Hypothetical year end rankings 2007-2020 if the big 3/4 did not exist

The men’s tennis tour over the last 15 years has been blessed (and cursed) with 3 or 4 players dominating the season-ending rankings year after year. Here is a breakdown of the hypothetical year end rankings for the last 15 years if the big 4 did not exist.

If the big 3/4 didn’t exist:

Year-end number 1 2007: Nikolay Dayydenko

In 2007, the top 3 rankings in the world were occupied by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, in that order. Federer headed the list with 7180 points, followed by Nadal with 5735 points, followed by Djokovic with 4470 points. In the 2007 rankings, Nikolay Davydenko was the world’s best non-big 3 player, and finished the year 4th with 2825 points.

Year-end number 1 2008:  Nikolay Davydenko

In 2008, the big 4 the entire top four spots in the men’s world rankings. In 2008, Rafael Nadal headed the list at no.1 with 6675 points. Outside the number 1 spot for the first time in four years was Roger Federer with 5305 points. Novak Djokovic came in third with 5295 points- followed by Andy Murray with 3720 points. The best player non-big four player? Nikolay Davydenko again, this time with 2715 points.

Year-end number 1 2009: Juan Martin del Potro

In 2009, yet again, we saw the world’s top four rankings filled by member of the big 4. In 2009. Roger Federer managed to clinch back the year-end number 1 spot with 10550 points- followed by Nadal with 9205 points. In third place yet again was Novak Djokovic with 8310 points-followed by Andy Murray 7030 points. The next best player outside the big 4? Juan Martin del Potro- who finished the season with 6785 points

Year-end number 1 2010: Robin Soderling

For the third consecutive year, we saw the top 4 rankings in the world go to members of the big 4. In 2010, Rafael Nadal finished the season as the year-end world number 1 with 12450 points. In second place was Roger Federer with 9145 points. For the fourth consecutive year, Novak Djokovic finished the season in third place, this time with 6240 points. Andy Murray also finished the year as the world number 4 for the third consecutive time in 2010- with 5760 points. The next best non-big 4 player? Robin Soderling, who finished the season with 5580 points.

Year-end number 1 2011: David Ferrer

In 2011, Novak Djokovic finished as year-end number 1 for the first time ever, with an astonishing 13630 points. In distant second was Rafael Nadal, who collected 9595 points. In unfamiliar territory was Roger Federer, who finished outside the top 2 for the first time since 2003. Federer tallied 8170 points in season 2011. In fourth place for the fourth consecutive time was Andy Murray- who managed to tally 7380 points. The next best player in the world? David Ferrer-who finished with 4925 points.

Year-end number 1 2012: David Ferrer

In 2012, Novak Djokovic finished the season as year-end number 1 for the second straight year, collecting 12920 points. In second place was Roger Federer- who finished in the top 2 for the first since 2010. He finished the season with 10265 points. In third place at the end of the season for the first time in his career was Andy Murray- who finished the year with 8000 points. Outside the top 2 at year end for the first time in 8 years was Rafael Nadal, who finished with in fourth spot with 6690 points. The next best player in the world? David Ferrer yet again, with 6505 points.

Year-end number 1 2013: David Ferrer

In 2013, Rafael Nadal returned to year-end number 1 for the first time since the beginning of the decade. Nadal finished 2013 with an unbelievable 13030 points- which at the time was the most second most points accrued in history (behind Djokovic in 2011). In second place was Novak Djokovic with 12260 points. In a sign of the strength of the Nadal and Djokovic, second place finished with more than double the amount of points as third place. The next best player in the world was David Ferrer again, this time with 5800 points

Year-end number 1 2014: Stan Wawrinka

In 2014, Novak Djokovic finished the year as year-end number 1 for the first time in 2 years. In 2014, Novak Djokovic tallied 11360 points. Roger Federer finished 2014 2nd with with 9775 points- followed by Nadal in third place with 6835 points. This was all despite Nadal starting the season strongest, making the final of the Australian Open and winning the French Open. Djokovic also did not make the final of the Australian Open for the first time since 2010. In another twist, neither of Djokovic, Nadal or Federer made the final of the last major of the season in 2014. The next best player in the world outside these 3? Stan Wawrinka, who finished with 5370 points

Year-end number 1 2015: Stan Wawrinka

In 2015, Novak Djokovic finished the season as year-end number 1 for the second straight year. This was the second time he finished the year number 1 in consecutive seasons. In 2015, Novak finished the year with 16585 points- a record that is still unbroken to this day. In very distant second was Andy Murray with 8945 points. Murray finished the season with almost half as many points as the world number 1, which was quite unheard of. In third place was Roger Federer- who finished 2015 with 8265 points. The next best player? Stan Wawrinka again, this time with 6865 points.

Year-end number 1 2016: Milos Raonic

In 2016, Andy Murray finished the year as year-end number 1 for the first time in his career. Murray finished 2016 with 12410 points. In second place was Novak Djokovic with 11780 points. In yet another unusual occurrence, second place finished with more than double the amount of points as third place. The next best male player in the world? Milos Raonic- who finished 2016 with 5450 points

Year-end number 1 2017: Grigor Dimitrov

In 2017, Nadal finished year end number 1 for the first time since closer to beginning of the decade. He finished 2017 with 645 points. For the first time since 2014, Roger Federer finished the year as the world number 2. Roger Federer finished the season with 9605 points in 2017. The next best player in the world? Grigor Dimitrov with 5150 points.

Year-end number 1 2018: Alexander Zverev

In 2018, Novak Djokovic finished the season as year-end number 1 for the first time since the middle of the decade. Novak finished 2018 with 9045 points. Most of his points were obtained in an incredible second half of the season where he won Wimbledon, US Open, Cincinnati and Shanghai- as well as made the final of the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. In second place was  Rafael Nadal, who finished with 7480 points. The next best men’s player in the world? Alexander Zverev- who finished the season with 6420 points.

Year-end number 1 2019: Dominic Thiem

In 2019, for for the first time in 5 years, all of the big 3 finished in the top 3 rankings. In 2019, Rafael Nadal finished the year as year-end number 1. This was thanks to an unexpected win at the US Open, as well as earlier stronger results in the season, making the final of the Australian Open and winning the French Open. In second place was Novak Djokovic- who ended the season with 9985 points. Roger Federer also finished in the top 3 rankings for the third consecutive year-the first time this had occurred since 2010,11 and 2012. Roger Federer finished 2019 with 6590 points. The next best player in the world? Dominic Thiem, who finished the season with 5825 points.

Year-end number 1 2020: Dominic Thiem

In 2020, Dominic Thiem made the final of the Australian Open, before losing to Novak Djokovic. That was the last major played that season until late September. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, only 3 majors were played in 2020. Additionally, 6 of 9 Masters 1000 events were cancelled. Six 500 level tournaments were cancelled as well as 20 ATP 250 tournaments. Despite all of this, Dominic Thiem managed to win the US Open. The French Open in 2020 was won by Rafael Nadal over Novak Djokovic. In 2020, Novak Djokovic still finished the season as year-end number 12030 points- a lot of this owing to points being frozen due to tournaments not being played. Nadal finished in second place with 9850 points. The next best player in the world? In close third place was Dominic Thiem, with 9125 points.