Rafael Nadal’s return to the world number one position for the eighth time in his career was confirmed when the ATP rankings were released late on Monday. The Spaniard leapfrogs Novak Djokovic even though the Serb sealed his fifth Paris Masters title on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Nadal, whose last stint at the top ended a year ago on November 4, 2018, withdrew from his semifinal against Shapovalov in Paris with an abdominal muscle strain. Djokovic slips down the rankings because he loses the points that he won a year ago in London when Nadal was absent.
The 2019 battle between Nadal, winner of the French and US Opens, and Djokovic who triumphed in Australia and Wimbledon, is set to go to the wire as either could still finish the year at number one. Nadal first reached number one on August 18, 2008 when he was just 22. He has spent 197 weeks at the top, the sixth highest in ATP history behind Roger Federer (310), Pete Sampras (286), Djokovic (275), Ivan Lendl (270) and Jimmy Connors (268). Gael Monfils returns to the top 10 for the first time since February 2017 after reaching the semifinals in Paris while 20-year-old Shapovalov climbs 13 places to a career-high 15.
Rafa confirms London ATP Finals place
On Tuesday, Nadal, recovering from injury, confirmed that he will compete at the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London from November 10-17. “Yesterday I had an MRI in Majorca and despite a slight strain to the left abdominal muscle I will go to London,” tweeted Nadal, forced out of last week’s Paris Masters by the same injury. “Thursday or Friday I will start hitting services. The idea is to play the ATP Finals. Thanks for your support.” The eight top-ranked players in the world gather in London for the ATP Tour Finals where Nadal’s world number one ranking will be under threat from Djokovic. The Serb would be sure of reclaiming the year-end top ranking should he win the tournament and Nadal fail to reach the semis. If Nadal fails to win even one round robin match, Djokovic could be crowned world number one simply by reaching the final after two group-stage wins. — AFP
ATP rankings as of November 4
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts (+1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 (+1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 (+1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 (+1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 (+3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 (+3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 (+1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 (+13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 (+7)
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