Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer: First Performances as World Number One

Alexander Zverev Joins the World Number One Club

Alexander Zverev became the 30th official world number one on Monday after defeating Tallon Griekspoor in the round of 16 at the Vienna Open. He took the top ranking from Jannik Sinner and is set to make his debut as world number one at the Paris Masters.

Looking Back: How Tennis Legends Began Their Reigns

Novak Djokovic’s Rise with a Canadian Open Victory

Novak Djokovic earned the world number one spot from Rafael Nadal following his win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2011 Wimbledon semi-finals. Djokovic remarked on the rarity of reaching number one, noting that you might only lose one match in seven months to get there.

He captured his first All England Club title by defeating Nadal in the final. Then, Djokovic carried this momentum to Montreal, where he beat Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic, Gael Monfils, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Mardy Fish to win the Canadian Open. This victory made him the first player to secure five Masters 1000 titles since the format changed in 2009. Djokovic called this achievement “history-making” and an honor to be part of tennis history.

Rafael Nadal’s Journey After Olympic Gold

Rafael Nadal claimed the number one ranking after winning gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, beating Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez in the final. This victory allowed him to surpass Roger Federer in the rankings.

"That year [2008], Novak started to play so well. For me it was another tough rival, so I thought, well, I have been there [at the top level], but I didn’t achieve the world number one. Now another great player is coming, so maybe I will never be No. 1," Nadal reflected in 2025.

Nadal stressed how much it meant to reach the top spot after maintaining high-level performances for over three years. Following this, he competed in the US Open, where he defeated Sam Querrey and Mardy Fish before falling to Andy Murray in the semifinals in four sets.

Roger Federer’s Strong Start as Number One

Roger Federer reached world number one after beating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2004 Australian Open semifinals. He went on to claim the title by defeating Marat Safin in the final. Federer expressed satisfaction with his strong season start and noted feeling unusual about finally being number one.

Afterwards, Federer helped Switzerland in their Davis Cup tie against Romania, securing wins over Victor Hanescu and Andrei Pavel. Switzerland won the tie 3-2. Federer then played in Rotterdam, beating Arnaud Clement and Andrei Pavel before losing to British player Tim Henman.