The No. 1 race this week at the Paris Masters is already over. Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the final Masters event of the season due to an ab injury, and that means with Novak Djokovic already winning yesterday, the Serb will return to No. 1 on Monday.

“It was great to be here in Paris for a couple of days and practice with the guys,” said Nadal who hasn’t played …

Novak Djokovic opened play at the Paris Masters with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Joao Sousa of Portugal.

“In the important moments, I managed to get the right shots in play. Not 100 percent pleased with my game, I missed a lot of shots from the back of the court,” Djokovic said. “But at the end of the day, it’s the first match, so it takes a bit of time to …

After a poor 6-6 start to 2018, Novak Djokovic is incredibly just a week from reclaiming the No. 1 ranking.

Djokovic is just 35 behind Rafael Nadal for the top spot. So the player that goes the furthest will hold the top spot next Monday. And that’s quite an achievement for Djokovic who was ranked down at No. 22 on June 18.

“We are very, very pleased with what was achieved …

The 47th edition of the Paris Masters features a ridiculous number of floaters posing opening-round threats to the 16 seeded players, including tough starts for Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev and Roger Federer.

American Jack Sock will be tested to defend his title and avoid a huge rankings plunge.

The final two spots for the ATP Finals will be determined this week as the ATP regular season comes to an end.

ROLEX …

Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson of South Africa defeated Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6(3) to win the biggest title of his career on Sunday at the Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna, Austria.

The win clinched him a spot for the first time at the year-ending ATP Finals, leaving two spots open going into the final regular-season event of the year, the Paris Masters.

“It has been a huge goal of mine all year …

He struggled to find his best tennis during the week, but Roger Federer did what champions do in his home country at Basel, Switzerland, raising the title for the ninth time after a 7-6(5), 6-4 win over surprise finalist and qualifier Marius Copil.

It was the landmark 99th career title for Federer, and leaves him one title away from 100, and also from hitting double digits at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

“It’s …

This time it was the Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina’s turn for a comeback.

Trailing by a set, the 24-year-old won her biggest career title on Sunday, defeating American Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore.

“I think I have nothing to prove anymore to anyone,” Svitolina said afterwards. “It’s definitely a good statement for myself and good boost of — I can’t say confidence, because …

Two undefeated players in Sloane Stephens and Elina Svitolina will meet for a first WTA Finals title in Singapore on Sunday.

Stephens, the former US Open champion, dropped the opening set 6-0 and went down 2-0 in the second to Karolina Pliskova then found her form to win 0-6, 6-4, 6-1, taking 12 of the last 15 games.

“I came out here a little bit nervous, and I wasn’t really feeling …

Roger Federer rolled into his 14th career final at his home Basel event, crushing rising Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-4 in only 65 minutes.

“I’m very happy. I think it was my best performance this week,” Federer said. “I’m starting to really get to understand the conditions and it was consistent, my most consistent match by far. The results show it as well, so I’m very happy.”

Federer needed a tough three …

None of the Top 4 seeds at the WTA Finals made the last four at the year-end in Singapore as No. 5 Sloane Stephens and No. 8 Kiki Bertens took the last two final four berths.

Stephens eliminated Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-3 in a battle of former US Open champions.

“Playing Angie is always tough for me,” Stephens said. “She’s No. 2 player in the world. She’s a tough match. Obviously …

Veteran Gilles Simon pushed Roger Federer to nearly the brink Friday in the Basel quarterfinals but fell short in a 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-4 loss to the Swiss. Federer led with a break in the third but the Federer held firm and got an additional break and closed it out for his 18th straight victory in Basel.

“Sure, Gilles came back. But I found a way, which was most important, so I’m …

Elina Svitolina wrapped up her play in the White Group going undefeated after eliminating defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday at the WTA Finals in Singapore.

Svitolina needed just one set to advance to the semifinals, but was able to come from a set and a break down in the second to win.

“I knew that I had to win one set. I mean, there was lots of pressure, …

Roger Federer rolled into the Basel quarterfinals Thursday beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 7-5. The 8-time champion has now his last 17 matches at his home event, and is a perfect 10-0 in sets against the German Struff.

“I was ready for Struff to come out and swing,” said Federer. “I didn’t know how aggressive he was going to play or how much serve and volley he was going to do. But …

Alexander Zverev became the first player on the ATP to hit 50 wins Wednesday in Basel. The 21-year-old German eased past Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5 in his opener at the indoor event.

Zverev, who is now 50-16 on the year, will face 19-year-old Aussie qualifier Alexei Popyrin tomorrow.

Romanian qualifier Marius Copil collected his first career Top 10 victory (was 0-6) upsetting Marin Cilic 7=5, 7-6(2).

Taylor Fritz also was a winner as …

The last three US Open champions were in action Wednesday at the Singapore WTA Finals, and Sloane Stephens and Angelique Kerber came out as winners.

Stephens won a late-night thriller over the surging Kiki Bertens 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3.

“I think we are kind of similar in that we can mix it up a lot and do a lot of different things,” Stephens said of Bertens. “So I thought that’s why we had …