Dan Martin’s 2012 Power Rankings for the

Week of July 16 through July 22

1.  Roger Federer – Fed has spent 287 weeks at #1 with at least a 288th week in the works.  286 is exactly 5 1/2 years at #1.  Federer is pushing toward 6 years at #1.

2.  Novak Djokovic – This summer is big for how Nole is viewed in the locker room.  If Novak wins a 2nd US Open and reclaims #1, he looks like the standard bearer.  If he posts spotty results, other guys may gain belief against him.

3.  Rafael Nadal – Rafa holds #3, but his withdrawing from the Olympic Games is going to at least temporarily upset the well ordered world of the ATP Tour.

4.  Andy Murray – Can he return to the scene of his last near miss and win a medal for the Union Jack?

5.  David Ferrer –Ferrer won his 5th title of 2012.  He’s on his game and has a good shot at winning a medal in London.

6.  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – Tsonga is the player in the best position to challenge the top 4.  He nearly beat Nole in Paris and made a solid semifinal showing at Wimbledon.

7.  Juan Martin del Potro – Delpo played well in his first three Wimbledon matches, but was dominated by Ferrer.  Concerns about the big man’s knees are real. 

8.  Marin Cilic – Cilic won in Croatia to follow a solid showing at Wimbledon. His titles in Umag and at Queen’s Club make him a threat to medal in London. Change from last ranking +2

9.  Philipp Kohlschreiber – His quarterfinal showing and solid play in Halle make Kohlschreiber a legitimate threat to medal at the 2012 Olympic games.  He gets grass court tennis.  Change from last ranking –1

10.  John Isner – Isner wins Newport while only being broken once during the tournament.  On US soil or when playing for the US, Isner has been a top 6 or 7 player in the world.  When playing outside of the US or when not playing Davis Cup, he has looked a bit like a guy who could win a hard serving contest but little else at an ATP event.  Isner will be back on grass and is playing for the US so I think he’s a big threat in London.  Maybe like the Marvel superhero Captain Britain, Isner draws strength from US soil.  Change from last ranking – New comer

New Comer – John Isner

Dropped Out – Mardy Fish (he didn’t do anything wrong, but Isner did enough right to displace him)

Biggest Mover – Marin Cilic +2