Ten years ago, this was the ATP's elite. Today, only three of these 10 players are still competing — and two are preparing to walk away from professional tennis.
Novak Djokovic remains inside the world's top 10 at 39, while Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori are approaching the final chapters of their careers. Meanwhile, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and several other former stars have already retired.
Top 10 in 2016 to 2026
| 2016 ranking | Player | 2016 status | 2026 status | The big change |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | World No. 1 | Still top 10 | Extraordinary longevity |
| 2 | Andy Murray | Rising to No. 1 | Retired | From challenger to world No. 1 |
| 3 | Roger Federer | Injury crisis | Retired | Returned to win two more Slams |
| 4 | Stan Wawrinka | Grand Slam champion | Retirement looming | Still competing at 41 |
| 5 | Rafael Nadal | Career crisis | Retired | Rebuilt career and won more Slams |
| 6 | Milos Raonic | Wimbledon finalist | Near end of career | Injuries changed trajectory |
| 7 | Kei Nishikori | Olympic bronze medalist | Retirement looming | Injuries interrupted career |
| 8 | Tomas Berdych | Top-10 regular | Retired | Long-time elite player |
| 9 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | Top-10 veteran | Retired | Injuries accelerated decline |
| 10 | Dominic Thiem | Rising superstar | Retired | Career derailed after becoming a Slam champion |
1. Novak Djokovic
Ten years ago, Novak Djokovic was the undisputed leader of the ATP rankings and arrived at the North American swing as the reigning champion of three Grand Slams (the US Open, Australian Open and Roland Garros). He had 12 major titles and was beginning the return to hard courts after a surprising third-round defeat at Wimbledon — his first opening-week elimination at a major in more than seven years.
He won the Canadian Open at the end of July and arrived at the Olympic Games as the undisputed world No. 1. There he suffered a shocking first-round defeat against Juan Martín del Potro, and his level began to decline during the rest of the season, eventually falling in the finals of the US Open and the ATP Finals.
2016: World No. 1, 12-time Slam champion
2026: Still top 10 at 39
Verdict: The extraordinary survivor
Novak Djokovic completed the Career Grand Slam after winning the 2016 French Open title, his twelfth Slam title.
2. Andy Murray
The Brit was on the rise and had established himself as the great challenger to Djokovic's dominance. Murray took advantage of the absences of Federer and Nadal, who had lost momentum that season, and emerged as Djokovic's main contender. He went on to have the best season of his career in 2016, including his second Wimbledon crown and his second Olympic gold medal in the weeks before the hard-court swing.
At the end of the season, he won five consecutive titles — including two Masters 1000 trophies and the ATP Finals — which ultimately allowed him to finish the year as world No. 1.
2016: Former World No.1
2026: Now retired
Verdict: A key part who could've won more if it wasn't for his rivals
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3. Roger Federer
Back in 2016, Federer was trying to prove to himself that he could still compete at the highest level and fight for Grand Slam titles, something he had been pursuing for years. Injuries had complicated his career, and with limited tournament appearances he managed to hold his ranking thanks to the 2015 US Open final and semifinal runs at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
After Wimbledon, he chose to take time away from the courts to focus on his physical recovery, and he spent the remainder of the year working on his 2017 comeback — which turned out to be spectacular, as he returned to win two more major titles.
2016: Injuries complicate career
2026: Now retired
Verdict - One of the best ever
4. Stan Wawrinka
The Swiss player — who is expected to retire later in 2026 — was firmly established among the world's best, with two titles that season and runs to the semifinals of Roland Garros and the Canadian Open, which had lifted him back into the top four. That confidence carried him into the US Open, where he ended up winning his third Grand Slam title by defeating Djokovic in the final.
2016: 2016 US Open champion
2026: Retirement approaches
Verdict - A warrior
5. Rafael Nadal
Ten years ago, Nadal was going through the most erratic period of his career up to that point. He had spent a couple of years without a Grand Slam title and had failed to reach the quarterfinals in his previous four major appearances — including consecutive defeats at Roland Garros in 2015 and 2016, a remarkable surprise for a player who had already won nine French Open titles.
