Men's Tennis Power Rankings: May 4

The top four players remain entrenched while the remainder exit or shuffle as we revisit the power rankings in men's tennis.

The Top 10

1. Rafael Nadal

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Winner] 1000 pts; Barcelona[Winner] 500 pts; Monte Carlo [Winner] 1000 pts; Miami[QFinalist] 180 pts. Total points 2680.

The man is a juggernaut holding the rest of the tennis world at bay with the force and power of his game.  There appears to be no release for his fellow combatants until the cessation of the season on clay at the French Open.

As we hustle off to Madrid, there seems little likelihood that anyone will wrest the championship from Nadal’s grasp.  But, of course, this is why we play the matches.  In the meantime, Nadal has the No. 1 ranking securely in his grasp.

2. Andy Murray

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Round 2] 45 pts; Monte Carlo [Semifinalist] 360 pts; Miami[Winner] 1000 pts; Indian Wells [Runner-Up] 600 pts. Total points 2005.

Andy Murray is not finding firm footing on the European red clay.  He fought hard in Rome but was ousted early by Juan Monaco who does feel right at home on the red dirt.

Andy’s points from the hard court season are still carrying him, but if he fades early in Madrid, he will not sustain his No. 2 power ranking—even as he takes over the ATP number three spot from Djokovic.

3. Novak Djokovic

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Finalist] 600 pts; Monte Carlo[Finalist] 600 pts; Miami[Finalist] 600 pts; Indian Wells [QFinalist] 180 pts. Total points 1980.

Unlike Roger Federer and Andy Roddick—Novak Djokovic seems content to be the best man and never the groom in this recent spate of finals- tending always to come in second behind Nadal.

Unfortunately for Novak, even though he played mightily and knocked off some substantial talent including Federer, Djokovic won Rome last year and he needed to win it again to retain his number three ATP ranking.

He does, however, have a chance to redeem himself in Madrid.

4. Roger Federer

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Semifinalist] 360 pts; Monte Carlo[Round 3] 90 pts; Miami[Semifinalist] 360 pts; Indian Wells [Semifinalist] 360 pts. Total points 1170.

Roger is playing just well enough to retain his ranking.  He shows moments of brilliance but is not able to sustain his edge or intimidate his opponents.  It is almost as if he is biding his time until the French Open.

He hangs onto the No. 4 ranking here, but just barely.

5. Fernando Gonzalez

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Semifinalist] 360 pts; Barcelona[Semifinalist] 180 pts; Miami [Round 3] 45 pts; Indian Wells [Round 4] 90 pts. Total points 675.

Somebody put a burr under the Chilean’s saddle and he has been riding high on clay.  The Spaniards have been his undoing—first David Ferrer in Barcelona, then Nadal in Rome.  But Fernando’s stock shot sky high in the past couple of weeks.  The last two events have pushed him to number 5, even though his total points fall beneath Juan Martin Del Potro's.

6. Juan Martin Del Potro

Last four tournaments played: Rome[QFinalist] 180 pts; Monte Carlo[Round 2] 45 pts; Miami[Semifinalist] 360 pts; Indian Wells [QFinalist] 180 pts. Total points 765.

Del Potro is having an okay season to date but nothing to write home about.  The lanky Argentine should be anticipating well with all his experience on clay; but his movements are a bit awkward at times and often slow when he meets the big guns.

Undoubtedly he will improve in time for the big clay tournaments on the horizon.  With Nalbandian hurt and playing at half speed, Del Potro will have to pick up the slack to represent the Argentinean contingent well.

7. Fernando Verdasco

Last four tournaments played: Rome[QFinalist] 180 pts; Barcelona[QFinalist] 90 pts; Monte Carlo [QFinalist] 180 pts; Miami[QFinalist] 180 pts. Total points 630.

Verdasco is solidly in the Top-8 in the men’s rankings.  Unfortunately he exits routinely at the quarter final stage when he meets the top seeded players.  This will be his next hurdle.  In order to advance, he must be able to move deeper into the tournament.

Even with his superior coaching and fitness, the next step for Verdasco is shoring up his mental game and finding that self-conviction.

8. Stanislav Wawrinka

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Round 3] 90 pts; Barcelona[Round 3] 45 pts; Monte Carlo[Semifinalist] 360 pts; Miami[Round 4] 90 pts. Total points 585.

After knocking out his fellow countryman Roger Federer in Monte Carlo, Stan went on to reach the semifinals before being upended by Djokovic.  That finish upped his points and increased his power ranking as he becomes the No. 8 man in our poll.

Stan has an affinity for the clay so he should try to make the most of it in the next few weeks before the surface turns into grass.

9. David Ferrer

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Round 1] 10 pts; Barcelona[Finalist] 300 pts; Monte Carlo[Round 3] 90 pts; Miami[QFinalist] 180 pts. Total points 580.

While David Ferrer folded early in Rome, he had a spectacular run in Barcelona.  That powered him to spot No. 9 this week.  Clay is his surface of choice and the European clay court season is his best time of the year.

Ferrer’s ATP rankings have been dropping like a rock these past few months but lately there is fire in his eyes and a bounce in his step.  It would not be surprising to see him take another leap up in the next few weeks.

10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Round 1] 10 pts; Miami[QFinalist] 180 pts; Indian Wells [Round 2] 45 pts; Marseilles[Winner] 250 pts. Total points 485.

Tsonga is hanging on by a thread.  It is only his ancient win in Marseilles that keeps him in contention because right on his heels is the Russian Nikolay Davydenko who is fighting his way back into form after an injury.

The French are swooning on the clay and their impact is greatly diminished as they ready themselves for the upcoming French Open.  This does not bode well for the natives who would love nothing more than to crown a Frenchman at Roland Garros.

Chances are they will hand the title back to the omnipotent Spaniard.

Outside Looking In

1. Nikolay Davydenko

Last four tournaments played: Rome[Round 2] 45 pts; Barcelona[Semifinalist] 180 pts; Monte Carlo [QFinalist] 180 pts; Rotterdam[Round 2] 20 pts. Total points 425 points.

Davydenko is making his presence felt as he returns full-time to the tour.  His injury kept him down for two months.  This is the time of year that usually rewards the Davydenko game.

Unfortunately he met Nadal during the semifinals at Barcelona and Nadal, of course, proved to be too much for the Russian.  Look for Davydenko to keep improving and moving up on the power ranking scale now that his footwork has healed.

2. Juan Monaco

Last four tournaments played: Rome[QFinalist] 180 pts; Barcelona[Round 3] 45 pts; Monte Carlo[Round 3] 90 pts; Vina del Mar[QFinalist] 45 pts. Total points 360 points.

Monaco had a deep run at Rome and an intense contest with Fernando Gonzalez who went on to win the match and face Nadal in the semifinals.  Clay is also Juan Monaco’s surface of choice.  He should continue to roll as long as he skates on red clay.

Missing in Action: the Americans and the rest of the Frenchmen. [No points earned or too few points earned in the last month.]