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Rafael Nadal - After 912 weeks it's over for now

Rafael Nadal is no longer among the top ten players in the world in the current world rankings. That was last the case in 2005.

by Jens Huiber
last edit: Mar 20, 2023, 03:07 pm

Rafael Nadal is in double digits for the first time since 2005
© Getty Images
Rafael Nadal is in double digits for the first time since 2005

Even before the start of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, mathematicians who were not that resourceful calculated that Rafael Nadal would drop out of the top ten in the ATP world rankings for the first time since 2005 due to his absence from Tennis Paradise. The Spaniard spent an incredible 912 weeks there, missing just one in a full 18 years.

With the release of today's ATP charts, tennis fans now have it in black and white (as they were allowed to say back in the days when the series started). Nadal is only listed in 13th position. A feeling he last experienced as a teenager. What has happened in the meantime, just as an example?

Five different football world champions have been crowned: France 2006, Spain 2010, Germany 2014, France 2018 and Argentina 2022.

Nadal in Miami or Key Biscayne without a title

In tennis, the variety was not quite as great: Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic divided the majors among themselves, in between Juan Martin del Potro was allowed to play once and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka three times. Only recently have Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz received the highest consecration.

Of course, there are few white spots in Rafael Nadal's tennis vita. One of them will probably stay forever - even if it could have been redeemed this week: a win at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami. But Florida hasn't been on Nadal's tournament schedule for a long time. He was last at the start in 2017, when he lost - still in Key Biscayne - in the final against Roger Federer. As was the case in 2005, when Rafael Nadal's incredible streak won. 18 years ago, however, the final was played over three winning sets. Federer won 2: 6, 6: 7 (4), 7: 6 (5), 6: 3 and 6: 1.

Here is the current ATP world ranking

by Jens Huiber

Monday
Mar 20, 2023, 04:50 pm
last edit: Mar 20, 2023, 03:07 pm