ATP No. 1 Club: 8 Champions Made US Open History
The ATP No. 1 Club has built an extraordinary legacy at the US Open, with some of men’s tennis’ greatest champions lifting the trophy while holding the top spot in the PIF ATP Rankings. From Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, the list connects generations of elite players.
The US Open has been particularly rewarding for players who reached the summit of the sport. Since the PIF ATP Rankings were introduced shortly before the 1973 tournament, members of the ATP No. 1 Club have combined for 47 men’s singles titles at the New York Grand Slam across 53 editions. Seventeen of those championships were won by players who were ranked No. 1 at the time. AATP Tour
That record highlights the extraordinary consistency of the players who have occupied the top ranking. The US Open has repeatedly provided the biggest names in tennis with another opportunity to turn No. 1 status into Grand Slam glory.
ATP No. 1 Club Has Dominated New York
The relationship between the ATP No. 1 Club and the US Open began almost immediately after the rankings were introduced.
Jimmy Connors became the first reigning World No. 1 to win the New York major when he captured the 1974 title. That victory started a remarkable chapter in his career and in US Open history.
Connors eventually won five US Open singles titles, matching the Open Era record. Three of those victories came while he was ranked World No. 1: 1974, 1976 and 1978. AATP Tour
His achievement established a pattern that would be repeated by several other members of the ATP No. 1 Club.
Top-ranked players did not simply arrive in New York with the pressure of being the world’s best. They frequently managed to handle that pressure and finish the tournament as champions.
8 World No. 1 Players Have Won the US Open
Eight men have won the US Open while holding the No. 1 ranking, according to the ATP Tour’s historical review.
They are:
- Jimmy Connors — 1974, 1976, 1978
- John McEnroe — 1981, 1984
- Ivan Lendl — 1986, 1987
- Pete Sampras — 1996
- Roger Federer — 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Rafael Nadal — 2010, 2017
- Novak Djokovic — 2011, 2015
- Jannik Sinner — 2024
Together, these players account for 17 US Open championships won by an incumbent World No. 1. AATP Tour
The list reads like a history of modern men’s tennis.
Each player dominated a different era, faced different rivals and brought a distinct style to the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. Yet they shared one defining achievement: winning the sport’s final Grand Slam of the season while already sitting at No. 1.
Roger Federer Set the ATP No. 1 Club Standard
Roger Federer stands above the group when it comes to US Open success while ranked No. 1.
Federer won four consecutive US Open titles from 2004 through 2007. He was World No. 1 throughout that run, making him the most successful player in the tournament’s history while occupying the top ranking. AATP Tour
His dominance coincided with one of the longest periods of control ever seen in men’s tennis.
Federer held the No. 1 position for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2004 to 2007. During that stretch, his performances in New York became one of the defining features of his reign.
He also won the US Open in 2008. However, he was no longer No. 1 by then, as Rafael Nadal had taken over the top position. Federer therefore finished with five US Open titles overall, tying Connors for the Open Era record. AATP Tour
His four consecutive victories while No. 1 remain a remarkable benchmark for the ATP No. 1 Club.
Rafael Nadal Added Another Era of Greatness
Rafael Nadal’s success at the US Open came later in his career than his dominance at Roland Garros, but once he mastered New York’s hard courts, he became one of the tournament’s most important champions.
Nadal won the US Open in 2010 and again in 2017 while ranked World No. 1. AATP Tour
His 2010 victory was particularly significant because it completed a major milestone in his career. Nadal became a US Open champion after already establishing himself as the dominant force on clay and a major champion on grass.
The 2017 title demonstrated his ability to return to the top of the sport after a period affected by injuries and competitive setbacks.
Nadal’s two victories as No. 1 also placed him among a select group of players who successfully converted the pressure of the ranking into success at Flushing Meadows.
Novak Djokovic Joined the Exclusive List
Novak Djokovic added his name to the group with US Open triumphs in 2011 and 2015 while ranked No. 1. AATP Tour
Djokovic’s New York record is even more extensive when his other finals appearances and title runs are considered. But his victories while sitting atop the rankings underline how consistently he performed at the final Grand Slam of the season.
His 2011 title came during one of the greatest seasons in tennis history.
Djokovic had established himself as the sport’s dominant player, and the US Open victory reinforced his position at the top. Four years later, he returned to win again while holding the No. 1 ranking.
His rivalry with Federer and Nadal also helped define the modern era of the US Open.
