November 5 (IANS) – Rafael Nadal has climbed back to the top of the ATP rankings while Ashleigh Barty consolidated her place as no.1 in the WTA Rankings in the updated standings released on Monday.
While Barty won the WTA finals on Sunday, Nadal climbed above Novak Djokovic despite the latter sealing his fifth Paris Masters title on the same day.
Nadal, whose last stint at the top ended a year ago on November 4, 2018, withdrew from his semi-final 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.
“I’m super happy with my season. It was a tough beginning but then I was able to find a way to be back playing at a very high level of tennis and be in the situation that I am today. I’m very proud about the year that I am having,” Nadal said.
Nadal won two Grand Slams this year – the French Open and the U.S. Open – to move within one of Federer’s record of 20 titles.
But injuries have curtailed Nadal’s season and the ATP Finals will be his last chance to end the year as number one for the fifth time in his career.
If the Spaniard does not play or fails to win a round-robin match at the World Tour Finals, Djokovic must claim two group-stage victories and make the final to pass him. Djokovic would also be sure of the year-end top ranking should he win the tournament and Nadal does not reach the semis.
Barty’s win on Sunday caps a stunning season which included her maiden grand slam at the French Open. She has a best of 7,851 points while Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic is second with 5,940.
Defending WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina goes up to sixth with a final defeat in Shenzhen on Sunday while Wimbledon champion Simona Halep moves to fourth.
US star Serena Williams, who did not qualify for the Finals last week, drops a place to end the season in 10th place.
