It’s a big week for Rafael Nadal.
The Spanish champion returns to world No.1 at the same time as he prepares for his comeback to competitive tennis after months of hip injury woes.
Nadal reclaimed his place at the summit from Roger Federer, who took over the No.1 ranking from Nadal in February after a successful week in Rotterdam.
Spaniard @RafaelNadal begins 5th stint as World No. 1 today. He must successfully defend titles at @RolexMCMasters (15-22 April), @BcnOpenBS (23-29 April) and @MutuaMadridOpen (6-13 May) to remain No. 1. One loss and @RogerFederer will reclaim No. 1 ranking for 5th time.
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) April 2, 2018
Yet with Federer falling early at the Miami Open and failing to defend the points he earned from winning the 2017 title, Nadal now shades the Swiss by 100 points in the latest release of the ATP list.
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Despite having not played a competitive match since retiring from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Marin Cilic in January, Nadal begins his 168th week at the top of the men’s rankings.
He first rose to world No.1 almost 10 years ago (August 2008), and each year he’s enjoyed a stint at No.1, he’s ended that season in top spot.
Nadal has been named in the Spanish Davis Cup team – his first appearance in the squad since September 2016’s World Group Play-offs – which will go head-to-head with Germany this weekend in the World Group quarterfinals in Valencia.
Rafael Nadal ya se ejercita en la Plaza de Toros de Valencia junto a David Ferrer. La selección española #MAPFREtenis???????? prepara los cuartos de final de la #CopaDavis???? contra Alemania????????#YoTambiénJuego #VamosEspaña
?????INFO & ENTRADAS: https://t.co/h5kCyhujxv pic.twitter.com/uAXjuYU3jR
— Tenis España (@spaintenis) April 2, 2018
Nadal has been photographed training at the iconic Plaza de Toros de Valencia, where a temporary claycourt has been installed inside an historic bullring.
His return comes at the perfect time; it’s a chance to test his game on clay before heading to Monte Carlo, where he is the defending champion.
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He will need to win an 11th title in the Principality to maintain his grip on the No.1 ranking. If he doesn’t, Federer would snatch the top ranking back and hold onto it right through until at least the Rome Masters.
Following Monte Carlo, Nadal is scheduled to play claycourt tournaments in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.
Bar Rome, he is the defending champion at all of them.
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