22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal moved up to the World No. 2 spot as a new round of ATP Rankings was released on Monday. Rafa benefited from Casper Ruud’s quarter-final exit in Seoul where he was top seed, to move ahead of the Norwegian.
19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has held onto his world No. 1 ranking and this is his fourth week as the top player in the world. This is the first time in history that two Spaniards have occupied the top 2 spots in the ATP Rankings at the same time.
ATP World Tour rankings – top 10 as of Monday 11 July:
1. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6740 pts
2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5810 (+1)
3. Casper Ruud (NOR) 5645 (-1)
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5065
5. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5040
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4810
7. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3820
8. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 3445
9. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 3345
10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3175 (+1)
Rafa, who has no points to defend for the rest of the season, has now spent 580 weeks inside the ATP’s top-2 (209 at No. 1 and 371 at No. 2).
Sources: ATP Tour, AFP
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Ziggy and Jerry M- you both have the math right but we just don’t know whether Rafa will want to get in shape and leave Mery and the baby at home, especially when the baby has yet to be born. Rafa will be leaving for the exhibition tour in just over six weeks.
I figure that if Rafa does not accumulate additional points in 2022 he will start the New Year as No. 5 or 6 which is just about where he was when in left for Australia last January. That obviously is not terrible; just not what we had hoped for a few months ago.
Rafa is on the official entry list for paris indoors that was just released. That doesn’t mean he will play, but it gives me hope to see him return to play in Paris. That’s only 4 weeks away.
Rafa in that ranking range isn’t all bad if Djokovic is also in that range. That means they won’t meet until the final of the Australian open 2023. Yeah, I am thinking too far ahead. Haha.
If Rafa plays South America exhibition matches, why wouldn’t he play atp finals only a week earlier? Seems like he will try to be ready for atp finals.
Thank you David…I can’t imagine Rafa leaving Mery before the baby is born. I have read that the baby is going to be born early… original due date was in November but the baby is said to be born sometime in October. We will just have to see how everything goes! I keep thinking any day now we will be seeing a baby Rafa! I’m wondering what Novak is going to do…. If in January he will be allowed to play the AO without vaccines. He is still adamant about not getting vaccinated.
I read in an article that Rafa’s baby son is expected in the next couple weeks. Looking forward to seeing Rafa and Mery with baby son in the coming weeks! They probably already have a name and baby room ready for little Rafa. 🙂
Craig Tiley is tournament director of the Australian Open. He was quoted in a recent article as saying that australia is now in a different stage of the pandemic and no one is required to show proof of vaccination to enter their country. It’s weird but djokovic might get to return to play in Australia even if he remains unvaccinated. The weird part is he was jailed and kicked out of the country and banned for 3 years from returning to Australia at the time. Kind of like being exiled from Australia, so he does have thick skin to want to go back. I will be interested in the type of reception that he gets from the crowd when he returns. I guess when you are as obsessed as djokovic is with tennis’ greatest men’s record in slams, you do whatever it takes but you still do not want to get vaccinated. Haha, kind of absurd reasoning and mentality!
Really great news I just read! Rafa is back practicing in Mallorca and have an update that he will try to be ready for paris indoors and atp finals in Italy. Super excited!
Haha – I saw today that Djokovic will be the name for a new beetle species found in Serbia. At least Rafa was named for a star in space. Personally, a star is better than a beetle.
Congratulations Rafa! (Of course it’s October not July 😉) Waiting on baby birth announcement ♥️♥️
Congrats, Rafa. All the best to you🙏👏👍🍀❤️
Congrats Rafa! You are the true #1, having played very few tournaments, yet winning 2 majors this year. The current rankings don’t reveal this fact. At least Carlos is recognizing you as the best player of all time in his tweet. I’m sure you are proud of Carlos from your country, too.
It is a high honor for Spain, but Ruud is likely to regain second place this week. Rafa is more focused on the birth of their baby, but it was still nice to see Rafa ranked so high. I wonder if he will even play Torino?
Ruud lost in the round of 32 in Tokyo so I guess Rafa holds on to No. 2 for at least another week.
Who knows whether Rafa plays another tournament in 2022 but he must be counting on getting back into top form with those six exhibitions with Ruud in South America.
Ruud lost in opening round of Tokyo, as did Carlos losing in opening round of Astana. Guess these young guns aren’t as consistently good as Rafa and the big 3. Fingers crossed we get to see Rafa play paris indoors and atp finals. The newborn baby and extra rest and recovery could spark renewed interest to play still before the end of this season. Would love to see Rafa end as year end #1!
Rafa has no points to defend until the end of the year, but Carlos does. If Rafa comes back for Paris Indoors and does better than Carlos in Paris and ATP Finals, then Rafa will end 2022 as the year-end #1! It all depends on Rafa’s body and desire to play competitively in 2022.
Don’t really know how that works but as far as I can see Rafa has no more points to defend… don’t think he can be number one when he can’t add any more points! I was thinking that Carlos maybe too much too soon… Rafa Roger & Novak all have endurance. I just can’t imagine any other player reaching the statistics of Roger Rafa’s or Novak. Rafa continues to break records even when he isn’t playing! Congratulations RAFA!
Jamie D, An article today said Rafa gave an update that he will try to be at his best when he plays paris indoors and atp finals! Woohoo!! I’m so excited and I can’t hide it! 🥳🤩🤗
Larry S, that’s wonderful news! I am excited too! 😁
Hopefully Rafa’s an injury will be healed by then. I want to see a healthy and strong Rafa back by paris indoors to win that title for the first time ever! No reason why he can’t win and get the #1 ranking this year if his injury is behind him! Rafa is by far the best player this year!
I saw Rafa’s posted pics of himself practicing on the indoor tennis court at his Rafa Nadal academy. So, at least Rafa is trying to be ready for paris and torino. Hopefully, he’ll be healthy enough to play both and win. That would be a dream to win titles in these two events for the very 1st time!
Congratulations Rafa🥳 Stay healthy and happy❤️
Well done Rafa Nadal all the best when junior makes an appearance ❤️
Well done Rafa! Keep it it up and all the BEST! REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU!!! xxx
❤️
Congratulations rafa
After the covid outbreak the ranking all very different well done rafa congratulations vamos