Astonishing Juan Martin del Potro ATP stat highlights true magnitude of his abilities
Juan Martin del Potro is the winningest player against ATP number ones among those who have themselves never topped the men’s rankings.
For clarification, among players who have never been ATP number one, the 2009 US Open champion boasts the most wins against number one opponents.
Del Potro has a 10-14 win loss record against world number ones in his career, with all 10 victories coming against the ‘Big Three’ of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
He has ousted a number one ranked Federer four times, and Nadal and Djokovic three times each.
Del Potro famously conquered Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open to end the Swiss’ streak of titles in New York at five and clinch his maiden Major crown.
He also downed Djokovic in the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics before going on to claim the singles silver medal, adding to his bronze from London 2012.
Del Potro looks set to retire imminently at the age of 33 after many arduous injury battles.
He peaked at world number three in August 2018 before reaching his second Slam final that year, again at the US Open, losing to Djokovic that day.
Besides del Potro, nine other players have at least five wins against ATP number ones while never topping the rankings themselves.
Fellow former world number threes David Ferrer, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka and Tom Okker have five each, as do 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic and two-time Davis Cup winner Magnus Larsson, who each peaked at world number two and 10 respectively.
1977 Australian Open champion Roscoe Tanner clinched six number one wins, while 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek registered seven, as did 1989 Roland Garros champion Michael Chang.
Tanner and Krajicek both peaked at world number four, while Chang’s career-high was two.
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