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
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