Top ATP players over 35 still making an impact – Only two in the Top 50, with Djokovic leading the way

Monday, 10 February 2025 at 04:30

Novak Djokovic remains the best player over 35 on the ATP Tour, with only two top-50 players and five inside the top 100. Several legends join Nole on this list, including Gael Monfils, Kei Nishikori, and Stan Wawrinka, who continue competing at a high level.

1. Novak Djokovic (No. 7) – Best Ranking: 1

Age: 37 years, 7 months

There was no other possible leader for this list than the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Despite playing only a handful of tournaments in the past year, he remains inside the top 10. Although he hasn't won any titles in the last 52 weeks, his primary focus remains on Grand Slams.

He recently reached the Australian Open semifinals but was forced to retire against Alexander Zverev due to illness. His ranking is currently sustained by runner-up finishes at Wimbledon and the Shanghai Masters, along with a semifinal appearance in Monte-Carlo.

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2. Gael Monfils (No. 32) – Best Ranking: 6

Age: 37 years, 4 months

The Frenchman had a fantastic start to the year and is currently the oldest player in the ATP top 100. He recently won the ATP 250 Auckland Open and reached the semifinals in Doha and Mallorca last year. Monfils also made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open, where he eliminated world No. 4 Taylor Fritz before retiring early in the fourth set against Ben Shelton. Additionally, he reached the fourth round at Indian Wells and the Cincinnati Open in 2023.

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3. Roberto Bautista Agut (No. 51) – Best Ranking: 9

Age: 36 years, 8 months

Bautista Agut remains competitive despite his age, winning the ATP 250 European Open in Antwerp—his only title in the past 52 weeks. He reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the China Open’s last 16, earning multiple wins in Masters 1000 events, though without deep runs. The Spaniard has been a top-100 player since 2012 and spent nine consecutive seasons inside the top 25. He also continues to be a key player for David Ferrer’s Davis Cup team.

4. Kei Nishikori (No. 71) – Best Ranking: 4

Age: 35 years, 1 month

The former US Open finalist won the Helsinki Challenger at the end of last season and reached the Hong Kong Open final in January, extending his winning streak to nine matches. After severe injury struggles that nearly forced him into retirement, Nishikori has rediscovered his form over the past year despite playing limited tournaments. He has claimed notable wins over players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Denis Shapovalov, and Karen Khachanov.

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5. Fabio Fognini (No. 93) – Best Ranking: 9

Age: 37 years, 3 months

The experienced Italian continues to compete on both the ATP and Challenger circuits. In 2024, he reached the third round at Wimbledon and won the Challenger in Montemar late in the year. Unfortunately, an injury forced him to retire after playing just five games in his first match of the season during the Adelaide International qualifiers. He is expected to return in two weeks at the Chile Open.