End of an Era
Historic Tennis Shift As Big Three Exit Top Ten For First Time
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Key Points
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In the official ATP rankings, Zverev climbed to a career-high fourth place, while Sinner retained a substantial lead despite missing the US Open. Zverev is also more than 4,000 points ahead of Carlos Alcaraz.
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Ben Shelton’s run ended in the final, but it still lifted him to a career-best world No. 5; Carlos Alcaraz reached the quarter-finals before Shelton defeated him, while Frances Tiafoe’s semi-final appearance returned him to the top 10.
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Djokovic’s ranking decline was partly caused by losing the points from his 2025 US Open semi-final run after exiting in the first round, leaving him at No. 12 in the official rankings.
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Toni Nadal said Zverev had previously been a player who “would freeze up” under pressure and in five-set matches, but now reaches “his best version” at the majors; Nadal cited Zverev’s performance against Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final as evidence of that change.
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The alternative UTR ratings placed Djokovic as low as No. 15, below his No. 12 positions in both the official ATP rankings and the ATP Race, underscoring how sharply his recent form has declined.
Alexander Zverev won the US Open for his second Grand Slam title in 2026, and the victory has shaken up men's tennis rankings in a historic way. For the first time since 2002, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer are all absent from the ATP top 10 Source 1. Djokovic's first-round US Open loss dropped him to No. 12, marking his first time outside the elite ranking group since 2018.
Zverev's rise has been dramatic. He climbed to a career-high world No. 4 in the official ATP rankings and now leads Jannik Sinner in the 2026 ATP Race, despite Sinner holding the No. 1 position overall Source 2. Zverev's improvement stems partly from mental resilience work done at the Rafael Nadal Academy with Toni Nadal, according to reports Source 2. Ben Shelton's run to the US Open final lifted him to a career-best world No. 5.
Zverev's Grand Slam Dominance Reshapes the Race
Zverev has emerged as 2026's major tournament star. He reached the Australian Open semifinals, won the Wimbledon final against Sinner, and claimed the US Open title Source 3. This performance sequence has given him a commanding lead in the year-to-date ATP Race — more than 4,000 points ahead of Carlos Alcaraz in second place Source 3.
Toni Nadal credited Zverev's mental transformation for the breakthrough. The legendary coach said Zverev previously would "freeze up" under pressure and in five-set matches, but now reaches his "best version" at the majors Source 4. Nadal pointed to Zverev's Wimbledon final performance against Sinner as clear evidence of this psychological shift Source 4.
Djokovic's Historic Drop Out of the Elite Ten
Djokovic's decline has been swift and staggering. His first-round US Open exit caused him to lose ranking points from his 2025 US Open semifinal run, sending him to No. 12 in the official ATP rankings Source 5. The drop marks his first time outside the top 10 since 2018, breaking a remarkable 16-year streak in the elite ranking group Source 5.
Alternative rating systems paint an even bleaker picture. The UTR ratings placed Djokovic as low as No. 15, well below his No. 12 official ranking Source 5. This gap underscores just how sharply his recent performance has deteriorated compared to the rest of the tour Source 5.
Shelton's Final Run Vaults Him Into Elite Rankings
Ben Shelton proved he belongs among tennis's rising elite by reaching the US Open final as an American player. His run lifted him to world No. 5, a career-high ranking Source 2. Along the way, Shelton defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, signaling his readiness to compete against the tour's top names Source 2.
Shelton's post-tournament momentum faltered quickly. In his first match after the US Open loss to Zverev, Shelton fell to 24th-ranked Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-3 in a Davis Cup Final 8 qualifying match at Prague's O2 Arena Source 1. The loss suggests the emotional toll of the final may have lingered into his next competition Source 1.
American Resurgence Brings New Names Into Top 10
The US Open produced a significant shake-up in American representation at tennis's highest level. Frances Tiafoe's semifinal run returned him to the top 10, joining Shelton in the elite rankings Source 3. Both players now represent a new generation of American men's tennis talent pushing toward the sport's pinnacle Source 3.
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