Djokovic tightens grip on ATP rankings, SA duo drop places

Paris - Novak Djokovic tightened his grip on the ATP Tour rankings on Monday following his win in the Madrid Open.

The Serbian world number one widened his lead over Spaniard Rafael Nadal who was dumped out of the Madrid tournament by young gun Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the semi-finals.

Tsitsipas lost the final to Djokovic but eased two places up the rankings to seventh on the strength of his recent show of form.

Dominic Thiem of Austria, winner of the Barcelona Open, moved into fourth place after his elimination from the Madrid semi-finals. He is one sport behind Roger Federer, his quarter-final victim in Madrid.

Tsitsipas moved up to No 7, ahead of South Africa's Kevin Anderson, who dropped two spots to No 8.

Anderson is currently sidelined with an elbow injury and is only expected to be back in action in the grass season.

Elsewhere, South Africa's Lloyd Harris dropped four spots to No 91, having reached a career-high ranking of No 87 last week.

The 22-year-old played in the Open du Pays d'Aix, an ATP Challenger event in France, last week where he lost to 6-4, 6-3 to German Daniel Masur in the round of 16.

Top 20 in the latest ATP Tour rankings:

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 12 115

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7 945

3. Roger Federer (SUI) 5 770

4. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4 845

5. Alexander Zverev (GER) 4 745

6. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 3 860

7. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 3 790

8. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 3 755

9. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 3 145

10. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3 025

11. John Isner (USA) 2 950

12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2 920

13. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2 720

14. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2 625

15. Borna Coric (CRO) 2 445

16. Gael Monfils (FRA) 1 965

17. Milos Raonic (CAN) 1 960

18. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 1 905

19. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 1 840

20. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 1 645

Other:

91. Lloyd Harris (RSA) 624 (-4)