Rankings watch: Nadal and Halep under pressure in Paris

The world’s best players are not only battling for Grand Slam glory at Roland Garros next week – the No.1 ranking is also up for grabs across all four disciplines.

Men’s singles

Roger Federer has opted to skip the French Open to focus on his grass preparation – but can still return to No.1 after the tournament.

The scenario is simple: recently-returned No.1 Rafael Nadal needs to defend his Roland Garros title, or Federer reclaims the top spot.

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Women’s singles 

Six players can end Roland Garros as the world No.1 – Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Garcia and Karolina Pliskova.

The scenarios are bit more complicated, with each player’s chances depending on other results.

Halep: A finalist at Roland Garros last year, the Romanian needs to make at least the semifinals to hold onto the No.1 ranking and then outperform both Wozniacki and Muguruza.

Wozniacki: The Australian Open champion will return to world No.1 if Halep and Muguruza lose before the semifinals and the title is not won by one of Svitolina, Garcia or Pliskova.

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Muguruza: Needs to reach at least the semifinals to have a chance of becoming No.1. The Spaniard can secure No.1 with the title (as long as Wozniacki does not make the final).

Svitolina: Needs to win the title, with Wozniacki losing before the semifinals and Halep not making the final, to rise to No.1.

Garcia: France’s leading hope could claim the No.1 position with a title – but would need Wozniacki to lose before the fourth round, Halep not to make the semifinals and Muguruza to be knocked out before the final.

Pliskova: Last year’s semifinalist could mathematically return to No.1 with a title, but will be eliminated from the race should Wozniacki reach the second round.

> View WTA Insider’s ranking breakdown

Men’s doubles

Australian Open champion Mate Pavic rose to world No.1 this week, becoming the youngest man to top the men’s doubles rankings in 22 years.

Youngest number one since 1996 ! Writing the H1?STORY????????????????????????????? #atpworldtour #numerouno #negosmodrugi #vrhunskaprica @sergiotacchini_official

A post shared by Mate Pavic (@pavicmate) on May 18, 2018 at 12:30pm PDT

The 24-year-old Croatian (who plays with Austrian Oliver Marach) holds a slender 30 ranking point lead over Poland’s Lukasz Kubot (who partners Brazilian Marcelo Melo). With both players defending second-round points, it means Pavic needs to outperform Kubot in Paris to retain top spot.

But this is not just a two-person race. American Mike Bryan is also in with a chance to return to No.1 should he outperform both Pavic and Kubot.

With twin brother Bob sidelined with a hip injury, Mike is playing with compatriot Sam Querrey. It ends the twin’s streak of 76 consecutive Grand Slams as a team.

Australian John Peers (playing alongside Finland’s Henri Kontinen) could also rise to the top spot with a deep run in Paris and early losses for the aforementioned teams.

Women’s doubles

The race to claim the No.1 ranking in women’s doubles is just as open. Latisha Chan, who is playing alongside defending champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands, needs to make at least the quarterfinals to hold onto her top ranking.

Russians Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova are in the best position to replace Chan – but after winning Madrid earlier this month, the French Open 2013 champions shocked the tennis world by entering Roland Garros with different partners.

Vesnina will team with last year’s singles champion Jelena Ostapenko, while Makarova will play with compatriot Anna Kalinskaya. How each new pairing performs could decide which one of the long-time partners reaches the No.1 spot for the first time.

Jelena Ostapenko confirms she’ll play doubles @rolandgarros with Elena Vesnina. “I was a little bit surprised when she asked me, but I was surprised in a good way because if she asked me then she thinks I can play good doubles."

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 17, 2018

Hungarian Timea Babos, who teamed with Kristina Mladenovic to win the Australian Open this year, also has a chance to replace Chan at No.1 with a strong showing in Paris.