Being up there is an accomplishment most men have not accomplished. Especially nowadays when Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal just won't let you get up there.
Marcelo Rios is the only one of these 26 players to reach World Number 1 and not win a Grand Slam Title. His best was reaching the final of the Australian Open in 1998
He would be justified if he were the angriest man in tennis, because he only has that dubious distinction as a result of playing someone that was, in all likelihood, on PEDs. Petr Korda won the title but tested positive for nandrolone later the same year and quietly retired after a suspension. If there were any justice, Korda would be stripped, and the title awarded to Marcelo.
I'm not a football fan, but I still know Messi and Ronaldo... Nadal and Federer are names that could (should?) ring a bell even if you've never watched a minute of tennis in your life, I would think.
Just gonna put in a word for Mr Murray… 41 weeks (+3 slams + 2 Olympic Titles + numerous Masters) all while Nadal, Djokovic and Federer were around? That’s actually pretty impressive!
And the same is true of the women’s number ones. In both games, all of the Open Era number ones are still going, including those that predated the modern ‘computerised’ system.
Wilander won 7 Grand slam titles, but only spent 20 weeks at number 1! Contrast that with Lleyton Hewitt, 2 Grand slam titles but 80 weeks at number 1. Interesting stats
Andy Murray being world Number 1 for 41 weeks at the time when Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic were all active is absolutely nuts. And he'd probably have been there longer if not for the hip injury.