List of ATP number 1 ranked Singles Tennis players - wikipedia List of ATP number 1 ranked Singles Tennis players This article is about ATP number 1 rankings since 1973. For the all - time list, see World number 1 male tennis player rankings. Rafael Nadal, the current world No. 1 The ATP Rankings are the Association of Tennis Professionals ' ( ATP ) merit - based method for determining the rankings in men 's tennis. The top - ranked player is the player who, over the previous 52 weeks, has garnered the most ATP ranking points. Points are awarded based on how far a player advances in tournaments and the category of those tournaments. The ATP has used a computerized system for determining the rankings since 23 August 1973. Starting in 1979, an updated rankings list is released at the beginning of each week. Since 1973, 26 men have been ranked number 1 by the ATP, of which 17 have been year - end number 1. The current world number one is Rafael Nadal. Contents 1 Ranking method 2 Records and particularities 3 Number 1 ranked players 4 Weeks at No. 1 4.1 By player 4.2 By country 5 Year - end No. 1 6 No. 1 ranked players without a previous Grand Slam tournament title 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Ranking method Since the introduction of the ATP rankings the method used to calculate a player 's ranking points has changed several times. As of 2011, the rankings are calculated by totaling the points a player wins in his best eighteen tournaments, subject to certain restrictions. For top players the counting tournaments are the four Grand Slam tournaments, the eight mandatory ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments, the player 's best four eligible ATP World Tour 500 series tournaments ( the non-mandatory ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo may be substituted for one of these ), and his best two results from ATP World Tour 250 series. Lower - ranked players who are not eligible for some or all of the top tournaments may include additional ATP 500 and ATP 250 events, and also ATP Challenger Series, and Futures Series tournaments. The ranking points of players who qualify for the year - end ATP World Tour Finals also include any points gained at that tournament, increasing their counting tournament total to nineteen. Records and particularities Roger Federer holds the records for both the most total weeks at No. 1 ( 302 ) and most consecutive weeks at No. 1 ( 237 ). Pete Sampras holds the record for the most year - end No. 1 ( six, all consecutive ). Patrick Rafter spent the fewest weeks at No. 1 ( one week ). Lleyton Hewitt is both the youngest world No. 1 ( 20 years, 268 days ) and youngest year - end No. 1, while Ivan Lendl is the oldest year - end No. 1 ( 29 years, 299 days ). Andre Agassi is the oldest No. 1 ( 33 years, 131 days ). Only four players have regained the year end No. 1 ranking after having lost it - Lendl in 1989, Federer in 2009, Nadal in 2010, and Djokovic in 2014. Only one player regained the year end No. 1 ranking a second time, Nadal in 2013. Rafael Nadal became the ATP player with the longest time span between first and most recent dates at world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Tour. He did so on August 21, 2017 9 years after first becoming No. 1 on August 18, 2008. Two players, Ivan Lendl and Marcelo Ríos, have reached No. 1 without previously having won a Grand Slam tournament. Lendl reached No. 1 on February 21, 1983, but did not win his first Grand Slam title until the 1984 French Open. Rios reached No. 1 on March 30, 1998 and is the only No. 1 player who never won a Grand Slam singles title. Since 1973 when the ATP ranking started, there have been twelve years when one player held the top spot for the entire year. In contrast, 1999 had the most No. 1 players of any year since the rankings started. There were five players who were No. 1 sometime during that year - Sampras, Carlos Moya, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Agassi and Rafter. John McEnroe held the No. 1 ranking on a record 14 different occasions and Pete Sampras was the only other player to hold it on 10 or more occasions with 11 different