Roger Federer suffers fresh blow after Australian Open shocker

28 January 2019 at 3:27 pm

Roger Federer has fallen to his lowest world ranking in two years after his fourth round exit at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic has strengthened his grip at the top following his destruction of Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

An outclassed Nadal, beaten in straight sets in just over two hours, has held onto second spot in the rankings, but Federer has slipped from third to sixth place.

It’s the lowest he’s been ranked since January 2017, when he was No.9 before winning the first of his back-to-back Australian Open titles.

Federer was eliminated in the round of 16 by Greek giant-killer Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Roger Federer suffered a shock loss. (Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Alexander Zverev replaces Federer in third position, ahead of Juan Martin Del Potro, who missed the Australian Open.

Despite his early elimination in Melbourne, South African Kevin Anderson, a Wimbledon finalist last year, moved up a spot into fifth.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Kei Nishikori rises two places to seventh after reaching the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Tsitsipas, eliminated by Nadal in the semi-finals, jumped three places and is knocking on the door of the top 10 in 12th place.

Osaka officially Asia’s first World No.1

Naomi Osaka has jumped to the top of women’s tennis after winning the Australian Open, while her beaten opponent Petra Kvitova is now second.

Osaka climbed three places after beating the Czech in Melbourne on Saturday, while Kvitova moved up four places.

The 21-year-old Japanese player has only won three career titles, but those include the last two majors, after she won the US Open in September.

Naomi Osaka poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Brighton Beach. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Romanian former No.1 Simona Halep, knocked out by Serena Williams in the round of 16 in Melbourne, fell two spots to third.

Caroline Wozniacki, whose defence of her Australian Open title ended in the third round, fell six places to ninth.

The biggest rise of the week was by the 25-year-old American Danielle Collins, who leaped 12 places to 23rd after her run to the semi-finals.

The other semi-finalist, Czech Karolina Pliskova, gained three places to fifth.

Serena Williams, who fell to 491 after her maternity break last year, continued her rise, gaining five places to 11th.

Latest ATP rankings:

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 10,955 pts

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8,320

3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,475 (+1)

5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 5,060 (+1)

6. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4,845 (+1)

6. Roger Federer (SUI) 4,600 (-3)

7. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,110 (+2)

8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,960

9. John Isner (USA) 3,155 (+1)

10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,140 (-3)

11. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2,880

12. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 2,805 (+3)

13. Borna Coric (CRO) 2,605 (-1)

14. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,250 (+3)

15. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,225 (-2)

16. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2,000 (+3)

17. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 1,955 (+14)

18. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 1,955 (+6)

19. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 1,870 (-1)

20. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 1,835 (-4)

Latest WTA rankings:

1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts (+3)

2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 (+4)

3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2)

4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 (+1)

5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 (+3)

6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4)

7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940

8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 (+1)

9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6)

10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 (+1)

11. Serena Williams (USA) 3,406 (+5)

12. Darya Kasatkina (RUS) 3,355 (-2)

13. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3,330 (-1)

14. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 3,285 (+1)

15. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 3,035 (+3)

16. Julia Goerges (GER) 2,995 (-3)

17. Madison Keys (USA) 2,786

18. Wang Kiang (CHN) 2,605 (+3)

19. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 2,550

20. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,355