Querrey Becomes 13th Top-Ranked American

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Querrey Becomes 13th Top-Ranked American

By Chris Oddo

(March 12, 2013) -- Thanks to his 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 7-5 victory over Marinko Matosevic at the BNP Paribas Open, Sam Querrey will become the 13th player to hold the distinction of being America's top-ranked player.

"It means a lot," said Querrey in an interview with Tennis Channel's Justin Gimelstob after his victory on Tuesday. "Everyone's kind of had their turn -- Andy [Roddick], Mardy[Fish], James[Blake], John[Isner] -- it feels good to take the position for a little bit. I'm going to do my best to keep it but I know I've got those guys right behind me and we're going to continue to push each other."

Querrey also guaranteed himself a spot in the ATP's top 20 when new rankings are released next week, meaning that the American's will continue their run of having at least one player in the top 20 every week since the rankings were first released in August of 1973. With John Isner's 2nd-round loss to Lleyton Hewitt, either Sam Querrey or Mardy Fish needed to make a run at Indian Wells to avoid ending the streak. Fish dropped out against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga today, but Querrey got it done.

"We live to see another day with a guy in the top 20," said Querrey. "That feels good, too. We [American men] do get a lot of negative energy, so it's nice to throw something positive in there."

Querrey will face World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the round of 16 on Wednesday. The 25-year-old was the last player to defeat Djokovic before the Serb began his current 20-match win streak.

As the 13th top-ranked American, Querrey joins a select group that features eight Grand Slam winners and seven former World No. 1's. Stan Smith was the first American to ever rank No. 1 in 1973. Here is the complete list, with the year that each first ascended to America's top spot:

1. Stan Smith 1973
2. Jimmy Connors 1973
3. John McEnroe 1980
4. Andre Agassi 1988
5. Michael Chang 1989
6. Brad Gilbert 1990
7. Jim Courier 1991
8. Pete Sampras 1992
9. Andy Roddick 2003
10. James Blake 2006
11. Mardy Fish 2011
12. John Isner 2012
13. Sam Querrey 2013

(Photo Credit: AP)