Stefanos Tsitsipas is having a fantastic season in 2021, and he is about to snatch the world number 3 from the great Rafael Nadal, who decided not to play in Wimbledon this year to recover from a grueling clay-court season.
How Tsitsipas can be the world number 3
In normal times, Rafa would lose 720 points for not defending the semi-final that he achieved in 2019. However, with the new regulations, he will lose only 360 points. Therefore, in the live rankings, Nadal now has 8270 points while Tsitsipas has 7980 points. This means that the Greek sensation has 90 points less than the Spaniards and he needs to reach the quarters (360 points) to overtake Nadal.
Stefanos also needs to watch his back. Sascha Zverev can become the new world number 3 if Stefanos stops his run in the quarters and the German either reaches the final or wins the tournament.
Novak Djokovic
With the new rules, Novak Djokovic drops just 1,000 points. So even in the extremely improbable scenario that the Serbian legend loses in the first round and Tsitsipas wins the tournament, Stefanos would be too far from Novak to get the first spot in the rankings. In that case, Tsitsipas would have 9,970 points vs. Djokovic’s 11,113.
Here the latest live rankings.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021
Now the world no.4 (career-high), Stefanos played his last match on the 13th of June when he was overcome by world no.1 Novak Djokovic 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the final of the French Open (draw).
Currently, during this season the Greek owns a compiled 39-9 win-loss record. Tsitsipas clinched 2 titles in 2021 in Monte-Carlo and in Lyon. Stefanos was the finalist in Acapulco, in Barcelona and at the French Open.
Rafael Nadal in 2021
Ranked world no.3, Nadal played his last match on the 11th of June when he capitulated to world no.1 Novak Djokovic 3-6 6-3 7-6(4) 6-2 in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
Currently, during this season the Spaniard owns a 23-4 match record. Rafael conquered 2 titles in 2021 in Barcelona and in Rome.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal squared off 9 times. Their current head to head is 7-2 for Nadal. Previously, the last time when they played, Rafael Nadal won 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5 in the final in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell) on the 25th of April 2021.
Here the video highlights.
Novak Djokovic in 2021
Currently the world no.1, Novak played his last match on the 13th of June when he defeated world no.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the final of the French Open to win his 84th career title.
This season Djokovic has a 27-3 win-loss record. Djokovic conquered 3 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade and at the French Open. Djokovic was the runner-up in Rome.