stints. Number 1 ranked players The statistics are updated only when the ATP website revises its rankings ( usually every Monday morning except when tournament finals are postponed ). Ilie Năstase became the first ATP No. 1 ranked player on 23 August 1973. Roger Federer has spent a total of 302 weeks at world No. 1, including 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the ATP rankings, the most of any player. Pete Sampras spent a total of 286 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings and holds the record of 6 consecutive year end as No. 1 Ivan Lendl spent a total of 270 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings. Jimmy Connors spent a total of 268 weeks at world No. 1, including 160 consecutive weeks ( a record he held for 30 years before being overtaken by R. Federer in 2007 ). Novak Djokovic, who spent 223 weeks at world No. 1. Rafael Nadal became the ATP player with the longest time span between first and most recent dates at world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Tour. He did so on August 21, 2017 9 years after first becoming No. 1 on August 18, 2008. No. Country Player Start date End date Weeks Total ROM Năstase, Ilie Ilie Năstase 000000001973 - 08 - 23 - 0000 August 23, 1973 000000001974 - 06 - 02 - 0000 June 2, 1974 40 40 AUS Newcombe, John John Newcombe 000000001974 - 06 - 03 - 0000 June 3, 1974 000000001974 - 07 - 28 - 0000 July 28, 1974 8 8 USA Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors 000000001974 - 07 - 29 - 0000 July 29, 1974 000000001977 - 08 - 22 - 0000 August 22, 1977 160 160 SWE Borg, Björn Björn Borg 000000001977 - 08 - 23 - 0000 August 23, 1977 000000001977 - 08 - 29 - 0000 August 29, 1977 USA Jimmy Connors ( 2 ) 000000001977 - 08 - 30 - 0000 August 30, 1977 000000001979 - 04 - 08 - 0000 April 8, 1979 84 244 SWE Björn Borg ( 2 ) 000000001979 - 04 - 09 - 0000 April 9, 1979 000000001979 - 05 - 20 - 0000 May 20, 1979 6 7 USA Jimmy Connors ( 3 ) 000000001979 - 05 - 21 - 0000 May 21, 1979 000000001979 - 07 - 08 - 0000 July 8, 1979 7 251 SWE Björn Borg ( 3 ) 000000001979 - 07 - 09 - 0000 July 9, 1979 000000001980 - 03 - 02 - 0000 March 2, 1980 34 41 5 USA McEnroe, John John McEnroe 000000001980 - 03 - 03 - 0000 March 3, 1980 000000001980 - 03 - 23 - 0000 March 23, 1980 SWE Björn Borg ( 4 ) 000000001980 - 03 - 24 - 0000 March 24, 1980 000000001980 - 08 - 10 - 0000 August 10, 1980 20 61 USA McEnroe, John John McEnroe ( 2 ) 000000001980 - 08 - 11 - 0000 August 11, 1980 000000001980 - 08 - 17 - 0000 August 17, 1980 SWE Björn Borg ( 5 ) 000000001980 - 08 - 18 - 0000 August 18, 1980 000000001981 - 07 - 05 - 0000 July 5, 1981 46 107 USA John McEnroe ( 3 ) 000000001981 - 07 - 06 - 0000 July 6, 1981 000000001981 - 07 - 19 - 0000 July 19, 1981 6 SWE Björn Borg ( 6 ) 000000001981 - 07 - 20 - 0000 July 20, 1981 000000001981 - 08 - 02 - 0000 August 2, 1981 109 USA John McEnroe ( 4 ) 000000001981 - 08 - 03 - 0000 August 3, 1981 000000001982 - 09 - 12 - 0000 September 12, 1982 58 64 USA Jimmy Connors ( 4 ) 000000001982 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 1982 000000001982 - 10 - 31 - 0000 October 31, 1982 7 258 USA John McEnroe ( 5 ) 000000001982 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1, 1982 000000001982 - 11 - 07 - 0000 November 7, 1982 65 USA Jimmy Connors ( 5 ) 000000001982 - 11 - 08 - 0000 November 8, 1982 000000001982 - 11 - 14 - 0000 November 14, 1982 259 USA John McEnroe ( 6 ) 000000001982 - 11 - 15 - 0000 November 15, 1982 000000001983 - 01 - 30 - 0000 January 30, 1983 11 76 USA Jimmy Connors ( 6 ) 000000001983 - 01 - 31 - 0000 January 31, 1983 000000001983 - 02 - 06 - 0000 February 6, 1983 260 USA John McEnroe ( 7 ) 000000001983 - 02 - 07 - 0000 February 7, 1983 000000001983 - 02 - 13 - 0000 February 13, 1983 77 USA Jimmy Connors ( 7 ) 000000001983 - 02 - 14 - 0000 February 14, 1983 000000001983 - 02 - 27 - 0000 February 27, 1983 262 6 TCH Lendl, Ivan Ivan Lendl 000000001983 - 02 - 28 - 0000 February 28, 1983 000000001983 - 05 - 15 - 0000 May 15, 1983 11 11 USA Jimmy Connors ( 8 ) 000000001983 - 05 - 16 - 0000 May 16, 1983 000000001983 - 06 - 05 - 0000 June 5, 1983 265 USA John McEnroe ( 8 ) 