Nadal risks not being in the top 100 after 20 years even playing in Paris

Rafa Nadal’s descent in the ATP rankings is set to continue in the coming weeks as the Spaniard has been sidelined since last January with a hip injury. If the 36-year-old doesn’t compete in Rome and not even in Roland Garros, he’s no longer in the top 100 after 20 years!

Nadal is currently number 14 in the world rankings with 2,715 points. However, in the next 15 days (after the Madrid Open) he will fall even more as he will not compete in Madrid and loses 180 points from last year’s quarterfinals.

From there it remains to be seen if he will appear in Rome, where he reached the 3rd round last year and received 90 points that will be deducted in case the Spaniard does not compete, and with 2,445 points remained close to the start Roland Garros.

If the 14-time French Open champion does not defend his title and does not compete in Paris, he will lose 2,000 points to 445, which would put him 130th in the current ranking. But even if he does play in Paris, he’ll need to have a very good run to stay in the top-100 (if he doesn’t compete in Rome) as Taro Daniel (No. 100) currently has 587 points.

That means if Nadal goes to Paris without playing in Rome, he has to reach at least the 4th round to stay in the world top 100.

The last time Nadal was outside the top 100 was on April 14, 2003, while the following week (April 21) he entered the top 100 (No. 96).

Source: Tennis24