ATP Tour

Connors, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic among the eight men to rule New York as No. 1

Members of the ATP No. 1 Club have been claiming success at the US Open almost as long as the PIF ATP Rankings have been in existence.

With the PIF ATP Rankings having been launched just before the 1973 edition of the hard-court major in New York, home favourite Jimmy Connors became the first reigning No. 1 to triumph there just a year later. Connors' 1974 title was the first of a joint-record five US Open men's singles crowns he earned, three of which came while he was World No. 1 (1974, 1976, 1978).

With his first three victories in New York, Connors kick-started a significant legacy racked up by the ATP No. 1 Club at the US Open. Its 29 members have won a total of 47 titles across the 53 editions of the tournament since the PIF ATP Rankings began, with 17 of those being won by the incumbent World No. 1.

Players To Win US Open As World No. 1

The man to win the most US Open crowns while World No. 1 is Roger Federer, who lifted the trophy in New York four times during his record 237 consecutive weeks in top spot from 2004 to 2007. Federer also triumphed at the US Open in 2008 (while Rafael Nadal was No. 1) to equal Connors overall record of five titles.

John McEnroe (1981, 1984) and Pete Sampras (1996) joined Connors as Americans to win their home Slam as World No. 1, while Federer’s great Lexus ATP Head2Head rivals Nadal (2010, 2017) and Novak Djokovic (2011,2015) also achieved the feat. Ivan Lendl (1986-87) is the only man other than Federer to do it in consecutive years.

Jannik Sinner is the most recent incumbent No. 1 to savour title-winning success at the US Open, having triumphed there in 2024 while atop the tennis mountain. Sinner, who is now into his second stint as World No. 1, will not have the chance to add to that legacy this year in New York due to a knee injury.