000000001983 - 06 - 06 - 0000 June 6, 1983 000000001983 - 06 - 12 - 0000 June 12, 1983 78 USA Jimmy Connors ( 9 ) 000000001983 - 06 - 13 - 0000 June 13, 1983 000000001983 - 07 - 03 - 0000 July 3, 1983 268 USA John McEnroe ( 9 ) 000000001983 - 07 - 04 - 0000 July 4, 1983 000000001983 - 10 - 30 - 0000 October 30, 1983 17 95 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 2 ) 000000001983 - 10 - 31 - 0000 October 31, 1983 000000001983 - 12 - 11 - 0000 December 11, 1983 6 17 USA John McEnroe ( 10 ) 000000001983 - 12 - 12 - 0000 December 12, 1983 000000001984 - 01 - 08 - 0000 January 8, 1984 99 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 3 ) 000000001984 - 01 - 09 - 0000 January 9, 1984 000000001984 - 03 - 11 - 0000 March 11, 1984 9 26 USA John McEnroe ( 11 ) 000000001984 - 03 - 12 - 0000 March 12, 1984 000000001984 - 06 - 10 - 0000 June 10, 1984 13 112 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 4 ) 000000001984 - 06 - 11 - 0000 June 11, 1984 000000001984 - 06 - 17 - 0000 June 17, 1984 27 USA John McEnroe ( 12 ) 000000001984 - 06 - 18 - 0000 June 18, 1984 000000001984 - 07 - 08 - 0000 July 8, 1984 115 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 5 ) 000000001984 - 07 - 09 - 0000 July 9, 1984 000000001984 - 08 - 12 - 0000 August 12, 1984 5 32 USA John McEnroe ( 13 ) 000000001984 - 08 - 13 - 0000 August 13, 1984 000000001985 - 08 - 18 - 0000 August 18, 1985 53 168 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 6 ) 000000001985 - 08 - 19 - 0000 August 19, 1985 000000001985 - 08 - 25 - 0000 August 25, 1985 33 USA John McEnroe ( 14 ) 000000001985 - 08 - 26 - 0000 August 26, 1985 000000001985 - 09 - 08 - 0000 September 8, 1985 170 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 7 ) 000000001985 - 09 - 09 - 0000 September 9, 1985 000000001988 - 09 - 11 - 0000 September 11, 1988 157 190 7 SWE Wilander, Mats Mats Wilander 000000001988 - 09 - 12 - 0000 September 12, 1988 000000001989 - 01 - 29 - 0000 January 29, 1989 20 20 TCH Ivan Lendl ( 8 ) 000000001989 - 01 - 30 - 0000 January 30, 1989 000000001990 - 08 - 12 - 0000 August 12, 1990 80 270 8 SWE Edberg, Stefan Stefan Edberg 000000001990 - 08 - 13 - 0000 August 13, 1990 000000001991 - 01 - 27 - 0000 January 27, 1991 24 24 9 GER Becker, Boris Boris Becker 000000001991 - 01 - 28 - 0000 January 28, 1991 000000001991 - 02 - 17 - 0000 February 17, 1991 SWE Stefan Edberg ( 2 ) 000000001991 - 02 - 18 - 0000 February 18, 1991 000000001991 - 07 - 07 - 0000 July 7, 1991 20 44 GER Boris Becker ( 2 ) 000000001991 - 07 - 08 - 0000 July 8, 1991 000000001991 - 09 - 08 - 0000 September 8, 1991 9 12 SWE Stefan Edberg ( 3 ) 000000001991 - 09 - 09 - 0000 September 9, 1991 000000001992 - 02 - 09 - 0000 February 9, 1992 22 66 10 USA Courier, Jim Jim Courier 000000001992 - 02 - 10 - 0000 February 10, 1992 000000001992 - 03 - 22 - 0000 March 22, 1992 6 6 SWE Stefan Edberg ( 4 ) 000000001992 - 03 - 23 - 0000 March 23, 1992 000000001992 - 04 - 12 - 0000 April 12, 1992 69 USA Jim Courier ( 2 ) 000000001992 - 04 - 13 - 0000 April 13, 1992 000000001992 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 1992 22 28 SWE Stefan Edberg ( 5 ) 000000001992 - 09 - 14 - 0000 September 14, 1992 000000001992 - 10 - 04 - 0000 October 4, 1992 72 USA Jim Courier ( 3 ) 000000001992 - 10 - 05 - 0000 October 5, 1992 000000001993 - 04 - 11 - 0000 April 11, 1993 27 55 11 USA Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras 000000001993 - 04 - 12 - 0000 April 12, 1993 000000001993 - 08 - 22 - 0000 August 22, 1993 19 19 USA Jim Courier ( 4 ) 000000001993 - 08 - 23 - 0000 August 23, 1993 000000001993 - 09 - 12 - 0000 September 12, 1993 58 USA Pete Sampras ( 2 ) 000000001993 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 1993 000000001995 - 04 - 09 - 0000 April 9, 1995 82 101 12 USA Agassi, Andre Andre Agassi 000000001995 - 04 - 10 - 0000 April 10, 1995 000000001995 - 11 - 05 - 0000 November 5, 1995 30 30 USA Pete Sampras ( 3 ) 000000001995 - 11 - 06 - 0000 November 6, 1995 000000001996 - 01 - 28 - 0000 January 28, 1996 12 113 USA Andre Agassi ( 2 ) 000000001996 - 01 - 29 - 0000 January 29, 1996 000000001996 - 02 - 11 - 0000 February 11, 1996 32 13 AUT Muster, Thomas