Ranking Reaction: Cerundolo, Cressy break into Top 30, Top 40 after capturing first ATP titles

Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula rises to a new career-high ranking of No. 7 and becomes the new American No. 1.

Published Jul 18, 2022

MATCH POINT: M. Cressy def. A Bublik; Newport Championship

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The two newest ATP title winners—Francisco Cerundolo and Maxime Cressy—both make breakthroughs on the ATP rankings this week, with Cerundolo cracking the Top 30 and Cressy making his Top 40 debut.

Cerundolo jumps from No. 39 (which was his previous career-high) to a new personal best of No. 30 after capturing the ATP 250 clay-court title in Bastad, Sweden, a run made even sweeter by his first Top 10 win—he beat No. 5-ranked defending champion Casper Ruud in the second round.

“It feels amazing,” Cerundolo said after his 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over fellow Argentine Sebastian Baez in the final. “Since you are a child you imagine yourself playing in these events and finals.”

Cerundolo jumps from No. 39 (which was his previous career-high) to a new personal best of No. 30 after capturing the ATP 250 clay-court title in Bastad, Sweden.

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The moment @FranCerundolo clinched his maiden ATP Tour title! 🏆@NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/EIU59HLB7A
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 17, 2022

Cressy, meanwhile, rises from No. 41 to No. 33 after claiming the ATP 250 grass-court title in Newport. The American only just made his Top 50 debut a few weeks ago after reaching the final of Eastbourne, also on grass—he’s now won nine of his last 11 matches on the surface, a stretch that also includes recording his first Top 10 win against Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win my first title, I never thought I would win it this way,” Cressy told ATPTour.com after a dramatic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory over Alexander Bublik in the final.

“I played my first ATP tournament here, and it’s always an incredible atmosphere. There were a lot of ups and downs today but I’m very proud of myself for fighting through it.”

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Cressy, meanwhile, rises from No. 41 to No. 33 after claiming the ATP 250 grass-court title in Newport.

Over on the WTA rankings, Jessica Pegula rises from No. 8 to No. 7, which isn’t just a new career-high, it also makes her the new American No. 1—she actually swapped spots with Danielle Collins, who dips one spot from No. 7 to No. 8 this week.

Pegula didn’t compete this past week, but she’s had a breakthrough year highlighted by reaching her second and third career Grand Slam quarterfinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, falling to the world No. 1 both times—Ashleigh Barty in Melbourne and Iga Swiatek in Paris.

And Hungary’s Anna Bondar makes her Top 50 debut this week, rising from No. 53 to No. 50 after reaching the semifinals on home soil in Budapest.

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