Chile's Garin cracks ATP top 50 after Houston triumph

Paris - Christian Garin broke into the top 50 on Monday after becoming the first Chilean since 2009 to win an ATP Tour title with his victory at the US Men's Clay Court Championships. 

The 22-year-old Garin defeated Norway's Casper Ruud in three sets in the Houston final to follow in the footsteps of Australian Open runner-up and Olympic silver medallist Fernando Gonzalez.

Garin rose 26 places to 47th while Ruud, who was seeking to become the circuit's first Norwegian champion, moved up to a career-best ranking of 68th.

Novak Djokovic remains top of the pile coming into the European clay-court season, during which second-ranked Rafael Nadal will have over 4 000 points to defend after 2018 titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Paris.

Roger Federer will make his return to clay for the first time in three years when he competes at next month's Madrid Masters:

ATP rankings on April 15:

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11070 pts

2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8725

3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6040

4. Roger Federer (SUI) 5590

5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 4765

6. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4200

7. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 4115

8. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 3240

9. Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 3225

10. John Isner (USA) 3085

11. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3015

12. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 2810

13. Borna Coric (CRO) 2345

14. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2295

15. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2140

16. Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 2021

17. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 1930

18. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 1885

19. Gael Monfils (FRA) 1875

20. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 1820

Selected:

43. Benoit Paire (FRA) 993 (+26)

47. Christian Garin (CHI) 970 (+26)

59. Steve Johnson (USA) 875 (-20)

68. Casper Ruud (NOR) 788 (+27)