Thomas Muster 000000001996 - 02 - 12 - 0000 February 12, 1996 000000001996 - 02 - 18 - 0000 February 18, 1996 USA Pete Sampras ( 4 ) 000000001996 - 02 - 19 - 0000 February 19, 1996 000000001996 - 03 - 10 - 0000 March 10, 1996 116 AUT Thomas Muster ( 2 ) 000000001996 - 03 - 11 - 0000 March 11, 1996 000000001996 - 04 - 14 - 0000 April 14, 1996 5 6 USA Pete Sampras ( 5 ) 000000001996 - 04 - 15 - 0000 April 15, 1996 000000001998 - 03 - 29 - 0000 March 29, 1998 102 218 14 CHI Ríos, Marcelo Marcelo Ríos 000000001998 - 03 - 30 - 0000 March 30, 1998 000000001998 - 04 - 26 - 0000 April 26, 1998 USA Pete Sampras ( 6 ) 000000001998 - 04 - 27 - 0000 April 27, 1998 000000001998 - 08 - 09 - 0000 August 9, 1998 15 233 CHI Marcelo Ríos ( 2 ) 000000001998 - 08 - 10 - 0000 August 10, 1998 000000001998 - 08 - 23 - 0000 August 23, 1998 6 USA Pete Sampras ( 7 ) 000000001998 - 08 - 24 - 0000 August 24, 1998 000000001999 - 03 - 14 - 0000 March 14, 1999 29 262 15 ESP Moyá, Carlos Carlos Moyá 000000001999 - 03 - 15 - 0000 March 15, 1999 000000001999 - 03 - 28 - 0000 March 28, 1999 USA Pete Sampras ( 8 ) 000000001999 - 03 - 29 - 0000 March 29, 1999 000000001999 - 05 - 02 - 0000 May 2, 1999 5 267 16 RUS Kafelnikov, Yevgeny Yevgeny Kafelnikov 000000001999 - 05 - 03 - 0000 May 3, 1999 000000001999 - 06 - 13 - 0000 June 13, 1999 6 6 USA Pete Sampras ( 9 ) 000000001999 - 06 - 14 - 0000 June 14, 1999 000000001999 - 07 - 04 - 0000 July 4, 1999 270 USA Andre Agassi ( 3 ) 000000001999 - 07 - 05 - 0000 July 5, 1999 000000001999 - 07 - 25 - 0000 July 25, 1999 35 17 AUS Rafter, Patrick Patrick Rafter 000000001999 - 07 - 26 - 0000 July 26, 1999 000000001999 - 08 - 01 - 0000 August 1, 1999 USA Pete Sampras ( 10 ) 000000001999 - 08 - 02 - 0000 August 2, 1999 000000001999 - 09 - 12 - 0000 September 12, 1999 6 276 USA Andre Agassi ( 4 ) 000000001999 - 09 - 13 - 0000 September 13, 1999 000000002000 - 09 - 10 - 0000 September 10, 2000 52 87 USA Pete Sampras ( 11 ) 000000002000 - 09 - 11 - 0000 September 11, 2000 000000002000 - 11 - 19 - 0000 November 19, 2000 10 286 18 RUS Safin, Marat Marat Safin 000000002000 - 11 - 20 - 0000 November 20, 2000 000000002000 - 12 - 03 - 0000 December 3, 2000 19 BRA Kuerten, Gustavo Gustavo Kuerten 000000002000 - 12 - 04 - 0000 December 4, 2000 000000002001 - 01 - 28 - 0000 January 28, 2001 8 8 RUS Marat Safin ( 2 ) 000000002001 - 01 - 29 - 0000 January 29, 2001 000000002001 - 02 - 25 - 0000 February 25, 2001 6 BRA Gustavo Kuerten ( 2 ) 000000002001 - 02 - 26 - 0000 February 26, 2001 000000002001 - 04 - 01 - 0000 April 1, 2001 5 13 RUS Marat Safin ( 3 ) 000000002001 - 04 - 02 - 0000 April 2, 2001 000000002001 - 04 - 22 - 0000 April 22, 2001 9 BRA Gustavo Kuerten ( 3 ) 000000002001 - 04 - 23 - 0000 April 23, 2001 000000002001 - 11 - 18 - 0000 November 18, 2001 30 43 20 AUS Hewitt, Lleyton Lleyton Hewitt 000000002001 - 11 - 19 - 0000 November 19, 2001 000000002003 - 04 - 27 - 0000 April 27, 2003 75 75 USA Andre Agassi ( 5 ) 000000002003 - 04 - 28 - 0000 April 28, 2003 000000002003 - 05 - 11 - 0000 May 11, 2003 89 AUS Lleyton Hewitt ( 2 ) 000000002003 - 05 - 12 - 0000 May 12, 2003 000000002003 - 06 - 15 - 0000 June 15, 2003 5 80 USA Andre Agassi ( 6 ) 000000002003 - 06 - 16 - 0000 June 16, 2003 000000002003 - 09 - 07 - 0000 September 7, 2003 12 101 21 ESP Ferrero, Juan Carlos Juan Carlos Ferrero 000000002003 - 09 - 08 - 0000 September 8, 2003 000000002003 - 11 - 02 - 0000 November 2, 2003 8 8 22 USA Roddick, Andy Andy Roddick 000000002003 - 11 - 03 - 0000 November 3, 2003 000000002004 - 02 - 01 - 0000 February 1, 2004 13 13 23 SUI Federer, Roger Roger Federer 000000002004 - 02 - 02 - 0000 February 2, 2004 000000002008 - 08 - 17 - 0000 August 17, 2008 237 237 24 ESP Nadal, Rafael Rafael Nadal 000000002008 - 08 - 18 - 0000 August 18, 2008 000000002009 - 07 - 05 - 0000 July 5, 2009 46 46 SUI Roger Federer ( 2 ) 000000002009 - 07 - 06 - 0000 July 6, 2009 000000002010 - 06 - 06 - 0000 June 6, 2010 48 285 ESP Rafael Nadal ( 2 ) 000000002010 - 06 - 07 - 0000 June 7, 2010 000000002011 - 07 - 03 - 0000 July 3, 2011 56 102 25 SRB Novak Djokovic 000000002011 - 07 - 04 - 0000 July 4, 2011 000000002012 - 07 - 08 - 0000 July 8, 2012 53 53 