ATP: Novak Djokovic again world number one starting Monday

Serbian Novak Djokovic (31) will return to the top of the tennis world rankings next Monday after almost two years.

Serbian Novak Djokovic (31) will return to the top of the tennis world rankings next Monday after almost two years. The reigning Wimbledon and US Open winner benefited from the short-term cancellation of the current industry leader Rafael Nadal (Spain) for the Masters in Paris-Bercy. Djokovic is in the round of 16 at the tournament.

“I’ve been feeling something in my stomach for a few days, especially on impact. The doctors told me not to play,” said Nadal (32) on Wednesday, explaining his decision not to start at the last minute. The French Open record winner has not played a match since he retired from the semi-final of the US Open at the beginning of September due to a knee injury.

Djokovic has been at the top of the rankings for 223 weeks in his career, most recently on 6 November 2016. In the middle of June Djokovic was only number 22, the jump from outside the top 20 to the top of the world rankings within one calendar year was last made in 2000 by the Russian Marat Safin.

Nadal (196 weeks in total) has been in first place since 25 June.

SID mh us