Novak Djokovic Set to Reclaim Tennis World No. 1 Spot From Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic, who would become the World No. 1 next week, replacing Rafael Nadal, opened his Paris Masters campaign with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Joao Sousa (Pic: IANS).
Rafael Nadal announced on October 31 that he will not be able to compete at the Paris Masters tennis tournament due to a niggle in his abdominal muscles. The withdrawal has guaranteed Novak Djokovic’s climb to the World No. 1 spot, replacing the Spaniard atop the ATP chart.
Nadal confirmed his withdrawal from the tournament at a press conference ahead of his match against fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, the World No. 27.
“My abdominal muscles haven’t felt good for the past few days, especially on serve, doctors recommended that I didn’t play,” he said.
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Nadal has been struggling to regain full fitness since the US Open in September. A knee injury forced him to withdraw from the semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro in New York. He was sidelined from Spain’s Davis Cup semi-final against France, and tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai.
Having recovered from the knee problem, Nadal was set to return to action in Paris.
However, the abdominal injury has forced him out of another event, his fifth absence from a Masters 1000 tournament this year.
“It’s been a difficult year for me in terms of injuries, and so I’d prefer to avoid doing anything drastic,” added the 32-year-old Nadal, who had a successful first half of the season, clinching his 17th Grand Slam title at the French Open in June, after triumphs in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. “It wouldn’t have been good for me nor anyone to return to the court knowing that I wouldn’t be able to play my best.
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Djokovic, who made a prolific comeback this season, would have regained the top spot if he progressed further than Nadal at the Paris Masters. The Serb won the Wimbledon and US Open titles this year, and will now become the first player to start the season outside the top 20 and end up top of the ATP rankings since Marat Safin in 2000.
Djokovic opened his Paris Masters campaign with an easy 7-5, 6-1 win over Joao Sousa on October 30.
After the Paris indoor tournament, the top eight players on the ATP tour will play the Finals — the traditional season finale — in London from November 11.
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