TENNIS SUPER STAR RAFAEL NADAL WILL FINISH 2017 AND START 2018 AS ATP WORLD NUMBER 1

Written by: on 1st November 2017
Rolex Paris Masters 2017 Tennis Tournament
TENNIS SUPER STAR RAFAEL NADAL WILL FINISH 2017 AND START 2018 AS ATP WORLD NUMBER 1

epa06302048 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning his round 2 match against Hyeon Chung of Korea at the Rolex Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 01 November 2017. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON  |

Nadal No. 1: Spaniard clinches year-end top spot with Paris win over Chung

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

For the fourth time in his illustrious career, Rafael Nadal will finish year-end world No. 1.

 

Nadal mathematically clinched the season-ending top spot when he beat Hyeon Chung 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Wednesday. The reigning French Open and U.S. Open champion broke serve four times and committed just a single unforced error off the backhand wing before getting the job done in one hour and 48 minutes.

 

“I’m very, very happy for everything,” Nadal assured during his on-court interview. “It has been an amazing year. One year ago, for sure I never dreamed about being World No. 1 again at the end of the season. It’s something that means a lot to me. But the season is not over.”

 

It is also not over for Roger Federer, but the second-ranked Swiss has only the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals remaining on his schedule. After securing his eighth career Swiss Indoors Basel title this past week, Federer announced his withdrawal from the Paris Masters. There are 1,500 ranking points available to an undefeated champion in London, but Nadal currently owns an insurmountable 1,550-point lead over his closest rival.

 

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Hyeon Chung of Korea during their second round match at the Rolex Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 01 November 2017. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

The Spaniard is the oldest player in history to finish a year as world No. 1 in the (during rankings era). He is the first player to hold, lose, and regain the year-end top three different times (he also finished No. 1 in 2008, again in 2010, and again in 2013). Nadal is also the first player to finish No. 1 four times in non-consecutive years, the first over-30 player to finish No. 1 four years after his previous such feat, and the nine-year gap between two different year-end No. 1s is also a record. Seven men have now been year-end No. 1 on at least four occasions during their careers, a list that also boasts Pete Sampras (6), Jimmy Connors (5), Roger Federer (5), Ivan Lendl (4), John McEnroe (4), and Novak Djokovic (4).

 

“The year-end No.1 ranking is the ultimate achievement in our season, demanding the very highest standards in terms of excellence, consistency and endurance,” said ATP president Chris Kermode. “By becoming–at the age of 31–the oldest player in the game’s history to achieve this spectacular feat, Rafa has once again demonstrated his unwavering work ethic, determination, and passion for the game. He continues to re-write the record books and is a credit to our sport. On behalf of the ATP, we congratulate him on a phenomenal season.”

 

Nadal will be presented his No. 1 trophy two weeks down the road at the O2 Arena, where he will be joined by Federer, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, and Grigor Dimitrov. The last two spots remain up for grabs.

 

Nadal, who will face Pablo Cuevas on Thursday, is joined in the third round by Juan Martin Del Potro. The Argentine crushed Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-2 to keep himself in London contention.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

 

Topics: , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.