Tennis News: Rafael Nadal could reclaim the top spot at Cincinnati
World number three Rafael Nadal will return to action and chase after number one in Cincinnati next week. The 22-time Grand Slam champion is not defending any points till the end of the season
Rafael Nadal and Novak DjokovicFortunately, a return to the top of the ATP rankings seems achievable despite injuries occasionally affecting his consistency. Last week, the Spanish maestro withdrew from Montreal to let himself recover.
He was plagued by an abdominal injury that sabotaged his Wimbledon campaign, but he announced that he was ready to compete in the preparatory tournament ahead of the US Open 2022.
The Masters 1000 event in Canada has been an attainable title for Nadal. He has won five times and set a tournament record by lifting the trophy three times in Montreal (2005, 2013 and 2019) and twice in Toronto (2008 and 2018).
Does he have an impressive record in Cincinnati?
Likewise, his record in Cincinnati is comparable to his outings in Montreal, if not equal. He won the tournament in 2013 (the same year he won the Canadian Open), becoming a part of the small roster competing in the Canada-Cincinnati double since Masters 1000 events began in 1990.
Other players to have done so include Andre Agassi (1995), Patrick Rafter (1998) and Andy Roddick (2003). Nadal also entered another two semifinals (2008 and 2009) and another four quarterfinals (2006, 2010, 2011 and 2017) in Cincinnati.
In addition, Nadal has a chance of reclaiming the top spot on the ATP rankings, which gives him all the more reason to compete. He could climb to the top if he wins the title, provided Medvedev fails to reach the quarterfinals.
He would not have to drop points from his ranking the entire rest of the year, and the reigning Australian Open and Roland Garros champion is expected to hit the top in the next few months.
Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, the two men ahead of him, will drop upwards of 4,000 points each for the rest of the year. Nadal's hard court record is 20-1 this year, and his only defeat on the surface was a 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss at the hands of Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final.
ATP ranking points moving into Cincinnati
1. Daniil Medvedev: 6,885 points (dropping 360 points on August 22)
2. Alexander Zverev: 6,760 points (dropping 1,000 points on August 22)
3. Rafael Nadal: 5,620 points
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