Sinner Became the Most Recent Member
Jannik Sinner is the most recent player to win the US Open while ranked No. 1.
Sinner captured the 2024 title while occupying the top position in the PIF ATP Rankings. AATP Tour
That victory placed him in an elite historical group that includes Connors, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Sinner’s achievement also reflected the changing landscape of men’s tennis. The Italian emerged as one of the dominant players of his generation and became the first player from his country to reach the No. 1 ranking.
However, Sinner will not defend his place in this particular US Open history in 2026.
The ATP Tour reported that Sinner is currently sidelined by a knee injury and therefore does not have an opportunity to add another US Open title to his record this year. AATP Tour
Ivan Lendl Produced a Rare Back-to-Back Feat
Ivan Lendl occupies another special position in the ATP No. 1 Club’s US Open history.
Lendl won the tournament in 1986 and 1987 while ranked World No. 1. He remains the only player other than Federer to win the US Open in consecutive years while holding the top ranking. AATP Tour
His two-year run showed just how difficult it is to remain dominant at a tournament where expectations are enormous.
The US Open is played at the end of the Grand Slam season. By the time players arrive in New York, they have already endured the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, along with a long stretch of tour competition.
Maintaining No. 1 status while winning another Grand Slam therefore requires exceptional physical and mental consistency.
Lendl achieved exactly that.
American Champions Made Their Mark
The ATP No. 1 Club’s US Open story also contains a strong American connection.
Connors was the first reigning No. 1 to win the tournament after the PIF ATP Rankings were introduced. John McEnroe followed with victories in 1981 and 1984, while Pete Sampras won in 1996. AATP Tour
For these players, winning the US Open as the world’s top-ranked player also meant succeeding at their home Grand Slam.
The home-court advantage can create enormous support, but it can also produce additional expectations. American tennis fans have historically placed significant pressure on their leading players at Flushing Meadows.
Connors, McEnroe and Sampras were able to handle that environment and turn it into championship success.
Why the No. 1 Ranking Matters at the US Open
Winning a Grand Slam is difficult under any circumstances.
Doing it as World No. 1 adds another layer of pressure.
The top-ranked player arrives with expectations from fans, media and opponents. Every match is treated as a test of whether the No. 1 player deserves that position.
At the same time, opponents often have nothing to lose against the world’s best player.
That makes the record of the ATP No. 1 Club particularly impressive.
Seventeen times, the reigning No. 1 has gone through the US Open draw and emerged with the championship trophy since the rankings era began. AATP Tour
The number demonstrates that the very best players have often been able to perform at their highest level when the stakes are greatest.
US Open Remains a Defining Test
The US Open occupies a unique position on the tennis calendar.
It is the final Grand Slam of the year and one of the sport’s biggest stages. The tournament’s hard courts reward powerful serving, aggressive baseline play and the ability to withstand long rallies in difficult conditions.
The atmosphere also sets New York apart.
Players compete in front of large crowds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, with Arthur Ashe Stadium providing one of the most recognizable venues in tennis.
The combination of history, pressure and late-season fatigue makes winning the tournament especially demanding.
For a World No. 1 player, the challenge is even greater.
The ATP No. 1 Club’s Legacy Continues
The history of the ATP No. 1 Club at the US Open is ultimately a story about sustained excellence.
Connors established the tradition in the 1970s.
McEnroe and Lendl continued it in the 1980s.
Sampras carried it into the 1990s.
Federer, Nadal and Djokovic transformed it during the modern era.
Sinner became the latest player to join the group with his 2024 championship.
Their achievements demonstrate how closely the world’s No. 1 ranking has been linked with success in New York.
The broader ATP No. 1 Club is even more exclusive. The organization brings together the men who have reached the top position in the PIF ATP Rankings, spanning generations from the early years of the rankings through the current era. NNitto ATP Finals
Yet winning the US Open while holding that ranking is a separate accomplishment.
Only eight men have done it.
That makes the achievement one of the clearest measures of dominance at one of tennis’ most important tournaments.
As the 2026 US Open continues, that history provides an important backdrop. Carlos Alcaraz entered this year’s tournament as the defending champion, while other leading players continue their pursuit of the title. AATP Tour+1
Whether another World No. 1 eventually joins the exclusive list remains one of the compelling questions surrounding the tournament.
For now, the legacy belongs to eight remarkable champions — and their names are permanently connected with the history of the US Open.
