A big contest will take place this week in the race to end as world No.1 between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who will go to the top of the rankings instead of Djokovic on November 4 regardless of the result of the Paris Masters.
Djokovic has to defend runner-up points from both Paris and the ATP Nitto Finals, while, Rafa has zero points to defend until the end of the season. Making him more of a favourite than the Serbian to end as world No.1. 19-time grand slam champion Nadal has expressed that he would like to end the season in top spot during his pre-tournament news conference.
“It’s fantastic, I prefer to be No. 1 to No. 2 and No. 2 to No. 3. And of course, finishing the year world No. 1 is something special, and I would love to make that happen.” Said Nadal.
Although the year-end world No.1 competition at its highest level between both the Serb and the Spaniard, they both showed up in a very rare practice session in Paris. Nadal’s coach and former world No.1, Carlos Moya, sees no reason why the two shouldn’t practice together.
“I’m not sure if we can see this in any other sport, but here we like to keep things simple. Why couldn’t we practise with Djokovic? We’ve tried on many occasions but couldn’t due to scheduling issues. It just happened to work out here in Paris. I think you must just look at it for what it is without placing some sort of value or extra significance on it.”
The Spaniard is in a good shape mentally and physically unlike previous participations in Paris Masters, according to Moya. Should he clinch the Paris title for the first time. Nadal will end as world No.1. joining Djokovic, Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors as the players to achieve the milestone for a fifth time in their career.
Should Novak show his mental strength and resilience to triumph in the battle, he will tie Pete Sampras in a tie for first all-time for ending world No.1.
The Serb doesn’t have an easy way ahead of Paris trophy, having possibilities of facing some players playing at their best and he lost to them this season. The four-time Paris Masters champion could face the Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the third round. Then a potential meeting with Stefano Tsitsipas, who ousted him in Shanghai this month, or Roberto Bautista Agut, who won over him 2 times this season, awaits in the quarter-finals. Then if the tournament goes according to the rankings, he will have to battled the inform Daniil Medvedev before even having a shot at the trophy.
Meanwhile, Djokovic’s fellow contender also doesn’t have a easy draw as he could face Stan Wawrinka in the third round, defending champion Karen Khachanov or US Open semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals, and then possibly Alexander Zverev.
