Historic Milestone: Rafael Nadal’s Unforeseen Exit from the Top 100 Rankings
Rafael Nadal’s absence from competitive play due to a hip injury sustained during the Australian Open has resulted in his drop out of the world’s top 100 rankings, marking a significant milestone in his career. The 22-time grand slam champion was unable to defend his title at this year’s French Open, a tournament he has historically dominated with a record 14 victories. Consequently, Nadal forfeited the 2,000 ranking points he had earned from his triumph at Roland-Garros last season. Currently, he has descended from his previous position of world No. 15 to a ranking of 136.
In an effort to recover from his injury setback, Nadal underwent hip muscle surgery earlier this month, following a disappointing progress in his initial rehabilitation. The procedure is expected to sideline him for approximately five months, effectively ending his season prematurely. Notably, the tennis star declared that the upcoming season will be his final one on the ATP Tour. Throughout his illustrious career, Nadal has battled numerous injuries, making his achievements all the more remarkable.
Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, Nadal’s doctor, expressed confidence in his recovery, stating to Reuters during the French Open that he anticipates a perfect or possibly accelerated recuperation timeline for the Spanish athlete.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz, following his triumphant 23rd grand slam victory at Roland-Garros. Djokovic’s semifinal victory over Alcaraz propelled him two places up the rankings, resuming his position at the top for the 388th week of his career. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev slipped from second to third after an unexpected first-round exit in Paris, while runner-up Casper Ruud maintains his fourth-place standing. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was defeated in the quarterfinals by Alcaraz, completes the top five in the global rankings.
