Rafael Nadal has slipped out of the top 10, after 934 weeks and almost 18 years later. He first entered on April 25, 2005. According to the current ATP ranking, Nadal is 13th. Only one woman has spent more consecutive weeks in the WTA rankings top 10 than Nadal in the ATP rankings top 10: Martina Navratilova with exactly 1,000 consecutive weeks.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been side-lined since the Australian Open with a left hip flexor injury and has retired from hard court tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. And there it is: After an incredible run of 934 weeks, which falls back just one month in 18 years, Rafael Nadal has slipped out of the top 10, which he was first included in on April 25, 2005.
In January, Nadal injured his hip flexor in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald of the United States at the Australian Open.
(Read Also: A discussion on whether NCAA basketball players should get paid or not?)
Rafael Nadal wants to return to clay next month after suffering a hip injury at the Monte Carlo Masters, organizers announced on Wednesday.
The Monte Carlo Masters starts on April 8 and event director David Massey is optimistic Nadal will play. “Rafael was the first player to be registered,” Massey said in a statement. “He wants to play in the Monte Carlo Masters and gives himself every opportunity to play in the tournament he loves so much.”
Nadal has won the event 11 times, including a reported Open Era run of eight consecutive titles from 2005 to 2012. The 36-year-old Spaniard is taking the opportunity as an important part of his preparation for the French Open, which runs from May 28th to June 11th. Nadal has won 14 of his major clay court titles at Roland Garros, including last year when he struggled with constant pain in his left foot.
