With Roger Federer’s quick win over Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati, he is destined to remain world #1 beyond the 2012 US Open, no matter the result. Federer’s win over Djokovic added 820 ATP ranking points to his 11,345 points. Roger Federer will have a total of 12,165 ATP points going in to the 2012 US Open.
Novak Djokovic, #2 in the world, didn’t pick up any new points from his finals appearance at Cincy. Djokovic was also the runner in 2011, so he was only out there to defend the points he had earned last year. Had Novak beat Federer in the 2012 Cincy final, he would have picked up an additional 400 ranking points. Which still would not have been enough for the Serbian to recapture the #1 rank.
Roger Federer will still be #1 no matter how he does at the 2012 US Open
This is where it gets a little confusing. If Roger Federer were to lose in the first round of the Open, he would still be the #1 player in the world the Monday after the Open. He would remain #1 even if Novak Djokovic were to win the 2012 US Open. The US Open (and every major) is worth 2000 ATP ranking points.
Are you done scratching your head yet? Here, let me write it out for you:
Roger Federer is defending 720 ATP points from his 2011 US Open semifinal appearance. If Federer did in fact lose in his first round, he would lose 710 ATP points (keeps 10 points for first round appearance). Federer would still have 185 more ATP points than Djokovic. Even if the Serb won the whole thing, Nole would not get any new points, thus finishing the tournament with his current 11,270 points. Federer could extend his points lead if he were to win the 2012 US Open, he would pick up 1,280 fresh new points.
Djokovic could potentially fall further behind in the rankings if he loses early at the 2012 US Open. Novak Djokovic is defending the 2000 ATP USO points from 2011. If Nole were to lose in any round of the tournament, he would lose ranking points and slip further behind Federer. Because Novak had such a successful 2011 tennis season, he has several tournaments where he needs to defend his points. As you know, Novak hasn’t quite had the same success on tour this year. He has been dropping points little by little.
Wrap this around your heads, Roger Federer could very well have at least 300 weeks as the #1 in the world. Which is nearly six entire years. Roger Federer has already passed the Pete Sampras record, and it looks like Roger plans to crush the record moving forward.
Now, if Roger Federer were to win the 2012 US Open, he would be guaranteed the #1 spot for most of the remaining 2012 tennis season. Federer does have to defend 3000 ranking points from 2011 after the US Open. With wins in Baseln (500 points), Paris (1000 points), and the World Tour Finals (1500 points). Djokovic on the other hand, only has 560. So, there could be a very real possibility that Djokovic could end up #1 by the end of the year if he were to pick up points from the remaining tournaments and Federer loses early. Doubtful though, me thinks. Not bad for a guy in his 30’s. I’m sure Wilson and Nike are stoked that they signed him and paid him enough to keep him on board.