SUI Roger Federer ( 3 ) 000000002012 - 07 - 09 - 0000 July 9, 2012 000000002012 - 11 - 04 - 0000 November 4, 2012 17 302 SRB Novak Djokovic ( 2 ) 000000002012 - 11 - 05 - 0000 November 5, 2012 000000002013 - 10 - 06 - 0000 October 6, 2013 48 101 ESP Rafael Nadal ( 3 ) 000000002013 - 10 - 07 - 0000 October 7, 2013 000000002014 - 07 - 06 - 0000 July 6, 2014 39 141 SRB Novak Djokovic ( 3 ) 000000002014 - 07 - 07 - 0000 July 7, 2014 000000002016 - 11 - 06 - 0000 November 6, 2016 122 223 26 GBR Andy Murray 000000002016 - 11 - 07 - 0000 November 7, 2016 000000002017 - 08 - 20 - 0000 August 20, 2017 41 41 ESP Rafael Nadal ( 4 ) 000000002017 - 08 - 21 - 0000 August 21, 2017 Present 5 146 No. Country Player Start date End date Weeks Total Key * Current number 1 player as of September 18, 2017 ATP Ranking record Weeks at No. 1 By player The table on the left shows the total number of weeks that each player has been ranked No. 1 in their career by the ATP. The table on the right shows the number of consecutive weeks that each indicated player has been ranked No. 1 by the ATP. Rank Player Total 1. Federer, Roger Roger Federer 302 2. Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras 286 3. Lendl, Ivan Ivan Lendl 270 4. Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors 268 5. Djokovic, Novak Novak Djokovic 223 6. McEnroe, John John McEnroe 170 7. Nadal, Rafael Rafael Nadal 146 8. Borg, Björn Björn Borg 109 9. Agassi, Andre Andre Agassi 101 10. Hewitt, Lleyton Lleyton Hewitt 80 11. Edberg, Stefan Stefan Edberg 72 12. Courier, Jim Jim Courier 58 13. Kuerten, Gustavo Gustavo Kuerten 43 14. Murray, Andy Andy Murray 41 15. Năstase, Ilie Ilie Năstase 40 16. Wilander, Mats Mats Wilander 20 17. Roddick, Andy Andy Roddick 13 18. Becker, Boris Boris Becker 12 19. Safin, Marat Marat Safin 9 20. Newcombe, John John Newcombe 8 Ferrero, Juan Carlos Juan Carlos Ferrero 22. Muster, Thomas Thomas Muster 6 Ríos, Marcelo Marcelo Ríos Kafelnikov, Yevgeny Yevgeny Kafelnikov 25. Moyá, Carlos Carlos Moyá 26. Rafter, Patrick Patrick Rafter * active players - current No. 1 in bold Rank Player Consecutive 1. Federer, Roger Roger Federer 237 2. Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors 160 3. Lendl, Ivan Ivan Lendl 157 4. Djokovic, Novak Novak Djokovic 122 5. Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras 102 6. Jimmy Connors ( 2 ) 84 7. Pete Sampras ( 2 ) 82 8. Ivan Lendl ( 2 ) 80 9. Hewitt, Lleyton Lleyton Hewitt 75 10. McEnroe, John John McEnroe 58 11. Nadal, Rafael Rafael Nadal 56 12. John McEnroe ( 2 ) 53 Novak Djokovic ( 2 ) 14. Agassi, Andre Andre Agassi 52 15. Roger Federer ( 2 ) 48 Novak Djokovic ( 3 ) 17. Borg, Björn Björn Borg 46 Rafael Nadal ( 2 ) 19. Murray, Andy Andy Murray 41 20. Năstase, Ilie Ilie Năstase 40 * current streak in bold as of September 18, 2017 By country Country No. of players No. of weeks Players Ref 1. United States 6 896 Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick 2. Switzerland 302 Roger Federer 3. Czechoslovakia 270 Ivan Lendl 4. Serbia 223 Novak Djokovic 5. Sweden 201 Björn Borg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg 6. Spain 156 Carlos Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafael Nadal * 7. Australia 89 John Newcombe, Patrick Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt 8. Brazil 43 Gustavo Kuerten 9. United Kingdom 41 Andy Murray 10. Romania 40 Ilie Năstase 11. Russia 15 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marat Safin 12. Germany 12 Boris Becker 13. Austria 6 Thomas Muster Chile 6 Marcelo Ríos Active players are in bold. * Current number 1 as of September 18, 2017. Year - end No. 1 The ATP year - end No. 1 ranked player is determined as the player at the head of the ATP rankings following the completion of the final tournament of the calendar year, usually in November or December. Pete Sampras holds the record of six year - end No. 1 rankings, which were in consecutive years from 1993 through 1998. Only 4 players, Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, have ever held, lost, and regained the year - end No. 1 ranking. Lendl held it in 1987, lost it in 1988, and regained it in 1989, while Federer held it