For the first time in 19 years, the ATP rankings will not follow the script because not one member of the Big Three will be ranked inside the top two.
There is a reason why Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are considered the three greatest tennis players of all time. It's not just because they have each won double-digit Grand Slams or more Masters than any other player in history.
But it's because of their longevity, consistency, and relentless dominance that has defined their legacies into the players they are today. Although Federer is currently out of the picture when it comes to playing at the highest level as he fights father time, his other two rivals are not showing signs of declining.
In fact, Nadal and Djokovic have shown that they still have some more miles to cover and a few more Grand Slams that they can win before the end of their careers.
This week's rankings have given the Big Three's fanbases a glimpse into the future of what tennis may actually look like at every top. Make no mistake about Nadal and Djokovic going away anytime soon, but they won't be occupying the top two positions in the rankings today.
Djokovic's unsuccessful title defense at Roland Garros means that Daniil Medvedev has reclaimed the Word No. 1 ranking and is expected to enjoy at least a longer stay there than his first stint, which barely lasted a month. The Serbian only defended 360 of 2000 points from the 2021 clay-court major.
Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, is the new World No. 2. Points earned in the last two French Opens have now been wiped off. Despite not playing any tennis this past week, the German was a semifinalist at the French Open, where his campaign ended with a horrific ankle injury.
Djokovic drops to No. 3 and could fall even further once the Wimbledon points come off (players won't receive ranking points from this year's tournament). Nadal is ranked fourth, while Federer is down in 68th position. It's the first time since November 10th, 2003, that not a single member of the Big Three is ranked in the top two.