the game , which God sent you to do on this earth. When you can delight your millions of fans again, when you make their hearts race, the joy we all will feel for you being back amongst us. We miss you and love you too. Vamos..love from Ireland ☘☘🇪🇦🇪🇦
Unbelievable record by an amazing player, Rafa Nadal 👍🎾 Vamos Rafa 💪❤️
I’m strangely sad about this. I know it’s only numbers, but it’s sad to see a 912 week run come to an end.
I actually felt more sad before it happened and knowing it would happen than I do today. I agree with others that the main thing is that Rafa will be back on the court soon.
My only regret for Rafa is that if he and everyone else had their Wimbledon points he would still be in the top 10, though he might well have dropped out after Miami.
Imagine if Nadal meet Alcaraz or Djokovic in the round of 16 at FO.
Rafa would win no matter what round.
Stay safe and healthy champ!
If you know Rafa…. being out of the top 10 will only inspire him to stay focused, to stay on course with his training, and most of all not to let it distract him in the slightest way…. This is no surprise… to him…to you…to me…. So…yippee… the rankings are out, big deal!
I’ve been watching the clips of Rafa’s practices… With every day that passes he looks stronger and stronger…. That’s what we want… We’ve seen Rafa off court for 6 months in 2021, not knowing if he will ever play again, only to come to Australia in 2022 and kick a–…… And that was on hard court!!
We’re edging closer to the clay court season, one that provides a certain level of comfort for Rafa… We shall see very soon whether Monte Carlo becomes a reality or he needs more time… Whatever his decision is…I’m in agreement… Only he knows what feels right, as the end goal is to raise the cup at Roland Garros… something we all want…
We have your back Rafa… we always will…
Well said Marileena. My thoughts entirely.
Thanks Lorna… I miss him…I miss this room… I miss all the time we all watched Rafa play from all over the world… Getting up at 3:00 am to watch him live from New York was a favorite thing for me to do…or hearing others weigh in during a match from London, France, Spain etc… We all lived and breathed with every stroke of the ball as we cheered when he volleyed his opponent to the right and to the left and back again until we saw Rafa execute the down the line shot and it was in! And then came that burst of energy…that fist pump into the ground…or that leap into the air as he screamed Vamos….. I could hear all of us screaming (lol) … not only me….Yeah Rafa!!! VAMOS!!
I want that feeling again… I know we all do….
Just wait till the clay season starts and he will be back in.
Who cares about the ranking? Main thing is that he’s healing and he’ll always be number one. Get well and go Rafa!!
Hope Rafa is healing well and getting ready for the clay court season, he has been missed. A good clay court season and he should soon be back in the top ten again. Vamos Rafa, the greatest player of all time 💕
If Rafa really steps up on the clay, there could be at least a 3000 point swing, which is doable. It could be the shortest period outside of the top 10 in tennis history. Another record:)
Top 10, bottom 10. It doesn’t matter. Rafa is the GOAT of tennis. He accomplished a lot given his foot conditions.
Good luck for Rafa in the clay season.
Hopefully picking up his 15th RG title in the process.
VSMOS Rafa. No 1 player in the world