The priority for Rafa Nadal remains to play at the highest level for as long as possible, without special attention to ranking. However, the peculiarities of the ATP calendar open a path to the Spanish for the assault on 'number one', even without traveling to the 1000 Masters in Shanghai, whose final is disputed only six days before their wedding in Pollença.

The new winner of the US Open can close the year from the top of the ladder, since in the coming months he can only score points in the Laver Cup, the 1000 Masters of Paris-Bercy, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup, the four References from your calendar.

The current 640 deficit points compared to Novak Djokovic could vanish in the coming weeks if the Serbian does not recover from his left shoulder problems. A decisive ailment in his defeat against Stan Wawrinka in New York. The intention of the Serbian is to play the Tokyo tournament, which starts in three weeks, before defending his Shanghai title.

16 seasons in a row

In case of not being able to complete the Asian tour, the Serbian would deliver the 'number one' to Rafa, who last year was lost all fall due to injury and now he can only gain weight on his statistics. In case of a happy outcome, Nadal would close the course for the fifth time from the top of the ladder. I had done it before in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2017

This could match the records of Djokovic (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018) and Roger Federer (2004-2007 and 2009), who also completed five years as 'numbers one'. The last player outside the Big Three who finished the year from the top was Andy Roddick in 2003.

In any case you should never forget that Nadal seems to live oblivious to all these figures. "I only do it my way. If I am able to reach the 'number one' doing it my way, great. But I always say the same thing: today is not my main objective," he said Monday, after raising his fourth cup in Flushing Meadows

2019 calendar

The closing of the year of the 'Big Three'

1. N. Djokovic | Tokyo, Shanghai Masters 1000, Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, ATP Finals and Davis Cup.
2. R. Nothing | Laver Cup, Shanghai Masters 1000 ?, Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, ATP Finals and Davis Cup.
3. Federer | Laver Cup, Shanghai Masters 1000, Basel, Paris-Bercy Masters 1000? and ATP Finals.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • sports
  • tennis
  • Rafael Nadal
  • Novak Djokovic
  • Roger Federer
  • Masters 1000 Shanghai
  • Masters 1000 Paris
  • Masters Cup

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