Rafael Nadal reclaims ATP top spot from Roger Federer

Spanish star starts his 168th week at No 1 in the ATP Rankings and begins his fifth stint at the top of men's tennis

By Raz Mirza

Image: Rafael Nadal is back at the top of the world rankings

Rafael Nadal has reclaimed top spot in the men's ATP rankings from Swiss rival Roger Federer as John Isner breaks back into the top 10.

Nadal, who hasn't hit a ball in anger since pulling out of the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, saw Federer take over top spot on February 18.

But the Swiss veteran has slipped 10 points behind his Spanish rival and into second place after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since 2014.

Image: Federer suffered a surprise defeat to Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in Miami

Federer was beaten by Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells Masters final before going down to Thanasi Kokkinakis, ranked No 175 in the world, in the second round of the Miami Open.

The other big mover was towering American John Isner, who has leapt eight places to ninth thanks to his maiden Masters 1000 victory at Crandon Park.

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Isner, 32, thus equals his previous best ranking of ninth, reached in April 2012, while beaten finalist Alexander Zverev has moved up one place to fourth and semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta jumps seven places to No 12.

South Korea's Hyeon Chung has continued to chip away at the rankings. The 21-year-old has broken into the top 20, to 19th, for the first time in his career, after making his sixth quarter-final appearance of an impressive season in Miami.

Also See:

British No 1 Kyle Edmund is 26th in the latest rankings, and he is currently 11th in the Race to London. Andy Murray has dropped down to 30th.

ATP rankings at April 2 (change in ranking in brackets)

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8770 pts (+1)
2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8670 (-1)
3. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4985
4. Alexander Zverev (GER) 4925 (+1)
5. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4635 (-1)
6. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4470
7. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3665
8. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 3390
9. John Isner (USA) 3125 (+8)
10. David Goffin (BEL) 3110 (-1)

We'll be back for more tennis on Monday, April 16 for the start of the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters with coverage underway from 9.30am on Sky Sports Arena.

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