ATP Rankings Wimbledon: 5 players at risk of big drop – ft. Carlos Alcaraz & Matteo Berrettini
Alcaraz-Berrettini
The start of Wimbledon is moving ever closer – and all eyes are on who will lift the titles this summer.
In the men’s draw there are three conclusive favourites for glory, but there are plenty of rankings battles to be found across the draw.
We look at five men with big Wimbledon points to defend this fortnight.
Carlos Alcaraz
Current ranking: 3
2023 result: Champion
Points to defend: 2,000
Alcaraz is not under huge rankings pressure in the same way as some, with the Spaniard likely to stay inside the top five of the rankings at the very least.
However, the reigning champion has repeatedly expressed his wish to return to the world No 1 ranking, and will therefore need to defend his title to have any chance of doing that in the near future.
With 2023 semi-finalist Jannik Sinner and finalist Novak Djokovic holding significantly fewer points to defend than him, only a second straight Wimbledon title will do for Alcaraz.
An early loss for the world No 3 would potentially see him slip behind Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev – though the latter has semi-final points to defend himself.
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Holger Rune
Current ranking: 15
2023 result: Quarter-finalist
Points to defend: 360
It has been a pretty drab twelve months for Rune, who was the sixth seed at SW19 in 2023, but comes into the Championships as the world No 15 after a difficult season.
Rune impressed on his way to a maiden Wimbledon quarter-final last year but faces an uphill task to match that, with the Dane looking susceptible to an early loss – and Djokovic a likely round-four opponent.
The 15th seed has 360 ranking points to defend this fortnight, and an early loss could put him at risk of falling outside the top 20, if others are able to take advantage.
Matteo Berrettini
Current ranking: 60
2023 result: Round 4
Points to defend: 180
Currently the world No 60, Berrettini will rise one spot to world No 59 when the rankings update on Monday – after a strong grass-court season.
The Italian is always a huge danger on this surface, twice winning Queen’s, reaching a third Stuttgart final this season – and famously reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021.
Berrettini has been struck down by injuries repeatedly in recent seasons but impressed on his way to round four at Wimbledon in 2023, where he took eventual champion Alcaraz to four sets.
However, he had been handed a nightmare draw this year, with current world No 1 Sinner more than likely his second-round opponent at the All England Club.
Having rebuilt his ranking back up in recent weeks, Berrettini could well fall back outside the top 80 with a loss in rounds one or two.
Christopher Eubanks
Current ranking: 42
2023 result: Quarter-final
Points to defend: 360
Perhaps no one is under more pressure rankings-wise than Eubanks this fortnight, with the American desperately struggling for form this season.
A year ago Eubanks was one of the stories of the Championships, winning the title in Mallorca the week before the tournament, and then storming all the way to the last eight.
However, the American has struggled throughout 2024, and an early loss in his Mallorca title defence will see him drop 20 spots to world No 62 on Monday.
With 360 points to defend, the 28-year-old will likely fall outside the top 130 with a loss in his first match, and will be at risk of falling outside the top 100 in general unless he wins a handful of matches.
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Roman Safiullin
Current ranking:43
2023 result: Quarter-final
Points to defend: 360
Much like Eubanks, Safiullin was a surprise quarter-finalist at SW19 in 2023, knocking out two seeded players before an eventual loss to Sinner in the last eight.
But the Russian has also failed to back that up, and could well fall down the ATP Rankings dramatically if he loses early.
He will be world No 44 on Monday and with 360 points to defend, would be projected to drop down outside of the top 80 if he were to lose in round one.