For interest, I recall Richard Evans writing in his book about McEnroe that players regarded him as the unofficial locker room world best, ie at singles and doubles combined.
I have often checked, therefore, to see who is top of a combined singles and doubles ranking list. Here is the current version for ATP. I have taken only those ranked in top 100 at both disciplines. so there are only 15 players ranked and no Brits. Herbert is number 1 by some margin, which may surprise many, me included. Zverev is next , Struff 3rd.
However, if we take live rankings, several players enter this week: Pella at CR of 120; Schwartzmann CR 97 ; Thiem CR 83; Tsitsipas CR 82. This would make the live top 5, Herbert, Sascha Zverev, Tsitsipas. Thiem and Struff. But Herbert is currently possibly the best combined player in the world. Apologies I havent done WTA but maybe somebody else with relevant insight might like to take a look?
Did anyone expect that Herbert though would be world #1 on CR? Followed by Zverev, Tsitsipas, Thiem this week?
Well...yes*. Herbert is a very good doubles player (obviously!) and this year so far in his singles he was done better than in others years which is why - or partly why - he and Mahut stopped playing together as Herbert wanted to concentrate on singles.
*I've never given it any thought but am not surprised that he's 1.
Zverev tends to play with his brother and has done quite well and we've also seen Tsistipas do well recently in both singles & doubles.
I took a look at this in May, people may recall that Herbert was top of the list at the time and a total of 15 players had top 100 singles AND doubles rankings.
I thought I would refresh it and 18 players now have that joint ranking with the list below: first number is singles, then doubles and then combined total
5 of the top 7 are new entries, all top 20 singles players who have played more doubles and got decent rankings on the back of it. No particular country bias to who plays both singles and doubles at a decent ranking level.
1. Schwartzman 14 + 40 = 54 (new entry)
2. Shapovalov 13 + 46 = 59 (new entry)
3. Herbert 64 + 6 = 70 (down from 1st)
4. Thiem 5 + 77 = 82 (new entry)
5. Chardy 56 + 29 = 85 (up from 8th)
6. Rublev 18 + 74 = 92 (new entry)
7 . Tsitsipas 6 + 88 = 94 (new entry)
eq. 8th Khachanov 16 + 81 = 97
eq. 8th Sousa 58 + 39 = 97 (down from 6th)
10. Struff 37 + 65 = 102 (new entry)
11 - A Zverev 7 + 97 = 104 (down from 2nd)
12 - Carreno-Busta 30 + 79 = 109 (down from 10th)
13 - F. Lopez 61 + 49 = 110 (new entry)
eq 14th - Paire 24 + 99 = 123 (new entry)
eq 14th - Querrey 45 + 78 = 123 (down from 13th)
16 - Albot 48+94 = 142 (down from 5th)
17 - Jarry (currently suspended) 78 + 69 = 147 (down from 9th)
18 - L. Mayer 100 + 60 = 160 (down from 11th)
Have had a fresh look at this and we now have 14 men with singles and doubles rankings in the top 100 of each. I may have missed someone but the combined list is:
Have had a fresh look at this and we now have 14 men with singles and doubles rankings in the top 100 of each. I may have missed someone but the combined list is:
In the latest rankings Dan has ended up 82 (26 + 56)
Thanks Indy, big improvement: Dan is up to 6th now and v close to the guys above him. Will keep a track on this now. Bublik has dropped out of top 100 doubles and off our list although I havent checked for any other newcomers into the list
