Djokovic confirmed as world number one

Photo by AP

PARIS, France – Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was confirmed as the new world number one when the ATP rankings were released on Monday.

Djokovic, who beat Rafael Nadal in Sunday’s final, was already guaranteed to move ahead of the Spaniard following the Serb’s semi-final defeat of Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga. It ends Nadal’s 56-week rein since he took over from Roger Federer on June 7, 2010.

Not since Andy Roddick in the week of January 26, 2004 has anyone other than Nadal or Federer been ranked number one.

“This is an amazing achievement to get to the top spot, especially with rivals such as Rafa and Roger,” said Djokovic.

“They made me work so hard and made me improve every day. There are no words to express how good they are but I always thought that I could become number one one day. Both the belief and the hard work took me there.”

It is the natural culmination of an extraordinary first half of the year for Djokovic who has now won 48 of 49 matches in 2011 and claimed eight titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

At 24 years, 1 month, 12 days, Djokovic is the 25th player since the rankings began in 1973 to hold the number one position and the first Serb to do so.

World top 20 (as of July 4, 2011)

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13285
2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 11270
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 9230
4. Andy Murray (GBR) 6855
5. Robin Soderling (SWE) 4325
6. David Ferrer (ESP) 4150
7. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2780
8. Mardy Fish (USA) 2335
9. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 2470
10. Andy Roddick (USA) 2110
11. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2105
12. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 2085
13. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 1955
14. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 1945
15. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 1935
16. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 1930
17. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 1875
18. Gilles Simon (FRA) 1745
19. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 1625
20. Florian Mayer (GER) 1555