Andy Murray climbed more than 200 places from outside the top-500 to inside the top-300 after his run to the quarter-finals of the China Open.
Murray was the biggest mover of any player inside the top-500 of the ATP rankings, jumping 214 spots from world No. 503 to No. 289.
Victories over Matteo Berrettini and compatriot Cam Norrie saw him move into the final eight in Beijing and he could climb inside the top-250 with victory over Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Londero later on Monday in Shanghai.
ATP top-10
1. Novak Djokovic – 10,365
2. Rafael Nadal – 9,225
3. Roger Federer – 7,130
4. Daniil Medvedev – 4,965
5. Dominic Thiem – 4,915
6. Alexander Zverev – 4,185
7. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 3,630
8. Kei Nishikori – 3,040
9. Karen Khachanov – 2,945
10. Roberto Bautista Agut – 2,575
While there were no changes to the make-up of the ATP’s top-10, there was significant movement in the Race To London – the rankings system that only takes points earned in a calendar year into account.
Novak Djokovic – who will face Denis Shapovalov in the second round in Shanghai after the Canadian defeated Frances Tiafoe on Monday – edged 500 points closer to race leader Rafael Nadal, cutting the gap between them to less than 1,500 points with the battle to end 2019 as world No. 1 hotting up.
Should Djokovic go on to win a fifth Shanghai Masters title this week, he cut the gap to within 500 points, with Nadal not competing at the Masters 1000 event.
Alexander Zverev also took a crucial step forward towards qualifying for the ATP Finals – where he is defending champion – moving up three places into the eighth and final qualifying spot.
China Open winner Dominic Thiem confirmed his qualification, while beaten finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas will also likely join Nadal, Djokovic, Roger Federer and Daniil Medvedev in the eight-man field.
ATP Race top-8
1. Rafael Nadal – 9,225
2. Novak Djokovic – 7,765
3. Roger Federer – 5,510
4. Daniil Medvedev – 4,875
5. Dominic Thiem – 4,345
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 3,370
7. Roberto Bautista Agut – 2,395
8. Alexander Zverev – 2,255
Roberto Bautista Agut occupies the seventh position but his and Zverev’s places in the event are far from confirmed at this stage.
In Shanghai, Cam Norrie defeated Gilles Simon in round one – having come through qualifying this weekend – and will take on US Open runner-up Medvedev next.
Kyle Edmund faces Jeremy Chardy, while Murray meets Londero later on Monday.
