Can Murray Break Federer & Nadal Rankings Dominance?

© Getty ImagesGreg Sharko, Director of ATP Media Information

Roger Federer has a solid grip on the No. 1 position in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings on the eve of the North American summer hard court circuit.
 
But as we approach the four year mark of the amazing No. 1 & No. 2 dominance of Federer and Rafael Nadal, Scotland’s Andy Murray has a strong chance to break the streak and displace Nadal as World No. 2. Federer and Nadal have occupied the top two ranking positions every week since 25 July, 2005.
 
Nadal, who missed Wimbledon due to tendinitis in his knees, will return to the ATP World Tour for the Rogers Masters in Montreal (starting 10 August), where he is the defending champion. Nadal compiled his best hard court results last summer, winning the title in Toronto along with the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. He also advanced to the semi-finals in Cincinnati (a result that guaranteed that he would rise to No. 1 for the first time) and the US Open. The Spaniard has a total of 3,150 ranking points coming off from last summer and he will have a battle to hold off Murray for No. 2. 

Murray also enjoyed his best summer run last year, collecting 2,860 points with a title at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati, a runner-up finish at the US Open and semi-final in Toronto. Earlier this month the 22 year old had an opportunity to move to No. 2 if he had won the Wimbledon title, but he fell to Andy Roddick in the semi-finals.
 
Federer regained No. 1 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings after capturing his sixth Wimbledon crown on 5 July, with his dramatic five-set victory over Andy Roddick. Federer took over from rival Rafael Nadal, who held the top ranking on the ATP World Tour for 46 consecutive weeks from 18 August, 2008 until 5 July.
 
Federer accumulated 2,360 points last summer but only 360 came in three tournaments leading into the US Open. The Swiss superstar, who will turn 28 on 8 August, will remain No. 1 going into the final Grand Slam tournament of the season.
 
Federer and Nadal are the only two players to have already qualified for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

Below is a table showing how many points the players have dropping from their rankings during the US Summer.

Points Dropping through US Open = Federer (2,360), Nadal (3,150), Murray (2,860)

+ As of 20 July