in 2007, lost it in 2008, and regained it in 2009, and Djokovic held it in 2012, lost it in 2013, and regained it in 2014. Only Nadal has done it twice, he held it in 2008, lost it in 2009, regained it in 2010, lost it in 2011, and regained it again in 2013. Six players have stayed at ATP No. 1 in the rankings every week of a calendar year. Federer is the only player to have been ranked No. 1 every week for three consecutive calendar years. Key ( 1 ) Time as year - end number 1 / Total times as year - end number 1 Ranked number 1 during every week of the calendar year Active players John McEnroe finished the year as the No. 1 - ranked player for four consecutive years from 1981 to 1984. Lleyton Hewitt at age 20 became the youngest male player to hold the world No. 1 ranking. He obtained this in November 2001. Year Player Ref ( s ) 1973 Năstase, Ilie Ilie Năstase Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors ( 1 / 5 ) Jimmy Connors ( 2 / 5 ) 1976 Jimmy Connors ( 3 / 5 ) 1977 Jimmy Connors ( 4 / 5 ) 1978 Jimmy Connors ( 5 / 5 ) 1979 Borg, Björn Björn Borg ( 1 / 2 ) 1980 Björn Borg ( 2 / 2 ) 1981 McEnroe, John John McEnroe ( 1 / 4 ) 1982 John McEnroe ( 2 / 4 ) John McEnroe ( 3 / 4 ) 1984 John McEnroe ( 4 / 4 ) 1985 Lendl, Ivan Ivan Lendl ( 1 / 4 ) 1986 Ivan Lendl ( 2 / 4 ) Ivan Lendl ( 3 / 4 ) Wilander, Mats Mats Wilander Ivan Lendl ( 4 / 4 ) Edberg, Stefan Stefan Edberg ( 1 / 2 ) 1991 Stefan Edberg ( 2 / 2 ) Courier, Jim Jim Courier Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras ( 1 / 6 ) Pete Sampras ( 2 / 6 ) 1995 Pete Sampras ( 3 / 6 ) Pete Sampras ( 4 / 6 ) Pete Sampras ( 5 / 6 ) 1998 Pete Sampras ( 6 / 6 ) 1999 Agassi, Andre Andre Agassi 2000 Kuerten, Gustavo Gustavo Kuerten Hewitt, Lleyton Lleyton Hewitt ( 1 / 2 ) 2002 Lleyton Hewitt ( 2 / 2 ) 2003 Roddick, Andy Andy Roddick Federer, Roger Roger Federer ( 1 / 5 ) 2005 Roger Federer ( 2 / 5 ) 2006 Roger Federer ( 3 / 5 ) 2007 Roger Federer ( 4 / 5 ) 2008 Nadal, Rafael Rafael Nadal ( 1 / 3 ) 2009 Roger Federer ( 5 / 5 ) Rafael Nadal ( 2 / 3 ) 2011 Djokovic, Novak Novak Djokovic ( 1 / 4 ) 2012 Novak Djokovic ( 2 / 4 ) 2013 Rafael Nadal ( 3 / 3 ) 2014 Novak Djokovic ( 3 / 4 ) 2015 Novak Djokovic ( 4 / 4 ) 2016 Andy Murray Year Number of Year - end No. 1 Player 6 Sampras, Pete Pete Sampras 5 Connors, Jimmy Jimmy Connors Federer, Roger Roger Federer McEnroe, John John McEnroe Lendl, Ivan Ivan Lendl Djokovic, Novak Novak Djokovic Nadal, Rafael Rafael Nadal Borg, Björn Björn Borg Edberg, Stefan Stefan Edberg Hewitt, Lleyton Lleyton Hewitt Năstase, Ilie Ilie Năstase Wilander, Mats Mats Wilander Courier, Jim Jim Courier Agassi, Andre Andre Agassi Kuerten, Gustavo Gustavo Kuerten Roddick, Andy Andy Roddick Murray, Andy Andy Murray No. 1 ranked players without a previous Grand Slam tournament title Player Date of first No. 1 position First Grand Slam final reached First Grand Slam title Ref Ivan Lendl February 28, 1983 1981 French Open ( June 1981 ) ( 1st of 19 ) 1984 French Open ( 1st of 8 ) Marcelo Ríos March 30, 1998 1998 Australian Open ( January 1998 ) None ( retired in 2004 ) See also ATP Rankings ATP players with highest rank of 2 to 5 ATP Rankings achievements -- men 's singles List of ATP number 1 ranked doubles players ITF World Champions World number 1 male tennis player rankings ( includes rankings before 1973 ) List of WTA number 1 ranked players References General `` ATP World Tour -- Singles Rankings ( searchable database ) ''. atpworldtour.com. 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Andre Agassi, who remains the oldest player to have been No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, at 33 years and 131 days in 2003, proved to be a great inspiration. Jump up ^ `` Andre Agassi ''. BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. August 19, 2003. Retrieved June 11, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Agassi out, Ferrero world number one ''. ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. September 7, 2003. Retrieved July 28, 2009. ^ Jump up to : Finn, Robin ( March 30, 1998 ). `` Tennis ; Rios Dismantles Agassi and Seizes No. 1 Ranking ''. The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2012. Rios... is the first man to earn the ranking without winning a Grand Slam tournament since Ivan Lendl in 1983. Jump up ^ `` Worthy of really high fives ''. Sports Illustrated. CNN. June 18, 1984. Retrieved June 11, 2009. Jump up ^ Wilstein, Steve ( February 1, 1998 ). `` Korda takes Australian Open title ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved June 11, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Player biography -- Marcelo Ríos ''. 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Nastase... finished the 1973 season No. 1 in the world. ^ Jump up to : `` Jimmy Connors -- Career Highlights ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved September 5, 2012. He was clearly No. 1, a status he enjoyed from July 1974, for 159 straight weeks... ^ Jump up to : Crouse, Karen ( February 27, 2007 ). `` Federer 's Reign Goes on and History Follows ''. The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Jimmy Connors was No. 1 for 160 straight weeks, from July 1974 to August 1977. ^ Jump up to : `` Hewitt jubilant as world 's No. 1 ''. The Age. November 15, 2002. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Only five other players -- Stefan Edberg ( 1990 -- 91 ), Ivan Lendl ( 1985 -- 87 ), John McEnroe ( 1981 -- 84 ), Bjorn Borg ( 1979 -- 80 ) and Jimmy Connors ( 1974 -- 78 ) -- have achieved the mighty feat. ^ Jump up to : Robson, Douglas ( June 29, 2009 ). `` Federer may reclaim No. 1 rank, but can he keep hold of spot ? ''. USA Today. Retrieved September 6, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Ford, Bonnie D. ( April 9, 2010 ). `` Tennis still imbued in Lendl 's blood ''. ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 6, 2012. In 1988, ( Wilander ) won a five - set endurance contest, breaking a six - match losing streak to Lendl. The win interrupted Lendl 's three - year reign as world No. 1... ^ Jump up to : `` Tennis ; Winning Courier Stays No. 1 ''. The New York Times. November 21, 1992. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Edberg, the No. 1 player at the end of 1990 and 1991. ^ Jump up to : Clarey, Christopher ( December 4, 2000 ). `` Tennis ; A Victorious Kuerten Clinches No. 1 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2012. ( Kuerten ) is the first non-American to finish on top since the Swede Stefan Edberg in 1991. Jump up ^ `` Courier finishes year ranked No. 1 McNeil posts another upset in Slims ''. Fort Worth Star - Telegram. NewsBank. November 21, 1992. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Jim Courier became the first American since John McEnroe in 1984 to finish the year as the No. 1 tennis player in the world... ( subscription required ) ^ Jump up to : `` Pete Sampras -- Career Highlights ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved September 5, 2012. 1997 -- Ranked No. 1 every week throughout year for second time ( 1994 ) Jump up ^ Wilansky, Matt ( August 31, 2006 ). `` Inside the numbers ''. ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 5, 2012. ( I ) n 1999 he won the French Open title, the only major that had eluded him. He finished the year ranked No. 1 in the world for the first and only time in his career. Jump up ^ `` 2000 ATP Tour Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2001 ATP Tour Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2002 ATP Tour Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2003 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2004 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2005 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2006 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2007 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Retrieved 8 January 2011. Jump up ^ `` Federer will finish year at No. 1 after winning home tourney ''. CBS Sports. October 28, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2009. Jump up ^ `` 2008 ATP Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 8, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2009 ATP World Tour Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). Retrieved January 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2010 ATP World Tour Year End Rankings ''. atpworldtour.com. Retrieved 10 January 2011. Jump up ^ `` Nadal clinches year - end No. 1 for second time ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). September 16, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Djokovic Clinches Year - End No. 1 For First Time ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). October 13, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Djokovic to finish No. 1 in South African Airways ATP Rankings for 2nd straight year ''. atpworldtour.com. Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ). October 29, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Nadal Clinches Year - End No. 1 Emirates ATP Rankings ''. November 6, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Djokovic clinches year - end No. 1 ranking at ATP World Tour Finals ''. tennis.com. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` Djokovic Clinches Year - End No. 1 Emirates ATP Ranking For Fourth Time ''. September 14, 2015. Jump up ^ Fendrich, Howard ( 14 September 2015 ). `` Novak Djokovic clinches tennis ' year - end No. 1 ranking ''. CBS Sports. Retrieved 14 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Murray beats Djokovic in London, finishes as year - end no. 1 ''. November 20, 2016. External links ATP World Tour website Association of Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) world No. 1 singles players Ilie Năstase ( 1973 / 1974 -- 40 w ) John Newcombe ( 1974 -- 8 w ) Jimmy Connors ( 1974 / 1983 -- 268 w ) Björn Borg ( 1977 / 1981 -- 109 w ) John McEnroe ( 1980 / 1985 -- 170 w ) Ivan Lendl ( 1983 / 1990 -- 270 w ) Mats Wilander ( 1988 / 1989 -- 20 w ) Stefan Edberg ( 1990 / 1992 -- 72 w ) Boris Becker ( 1991 -- 12 w ) Jim Courier ( 1992 / 1993 -- 58 w ) Pete Sampras ( 1993 / 2000 -- 286 w ) Andre Agassi ( 1995 / 2003 -- 101 w ) Thomas Muster ( 1996 -- 6 w ) Marcelo Ríos ( 1998 -- 6 w ) Carlos Moyá ( 1999 -- 2 w ) Yevgeny Kafelnikov ( 1999 -- 6 w ) Patrick Rafter ( 1999 -- 1 w ) Marat Safin ( 2000 / 2001 -- 9 w ) Gustavo Kuerten ( 2000 / 2001 -- 43 w ) Lleyton Hewitt ( 2001 / 2003 -- 80 w ) Juan Carlos Ferrero ( 2003 -- 8 w ) Andy Roddick ( 2003 / 2004 -- 13 w ) Roger Federer ( 2004 / 2012 -- 302 w ) Rafael Nadal ( 2008 / 2017 -- 145 w ) Novak Djokovic ( 2011 / 2016 -- 223 w ) Andy Murray ( 2016 / 2017 -- 41 w ) ATP singles rankings incepted on August 23, 1973 ( year first held / year last held -- number of weeks ( w ) ) current No. 1 in bold, as of week of September 11, 2017 Tennis records and statistics Grand Slam Records Champions Men 's singles Chronological Women 's singles Chronological Men 's doubles Women 's doubles Mixed doubles Boys ' singles Girls ' singles Boys ' doubles Girls ' doubles Champions by country Singles Singles finals Open Era singles Men 's finals Women 's finals Age of first title Men 's Singles Open Era All - time Misc. ATP Tour Rankings Records Elite champions Singles Doubles Awards No. 1 rankings ATP singles ATP doubles All - time Select players Singles Doubles Open Era Match wins Masters Series Women 's Singles Open Era All - time WTA Tour Rankings Records Elite champions Awards No. 1 rankings WTA singles and doubles All - time Select players Other Notable rivalries Open Era Titles leaders Records Tournaments Singles Doubles Olympics ITF Rankings Champions Match duration Longest Shortest Tiebreaker Golden set Serving Speed Aces Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_ATP_number_1_ranked_singles_tennis_players&oldid=801191443 '' Categories : Lists of male tennis players Tennis rankings Hidden categories : Pages containing links to subscription - only content Articles with hCards Articles containing potentially dated statements from September 2017 All articles containing potentially dated statements Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español 한국어 Italiano Latviešu Magyar Nederlands Polski Português Română Српски / srpski Suomi Українська Yorùbá 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 18 September 2017, at 06 : 26. 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Question: who has been number 1 in tennis the longest
Answer: Roger Federer