Amid inconsistent results, Nadal had dropped from the top two after many years near the top, but he was still holding his ranking thanks to titles in Barcelona and Monte Carlo earlier that season.
2016: Struggling to keep going
2026: Historic late-career resurgence turns into retirement
Verdict - One of the best ever
6. Milos Raonic
Raonic entered the North American hard-court swing with an outstanding season behind him, highlighted by the first Grand Slam final of his career at Wimbledon. Combined with his runner-up finish at Indian Wells and a semifinal run at the Australian Open, he had established himself as a genuine contender at the biggest tournaments.
However, the Canadian suffered a surprising second-round defeat at the US Open and lost the opportunity to remain higher in the rankings.
2016: Wimbledon finalist
2026: Career derailed by injuries, now retired
Verdict - A what if story
7. Kei Nishikori
The 36-year-old is another player preparing for retirement this year, but a decade ago he was competing with the very best as a top-10 player. That season he reached the finals of the Miami Open and the Canadian Open, as well as the semifinals in Madrid and Rome, earning his place among the world's elite.
He also produced a remarkable run to the semifinals of the Olympic Games, eventually winning the bronze medal by defeating Nadal in the bronze-medal match.
2016: Elite contender
2026: Retirement approaching
Verdict - Like Raonic, a nearly man
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8. Tomáš Berdych
Berdych carried over the momentum from the end of 2015 — including two titles during the final part of that season — and remained inside the top 10 thanks to his remarkable consistency. He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros, as well as the semifinals at Wimbledon.
That same year he also reached the quarterfinals of four Masters 1000 tournaments, but an inconsistent finish to the season left him outside the ATP Finals after qualifying for the event six consecutive years.
2016 - One of the best of the world
2026 - Retired early
Verdict - Once shone bright then quickly faded up
9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2016 was the final season in which Tsonga was beginning to decline in terms of performance, but he still remained inside the top 10 after several years among the elite. He enjoyed a strong finish to the season that included quarterfinal appearances at both Wimbledon and the US Open, although injuries had forced him to miss several important tournaments during the year.
2016: Mixing it with the best
2026: Retired early with injury
Verdict - Another wait
10. Dominic Thiem
The Austrian was the youngest player in the top 10, and at just 22 years old he had already shown that he was destined for a great future. He had reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the French Open, where he was defeated by what was arguably one of the best versions of Novak Djokovic ever seen.
He won four titles during the 2016 season and reached two additional finals, establishing himself as one of the breakthrough names of the year and taking his first major steps at the highest level of the sport.
2016: A player on the rise
2026: Retired after his greatest moments
Verdict: A real heartbreaking end for a player who could still be with the elite now
ATP Top 10 - August 8, 2016
| # | Player | Country | Points |
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | SRB | 15440 |
| 2 | Andy Murray | GBR | 9065 |
| 3 | Roger Federer | SUI | 5945 |
| 4 | Stan Wawrinka | SUI | 5070 |
| 5 | Rafael Nadal | ESP | 4760 |
| 6 | Milos Raonic | CAN | 4455 |
| 7 | Kei Nishikori | JPN | 4075 |
| 8 | Tomáš Berdych | CZE | 3660 |
| 9 | Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | FRA | 2815 |
| 10 | Dominic Thiem | AUT | 3035 |
Looking back at the top 10 from a decade ago is a reminder of just how quickly tennis can change. Only Djokovic, Wawrinka and Nishikori remain active, while Federer, Nadal, Murray, Berdych, Tsonga and Thiem have all moved into retirement.
Perhaps the most remarkable part is that several of them were nowhere near the end of their stories in 2016. Federer was about to produce one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history, Nadal would go on to add more Grand Slam titles, and Murray was about to become world No. 1.
Ten years later, only Djokovic remains among the game's elite — a reminder of just how extraordinary his longevity has become.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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