Rafael Nadal breaches top three for first time since injury setback despite Indian Wells disappointment

Rafael Nadal has regained the world number three spot for the first time since August after his run to the final of Indian Wells. 

The Spaniard last occupied the spot at the 2021 Citi Open in Washington DC last year before cutting his season short due to injury immediately after.

But Nadal’s record of 20-1 so far in 2022 with three titles including his 21st Slam triumph at the Australian Open have seen him overtake Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev since January.

Nadal now holds 7,115 ranking points, leading world number four Zverev by 90 points and trailing number two Daniil Medvedev by 1,295.

The 35-year-old could very well fall back behind Zverev in the next couple weeks as he skips the Miami Masters while Zverev is seeded second at the event.

If Zverev reaches the last 16 he will match Nadal on 7,115 and will overtake should he progress to the quarter-finals.

Nadal will instead be taking rest in preparation of the clay swing and a shot at a 12th career Monte Carlo Masters title, with the 2022 event kicking off on 10th April.

Elsewhere in the ATP rankings Novak Djokovic is back into the top spot to bring his career total to 362 weeks at number one while Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz is up to a career-high of 13th.

Miami Masters defending champion Hubert Hurkacz returns to the top 10 at 10th, one off his career-high of ninth first achieved back in November, displacing Jannik Sinner from that spot.

ATP tour level action gets underway again Wednesday 23rd as the 37th Miami Open gets underway.

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