ATP publishes special edition coffeetable book “No. 1”

The ATP has published a special commemorative coffee table book celebrating all year-end ATP World Tour No. 1s over the past 40 years, the ATP announced at a launch event on Saturday at Wimbledon.

The unique celebratory book, entitled ‘No. 1’, features exclusive interviews with No. 1s past and present, as well as never-seen-before photography over the past 40 years.

From Ilie Nastase in 1973, through to fellow year-end No. 1s Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in 2012, the book provides fans a unique insight into the emotions and mind-set of the world’s greatest players as they battle to reach the summit of world tennis.

Novak Djokovic, the current World No. 1, said: “It is incredible to be a part of this elite [group], looking at the names who have ended the year as No. 1, the 16 since 1973, who have done so much for tennis on and off the court…I know how much effort it takes and how many people around the world compete for that place. Being the No. 1 is the pinnacle of all the ambitions of every player. This is the dream.”

Roger Federer, who spent a record 302 weeks as World No. 1, said: “It is a huge deal to have achieved the things that my heroes, people like Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras, did. To be a member of the list is truly humbling… World No. 1 doesn’t just come to you, you have to go and get it and that’s what I did… It took me a lot of great performances to get there.”

Pete Sampras, who finished year-end No. 1 a record six consecutive seasons, said: “Being No. 1 is iconic; there are not a lot of us around… I was able to stay at the top for a long time and I am very proud of that… Every now and again I’ll remind myself that I was the best and stayed the best. That is a pretty cool sensation.”

Neil Harman, tennis correspondent of The Times, and Peter Bodo, senior writer for Tennis.com and Tennis magazine, U.S., served as the main contributors to the book.

“The year-end No. 1s over the past 40 years represent a phenomenal group of athletes who all share something extremely rare and sought after. Only 16 players share this achievement, so it’s only fitting that these champions be recognised and celebrated through this special publication in this 40th year of the rankings,” said Harman.

“Many of these great champions never had the opportunity to square off on a tennis court, but bringing them all together between the covers of this wonderful book is a fine way to celebrate what they achieved, and to show how remarkably different yet – in some critical ways – similar they are,” said Bodo.

The ATP is marking the 40-year anniversary of the rankings through a number of celebrations in 2013 under the ATP Heritage Programme, founded by former ATP Executive Chairman and President Brad Drewett, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Ahead of the US Open, the ATP will be holding a special gathering of former No.1 players at a celebration event in New York on Friday, 23 August, at the Waldorf Astoria.

The ATP also announced on Saturday that the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals winner’s trophy is to be renamed as The Brad Drewett Trophy. Drewett served as Tournament Director of the season-ending tournament from 2001-11, overseeing the event’s enormous international success throughout that period.

This week at Wimbledon, players, coaches and officials have been wearing special ‘BD’ patches in honour of the former ATP Executive Chairman and President.

In addition, the ATP World Tour has named a video display in the museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Drewett’s name, in recognition of his contributions to tennis. The Brad Drewett Video Wall features highlights of great moments in ATP World Tour history.