Rafael Nadal, best known for an illustrious two-decade career, has suffered a major setback as he has dropped out of the world’s top 100 rankings for the first time. The 22-time Grand Slam champion’s drop in rankings can be attributed to his continued recovery from a hip injury sustained during the Australian Open in January.
Nadal’s absence from this year’s French Open, a tournament he has dominated with a record 14 victories, resulted in the loss of the 2,000 ranking points he gained at Roland-Garros last season. was obtained by victory. As a result, the Spanish tennis icon has dropped from 15th place to 136th place in the latest rankings.
In an effort to address his persistent hip problems, Nadal recently underwent surgery on his hip muscles. The decision came after his initial recovery did not progress as expected, effectively ruling him out of competitive play for nearly five months and ending his season prematurely.
Notably, the 37-year-old has announced that the upcoming season will be his last on the ATP Tour. Throughout his illustrious career, Nadal persevered through numerous injuries, furthering the appreciation of his extraordinary achievements on the tennis court.
While Nadal faces challenges on the road to a full recovery, his doctor, Angel Ruiz Cotoro, is optimistic, expressing confidence in a full recovery within the expected time frame or possibly even sooner.
In the world rankings, Novak Djokovic has once again claimed the world No. 1, surpassing Carlos Alcaraz to claim his 23rd Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. Djokovic’s semifinal victory over Alcaraz moved him up two spots, beginning his 388th week as the premier player in men’s tennis. Russia’s Daniil Medvedev dropped to third after an unexpected first-round exit at the French Open, while runner-up Kaspar Rovid held on to fourth. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who suffered a straight-sets loss to Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, dropped out of the world’s top five rankings.
As Nadal continues to deal with the challenges of his injury, Djokovic’s return to the top reaffirms his enduring dominance in the game, cementing him as one of the greatest players of his generation. The status is stable.
