Rafael Nadal Now Ranks No. 2 In The 2016 ATP Points Race

by Tom Gainey | April 25th, 2016, 9:40 am
  • 40 Comments

Thanks to a perfect April during which he won back-to-back titles at Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Rafael Nadal has seen his 2016 ATP points race ranking rise from No. 14 to No. 2 this week!

Now “just” 2,050 points behind leader Novak Djokovic, Nadal could match the Serb before the French Open and pass him in Paris. That’s if Djokovic were to lose early at all three events while Nadal continues his clay streak, which is now at 10.

Milos Raonic and Andy Murray both move down a spot to make room for Rafa. Kei Nishikori moved up to No. 5.


Roger Federer, who remains undecided about his upcoming clay schedule, ranks 11th on the list.

Nadal, though, remains ranked No. 5 which, if it holds, would put him potentially against Djokovic in the French Open quarterfinals.

ATP Race Rankings (as of April 25, 2016)
1 Novak Djokovic 4350
2 Rafael Nadal 2300
3 Milos Raonic 1930
4 Andy Murray 1925
5 Kei Nishikori 1780
6 Gael Monfils 1620
7 Dominic Thiem 1380
8 Stan Wawrinka 1255

9T Roberto Bautista Agut 1130
9T David Goffin 1130
11 Roger Federer 1050
12 Pablo Cuevas 1018


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40 Comments for Rafael Nadal Now Ranks No. 2 In The 2016 ATP Points Race

RZ Says:

Good group in the Race top 8. Can Monfils keep his concentration to stay in the top 8? Can Thiem hold on to his good form to stay there?


gonzalowski Says:

About the atp ranking (looking at RG):
Nadal 5. 5950pt defends Madrid final Rome quarters
Wawa 4. 6460 pt defends Madrid 3rd rd Rome semis
Fed 3. 7785pt defends Madrid 2nd rd – Rome final
Andy 2. 8175pt defends Madrid champ Rome 3rd rd.

Difficult for Rafa


elina Says:

Nadal has to earn 875 more points in Madrid and Rome than Stan to catch him,

Simple as that.

Two finals for Nadal and a QF and 3rd round for Stan, who typically doesn’t fair all that well in Madrid/Rome, would do it for example.

Not a big stretch.


SG1 Says:

What really impressed me about Nadal against Kei was his ability to hit outright winners from the forehand side from defensive positions.

Rafa is definitely looking more like the old Rafa than Old Rafa right now. I still give Novak the definitive edge if they were to meet up in Madrid or Rome (or Paris) but if nothing else, Rafa is in the mix again and who’s to say how things unfold in Paris. “La Decima” is suddenly not as out of reach as it looked only a couple of months ago.


jane Says:

nothing about nadal’s lawsuit on here?

i hope novak … “follows suit,” so to speak.


J-Kath Says:

Jane: Tennis News.com is spilling over with articles on Nadal’s legal case….Take your pick…all are pretty identical. Does look like he is seriously going ahead.


jane Says:

well i think it’s good j-kath.
i find some tennis media to be biased to an almost corrupt degree.


J-Kath Says:

Agree Jane.

I always believed that Andy would not have been so foolish as to imply anything about Nadal – at a delicate stage as this turns out to be. (And am glad that anything via Andy/Novak & Boris seems to have been a gnat in the cream).

Take care.
Off to bed 23.40 my time.
K


jalep Says:

Yes, Rafa is #2 in the Race to London. He has a ton of momentum going. But where he is in the race ranking has nothing to do with where he’ll be seeded for FO:

“Nadal, though, remains ranked No. 5 which, if it holds, would put him potentially against Djokovic in the French Open quarterfinals.”

Rafa could mathematically pass Stan and grab #4 ranking/seeding in time for FO, I think, could be wrong…but what if he doesn’t? What does it matter if he’s seeded 2,3, 4 or 5 if he’s playing at his pre-2015 King of clay level he’ll steam roll everyone in his path anyway at FO.

He’d be ranked #2 after winning FO, seeded #2 for Wimbledon – that matters and seeded #2 at US Open matters. On RG Clay, it’s advantage Rafa regardless of his seeding or draw when he’s playing with this kind of confidence and momentum built up, imo.

Dear me.


jane Says:

agree jalep, on all above points. dear me indeed. look out entire field; I could see another 2013 on the horizon even.


jalep Says:

What to do, jane?

It’s a worst case scenario, Rafa winning Madrid, Rome and FO. I have to face it.

On a positive note: Nole will be rested and ready to take on the challenge, right? Any news?

