Rafael Nadal will open on November 4 his seventh stage as world number 1. The defeat of Novak Djokovic against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters 1000 assures the Spaniard, who has not returned to compete since winning his fourth US Open against Daniil Medvedev , to shine again at the top of the ranking before starting the 1000 Masters of Paris-Bercy, where he plans to come back.

In addition to his victory in New York, Nadal has won this year in Roland Garros, Rome and Canada. Djokovic, winner of the Australian Open, Wimbledon, Tokyo and Madrid, will lose Monday 820 points taken as last year's champion in Shanghai and before the dispute of the last 1000 Masters of the season will be subtracted the 1,000 points obtained as finalist of the 2018 Masters Cup. That way the distance that now separates them will be wiped out and Nadal will have 1,280 points of advantage. The Spaniard, who first reached the roof of the circuit on August 18, 2008, just turned 22, adds 196 weeks with the most precious number .

With 19 Grand Slam titles, just one of Roger Federer, the Balearic has reiterated that these types of hierarchical achievements have relative value at this point in their career. In fact, he has preferred to continue to manage his calendar with care and give up the Asian tour. He will marry Xisca Perelló , his longtime girlfriend, on the 19th day. Number 1 is an added reward, immediate consequence of the successive setbacks of Djokovic.

The debts of 'Nole'

The Serbian had serious commitments made in the final part of the course. He retired due to an injury in the second round of the US Open, where he also defended the cup, when he lost to Stan Wawrinka , and stayed for the first time in eight appearances outside the semifinals in Shanghai, a tournament he has won four times . The Belgrade player is thus complicated by the possibility of concluding for the sixth season number 1 and matching the Pete Sampras record .

Nadal is the best placed to do it for the fifth time, after getting it in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2017 . He would certify it if he wins the title at Paris-Bercy, one of the three 1000 Masters that resist him, along with Miami and Shanghai . Otherwise, it would be necessary to wait for the outcome of the Masters Cup, a week after the final phase of the Davis Cup in Madrid, where it would leave with a clear advantage, given that it has no points to defend. Imposing yourself in the teacher tournament is one of the few outstanding accounts in Nadal's extraordinary career.

In addition to the period between April 2 and May 21 of last year, when he alternated at the top with Federer, and his elite premiere, which lasted for 46 weeks, the left-hander also took the lead in the ranks between June 7, 2010 and July 4, 2011, from October 7, 2013 to July 7, 2014 and between June 25 and November 5, 2018. He will become the second most tennis player veteran in wearing the number 1, with 33 years and 154 days, ahead of Andre Agassi and only surpassed by Roger Federer, who exhibited it with 36.

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  • Rafael Nadal
  • Novak Djokovic
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