Federer & Nadal

[buurs]

Race Heating Up for No. 1 Ranking


Rafael Nadal is the closest he's been to No. 1 Roger Federer in the South African Airways ATP Rankings.

After Federer's first round exit in Dubai and Nadal's quarterfinal effort, the Swiss No. 1 will hold a 350-point lead over the Spaniard (6,330-5,980) as of Monday. This is the closest margin since May 10, 2004 when Federer led No. 2 Andy Roddick by that same figure.

Federer has ranked a record 215 consecutive weeks at No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004 while Nadal has been No. 2 a record 138 straight weeks (since July 25, 2005).

Career rankings history: Roger Federer | Rafael Nadal

The No. 1 ranking can't change hands at the first ATP Masters Series tournament of the season, the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, since Nadal is defending title points (500) while Federer lost in the opening round (5). But depending on the results of both players in Indian Wells, then the No. 1 position could be up for grabs going into Miami. Nadal has quarterfinal points to defend (125) while Federer has fourth round points coming off (75).

Players hold their South African Airways ATP Ranking points for 52 weeks before they drop off the following year.

Both Federer and Nadal have yet to win a title going in Indian Wells while No. 3 Djokovic is coming off a semifinal performance in Dubai. Although Djokovic is still more than 1,000 points away from Federer, the 20-year-old Serb has cut into the lead since the end of last season. He opened the campaign with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

Djokovic trailed Federer by 2,710 points in the 2007 year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings and he enters Indian Wells 1,200 points behind. Djokovic is defending runner-up points (350) in Indian Wells and champion's points in Miami (500).