“He will come back stronger,” Rafael Nadal officially leaves the Top-10 after 17 years leaving fans gutted

Nadal ends his dominance in the ATP rankings after 17 years. He first entered the Top 10 in 2005.


“He will come back stronger,” Rafael Nadal officially leaves the Top-10 after 17 years leaving fans gutted

Rafael Nadal ends his impressive 17-year-long stint amid injury difficulties. The Spaniard encountered his hip injury during the Australian Open, where he lost in the second round itself. Nadal has been taking an extended break since the incident, hoping to return as soon as possible. The star is rumored to make his comeback in time for the clay season.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion first broke into the Top 10 in April 2005. He achieved the feat after winning the Barcelona Open when he was only 18. The clay maestro has not left the pinnacle of rankings ever since. Unfortunately, Rafa lost his streak recently after a remarkable 912 weeks, the most for any player. He is currently ranked 13 on the list.

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The 36-year-old lost 600 points for his absence at the Indian Wells owing to his hip injury. He will also miss the Miami Open, which will lead to the loss of some crucial points as well. ATP’s decision to strip Wimbledon points also cost him. He is second to only Martina Navratilova, who has spent 1000 weeks inside the top ten.

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Over the last few years, the 14-time French Open champion has been plagued by innumerable injuries. Consequently leading to less participation and fewer points. Even rumors regarding his retirement are circulating. Despite such obstacles, Nadal is determined to continue playing and extend his major title record.

Hopefully, the Spaniard will return in time for the Roland Garros. He has been practicing double-time in order to return to form. Regarding his new-found absence from the top rankings, fans shared their disappointment for Rafa. Nevertheless, optimism for Nadal’s return with the top-ranked players is still prominent.

Also read: “You would have lost in straights,” Alexander Zverev ridiculed by fans for his comments on Rafael Nadal winning the French Open 2022

Rafael Nadal could return to the top ten again

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At the Miami Open, which begins this week, Nadal is not expected to play again. Given that he didn’t compete in the tournament the previous year, this is unlikely to have a substantial impact on his ranking. He appears to be coming back for the Monte Carlo Masters in April, which serves as the opening event of the clay season.

According to the tournament director, he was one of the first to register for the tournament. Nadal has won there a record 11 times. If he does make a comeback at Monte Carlo, he will have the opportunity to regain a spot in the top 10, provided he doesn’t have many clay points to defend until the French Open.

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