Today in Cincinnati, Tommy Robredo took out the top-ranked player in the world, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets. Robredo has had a fine career, peaking in the top five and beating many of the world’s best, but it was only the second time in eight tries that he managed to defeat a reigning world number one.
The first time Robredo accomplished the feat was more than eleven years ago, at the 2003 French Open, where he upset Lleyton Hewitt in five sets. Since then, his only chances to beat number ones have come against Roger Federer, and he lost in all five tries. When the Spaniard finally scored a win over Fed in New York last year, Roger had long since fallen out of the top spot.
With today’s win, Robredo becomes the 66th man since the advent of the ATP ranking system who has beaten at least two different number ones. Only 13 active players have managed the feat.
23 players in ATP history have beaten at least three players who were ranked number one at the time. Coincidentally, the man who defeated the most number ones was present at today’s match. Boris Becker upset six different players in the top spot, compiling a very impressive 19-16 career record against players ranked number one.
Next on the list is Michael Chang, who beat five different number ones (though he only won 7 of 27 matches against them), while Federer, Andre Agassi, Greg Rusedski, and Dominik Hrbaty beat four. Four more active players have defeated three number ones: Andy Murray , David Ferrer, Juan Martin del Potro, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Each of those four recorded their upsets against Rafael Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer, except for Ferrer, who has never beaten Fed but did defeat Agassi when the American held the top spot.
Becker’s 19 wins against top-ranked players is also a record, though he has to share this one with Nadal, who is 19-10 against number ones. Boris and Rafa tower far above the next players on the list, Djokovic and Bjorn Borg, who each have 11 career wins against number ones. Next on the list among active players are Murray (9), del Potro (6), Ferrer (5), and Federer (5).
Robredo doesn’t quite rank among this elite company, but his second top-ranked scalp adds a little more luster to an already lengthy list of career highlights.
Nadal is 19-10 against others at number 1, but has only beaten two players ranked 1, Federer and Djokovic?
That’s correct, 13 against Fed, 6 against Djoker
Hard to believe that Berdych and Stan are not on that list of active players who’ve beaten three Number 1’s, especially since they’re arguably the best players of that generation (along with Del Potro) outside the Big Four.
Their combined records against Roger, Rafa and Novak are almost unthinkably bad, Harlem Globetrotters-Washington Generals level really. Don’t know whether that says more about them or the Big 3 (probably the latter).
I think the main difference between Stan,Berdych/Tsonga/Del Potro and the top 3 is the unforced errors/ball hitting precision. They’re extremely agressive players and actually more powerful than the top 3(excluding Nadal’s forehand) Ofcourse there’s the psychological bit. Stan has broken out of that somewhat but he’ll always be Fed’s puppy. Murray is somehwere in limbo.
Berd and Stan only defeated two #1 players
Berd never won matches over Nadal when he’s #1
Stan never won matches over Fed when he’s #1