The fight for the top 100 of the ATP ranking, from a big dream to endless condemnation

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 25 Dec 2024 | 13.44

Elias Ymer, pursuit of the top 100. Photo: gettyimages

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Breaking into the top 100 in the world is the dream of all those who decide to become professional tennis players, knowing that this ATP ranking figure is a natural boundary to compete in the best scenarios, increase economic earnings, and live unforgettable experiences. However, not everyone who tries with determination ends up achieving it. This is demonstrated in this compilation of players who have spent the most weeks knocking on the door of this exclusive club, unable to break through.

Years of effort and sacrifice are what it takes to become a professional tennis player and achieve the desired goal of entering the top 100 of the ATP ranking. All the suffering makes sense when something like this is achieved, earning a place among the best and being able to compete in the four Grand Slams, as well as making a professional career financially viable. Our next protagonists know this well, striving for a long time to break that barrier and being able to persist despite not achieving it. Anonymous heroes who sustain this sport and who have not received the recognition they have been fighting for for a long time.

The player who spent the most time trying to be in the top 100 and was among the top 200 was South African Rik de Voest, with a total of 426 weeks in his professional career without being able to achieve his goal. He came very close, reaching 110th in the world in 2006, but ended his career in 2014, at the age of 34. In total, 426 weeks of relentless fighting, equivalent to over 8 years.

The second in this list would be Elias Ymer, a player still active and brother of Mikael, who retired abruptly due to a terrible sanction for not attending three doping controls. The Swede reached 105th in the rankings in 2018, but has now lost a lot of momentum and is outside the top 300, at 28 years old. It will be difficult for him to break into the top 100 and he could surpass De Voest if he decides to keep trying, as he has accumulated an impressive 415 weeks in this struggle.

The presence of a Spanish player in this particular top 10 may surprise many, as in the case of Adrián Menéndez-Maceiras, especially considering that he did fulfill his dream of competing in Grand Slam tournaments and even winning a match. He did so at the 2017 US Open and also participated in the final draw of Wimbledon 2012 and the Australian Open 2013. He tirelessly sought to break into the top 100, competing in many Challenger events in the United States, but his best ranking is 111th in the world.

- Players with the most weeks in the top 200 without ever breaking into the top 100 of the ATP ranking