Rafael Nadal's victory forces Novak Djokovic to win the Masters Cup

• Chronicle: Nothing lifts a lost match against Medvedev and is still alive in the Masters Cup

For 20 minutes, the start of the third set against Daniil Medvedev , Rafael Nadal missed all the goals he had before the London Masters Cup. On the one hand, I was practically eliminated from the tournament. On the other, the number 1 of the ATP ranking was in danger. With a defeat against the Russian, Novak Djokovic could be enough to reach the final of the tournament to snatch the first place on the list, but after his comeback Nadal is much closer to finishing the year as the best tennis player in the world.

Beyond what he does in the last game of the group stage against Stefanos Tsitsipas and his possible pass to the semifinals of the Masters Cup, the Spaniard has already placed Djokovic before a very difficult challenge. To be number 1 of the ATP ranking, the Serbian must now win Roger Federer on Thursday, qualify for the semifinals, continue until the final and lift the trophy yes or yes. With the numbers in hand, any other result no longer serves Djokovic, although there are still nuances. Even as Masters Cup champion, 'Nole' depends on Nadal.

Counting his defeat against Dominic Thiem , although Djokovic wins the tournament, Nadal will retain the number 1 if he is a finalist. For all this there are still many interesting duels, starting with those of this Thursday, but the panorama is already favorable to Spanish. Right now Nadal depends on himself to continue at the top of the ATP ranking and Djokovic requires not to fail again in the entire Masters Cup.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

• Novak Djokovic
• tennis
• Rafael Nadal

ATP FinalsMassage and the Indiba method: Rafa Nadal's treatment for playing in London

Tennis Medvedev sweeps Shanghai with numbers that already challenge the 'Big Three'

MastersThiem Cup, again a nightmare for Federer