Even if Nole had to skip clay season or completely bombs it, he’s still #1 afterward and would have 13350 points ๐Ÿ˜Œ๐Ÿ˜˜


Okiegal Says:

@J-Kath….Your saying…a gnat in the cream….in the states, it’s a fly in the ointment!! Lol


Gregoire Gentil Says:

Suing for defamation in France is just a joke. Everybody sues everybody in France for defamation. that’s a national sport! And at the end, a judge rules and asks one party to pay 1 euro (before it was one franc!) to the other party.


chrisford1 Says:

Jalep – “What does it matter if heโ€™s seeded 2,3, 4 or 5 if heโ€™s playing at his pre-2015 King of clay level heโ€™ll steam roll everyone in his path anyway at FO…”
————–
Except Djokovic. Who of course is not the clay player Rafa is, no one has come close to such a career or sick winning percent on brick dirt – but Novak is the only one Rafa and Toni have feared. With reason. The only guy who has taken it to Rafa on clay, starting back in 2009 at Madrid. Rafa may win, 1, 2, or all 3 of the remaining big clay events, but he will not steam roll Djokovic.

BTW – Rafa has some nice developments that boost his confidence and give him some momentum. But it is just from MC and Barcelona -2 events in a row – after over a year of nightmare. He bombs a match in Madrid or Rome – there goes the momentum and confidence.


J-Kath Says:

Okiegal

It’s fly in the ointment here too….but the sunny weather has brought out armies of gnats which made me change the traditional…..


gonzalowski Says:

Gregoire,
not a joke IMO. Very important step, I think it’s some kind of proof that Rafa is not afraid of what information an influential person like Bachelot (in France, hostile territory somehow)) could gather.

About the amount of money Nadal declared that if the judge investigating the case finds that there has been a prejudice in the judgment and compensation for damages sought is recognized, ” the full amount of the same ” will be donated to an NGO or Foundation in France.

Well I think it was inevitable and intelligent this NGO thing.


gonzalowski Says:

Fair to say that Gasquet, Simon, Mahut or the current mayor of Paris publicy and strongly supported Rafa against the ex-minister.


Green Lady Says:

I really hope we dont get another 2013 at least not at the FO, grr hate that match ! ….


Green Lady Says:

But i would love Rafa and Andy each to win one of the remaining GS this year, with Rafa doesnt even have to be RG either, could be USO ?, could be SW19 ?, yeah, yeah i can hear the sniggering, and Andy winning a FO, why not ?, after all i doubt many thought Stan would win it ?….


Tennis Vagabond Says:

This is an incredible step for Rafa.

So many people predicted that his history of injuries and style of play would mean an early end to his career, or at least, career at the top. 6 or 7 years ago, I said, no way Rafa can last: when you suffer chronic injuries early in your career, there is only one career trajectory. Rafa rewrote that story.


Tennis Vagabond Says:

He’ll be 30 in a couple months!


Green Lady Says:

People also said he wasnt consistent enough to last, thanks TV always so reasonable and unbiased with your posts ;-)) ….


Giles Says:

Lol GL. Weren’t you one of the naysayers as well?


gonzalowski Says:

Thanks Giles, what a yacht !! and me worried about what his haters say… :)

TV, look at Messi too, as a child was suffering from an hormonal disease of growth. Finally a treatment in Barcelona of 900 dollars a month, which consisted of injections of human growth hormone, solved the problem.


Green Lady Says:

Giles yeah you got me there, and delighted to be proved so wrong ;-)) ….


Green Lady Says:

Giles and thanks for the pictures, gorgeous luxury yacht there ….


danica Says:

Yup, that fishing boat is quite nice ;)


J-Kath Says:

I’m lost for words….I can’t get my mouth to close…Giles you’ve roused the green goddess…


Giles Says:

I expect Beethoven will make his debut for Rafa’s summer frolics.
๐Ÿค‘๐Ÿ ๐ŸŸโš“๏ธ


Green Lady Says:

J-Kath whos the Green Goddess ,if thats me i like it, nice idea for a new nicname ;-)) ….


Okiegal Says:

@J-Kath……gnat in the cream works too! I love bananas, but when you h ave them on hand for 3 or 4 days……here come the gnats!! Grrr They aggravating little devils!


Okiegal Says:

@Giles 10:52….Thanks for the yacht pics!! Wowzer…it is simply gorgeous. In Oklahoma we have pontoons…..a poor man’s luxury yacht!! Lol ๐Ÿšค๐Ÿšค


Green Lady Says:

Okie make sure you stay safe ….


Okiegal Says:

I will GL…..spring bad time for Oklahomans! I am scared of tornadoes……I live in the west part of the county and they always come from the west. My house has been very close to being in the middle of two that hit my hometown. My next project is getting me an underground cellar dug……and thanks GL!!


J-Kath Says:

GL: Yes it sounds like a good name. But NO as it mostly represents ENVY. Definitely not U me thinks.dear


Green Lady Says:

J-Kath true, ill stick with the one i have, for the time being ;-)) ….


J-Kath Says:

Okie: There are standing lights that run on batteries …get a few for your cellar. Old fashioned telephone, generators and the like. That way you have light, power, Radio, TV Contact etc.

My area has improved but 6 years ago, essential. ..our problems were WINDS. It’s called Climate Change.

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