Indian tennis players to reach top 100 of ATP Rankings in men's singles

Published at :February 13, 2024 at 12:55 AM

Modified at :February 13, 2024 at 12:55 AM

(Courtesy : India Today)

Sumit Nagal has become the latest Indian to enter the top 100 of the ATP rankings.

India might not have a rich history in Tennis but clearly has a long history. Over the years, certain athletes have garnered recognition on the global stage through their captivating displays. While some have demonstrated their value in individual competition, the doubles and mixed doubles category has brought even greater honor to the nation.

Viraj Amritraj, Ramesh Krishnan, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza are some of the most decorated stars of Indian tennis whose legacies are etched in the annals of the sport in the country.

In this article, we will explore the individuals who have attained positions in the top 100 ATP rankings in the category of men’s singles since its inception in 1973. Notably, only ten Indian male tennis players have accomplished this milestone over the years.

In this article, we take a look at individuals who have attained position inside the top 100 of ATP rankings. Only 10 Indians in men’s singles have managed to enter the top 100 of the ATP rankings, with Sumit Nagal being the latest.

Nagal achieved this milestone for the first time in his career on February 12, 2024, after being ranked World No.98 following his title run at the Chennai Open Challenger as well as a series of good previous performances, including a first-round win at the Australian Open.

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Indian tennis players to reach top 100 of ATP rankings in men’s singles

Jasjit Singh – 89 (1974)

Jasjit Singh holds the distinction of being the first Sikh player to represent the Indian Davis Cup team. Notably, India advanced to the final in his inaugural Davis Cup appearance. Furthermore, he attained noteworthy results in Grand Slam tournaments, including a second-place finish in the 1975 Australian Open and the 1969 US Open.

His career reached its pinnacle when he achieved a world ranking of 89 in the men’s singles category on June 3, 1974.

Anand Amritraj – 74 (1974)

Vijay Amritraj’s younger brother was a remarkable figure in the realm of tennis. With a win-loss record of 195-170, Anand secured seven singles titles throughout his career. He also contributed to India’s 1987 Davis Cup team, which advanced to the final.

On November 6, 1974, he attained his highest ranking in the men’s singles division, reaching the 74th position. His most notable performance in a Grand Slam was reaching the third round of the US Open in 1974.

Sashi Menon – 71 (1975)

Sashi Menon enjoyed a career spanning approximately 15 years, during which he actively participated in over 700 matches from 1970 to 1984. With a career win percentage of 46.4%, he secured four singles titles. His highest ranking in the men’s singles division was 71, achieved on October 21, 1975.

While he did not achieve notable success in the Grand Slam tournaments, he is revered as a tennis legend in India, serving as an inspiring figure for aspiring players during his era.

Vijay Amritraj – 18 (1980)

The leading figure in men’s singles tennis in India is Vijay Amritraj. Throughout his illustrious 23-year professional career, he achieved a win-loss record of 399-308. On July 7, 1980, he reached his career-high ranking of 18, a record that still stands as the highest ever achieved by an Indian in the men’s singles category.

Furthermore, his notable Grand Slam performances include two quarter-final finishes at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Ramesh Krishnan – 23 (1985)

Ramesh Krishnan emerged as a notable figure in the world of tennis during the era of Vijay Amritraj. With a career win-loss record of 319-285, Ramesh attained his highest individual ranking in the men’s singles category on January 28, 1985. His most notable performances at Grand Slam events include reaching the quarterfinals twice at the US Open and once at Wimbledon.

Additionally, he was part of the Indian team that advanced to the Davis Cup final in 1987 and also secured eight ATP 250 series titles throughout his career.

Leander Paes- 73 (1998)

Although Leander Paes is widely recognized for his success in doubles tennis, he has also demonstrated considerable prowess in the singles division. With a win percentage exceeding fifty, Leander has emerged victorious in 101 matches throughout his career. His most notable performance in a Grand Slam tournament occurred in 1997, when he advanced to the third round of the US Open. Furthermore, his highest singles ranking was 73, a milestone he reached on October 24, 1998.

In addition to his achievements in singles, Leander has clinched eight Grand Slam titles in men’s doubles and 10 in the mixed doubles category.

Somdev Devvarman – 62 (2011)

In a relatively brief career, Somdev ascended to prominence through his consistent dedication to the sport and remarkable performances. While he did not attain any accolades in Grand Slam tournaments, he secured a gold medal in the men’s singles event at both the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 Asian Games.

On July 25, 2011, Somdev Devvarman achieved his career-high ranking, reaching 62nd in the ATP Men’s Singles. Regarding his ATP titles, he attained two runner-up titles in the ATP World Tour 250 series.

Yuki Bhambri – 83 (2018)

Yuki Bhambri garnered attention in the world of tennis when he attained the junior no. 1 ranking in February 2009. During the same year, he secured the Junior Australian Open Boys singles title, thus becoming the fourth Indian in history to achieve such a feat at a Grand Slam championship. In 2015, Bhambri achieved a significant milestone by entering the top 100 ranking in the men’s singles division.

Subsequently, he qualified for the 2015 Australian Open, albeit losing to Andy Murray in the first round. On April 16, 2018, Bhambri reached his highest men’s singles ranking, attaining the 83rd position.

The year 2018 appeared to mark a pinnacle in Bhambri’s career, as evidenced by his third-round appearance in the Indian Wells Masters and second round participation in the Miami Open, both prestigious ATP Masters 1000 events.

Prajnesh Gunneswaran – 75 (2019)

Prajnesh Gunneswaran gained prominence towards the end of 2018. Commencing the 2018 season ranked at 243, he consistently performed well, culminating the season with a career-best ranking of 104. On February 11, 2019, Prajnesh achieved a significant milestone by entering the top 100 ranking in the men’s singles division for the first time in his career.

Subsequently, he attained his highest career ranking of 75 on April 22, 2019. His most notable accomplishment remains the winning of a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

Sumit Nagal – 98 (2024)

The 10th Indian men’s singles player to enter the top 100 rankings is Sumit Nagal. He achieved this milestone on February 10, 2024, by defeating Italy’s Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4 in the Chennai Open final, securing his fifth title on the ATP Challenger Tour. This victory propelled him 23 spots up in the rankings.

In 2024, Sumit also progressed to the second round of the Australian Open. If he sustains this level of performance, he is likely to advance further in the rankings in the forthcoming days.

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