Last year it seems that it was game over for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer after both renounced to play the second part of the season for injuries; this year the two legends are competing for the top spot in the rankings. 

Even if Federer has the chances to regain the top spot of the rankings, that will not happen after Monreal because he is more than 1000pts away from Andy Murray that is still the world no.1

On the other side, Rafa is just 285 points away from Andy Murray. Both have no points to defend in the upcoming ATP1000 in Montreal and if Rafa outperforms the Scot, he has a clear shot at becoming the new world no.1

3 SCENARIOS. How Rafa can become the new world no.1

1-Nadal wins the title

If Rafa wins the tile, he gets 1000pts. If Murray is the runner-up, he will get 600pts. Therefore, since the Spaniard is 285 points away from the Andy, he will overtake the Scot (Rafa would outperform Andy of 400pts).

2-Nadal is the runner-up

If Rafa reaches the final (600pts) and Andy doesn’t go beyond the quarters (180pt). Rafa will gain 420pts over the Brit to become the world no.1.

3-Nadal reaches the semi-final

Reaching the final 4 means for Rafa to get 360pts. If Murray doesn’t go beyond the round of 32 (45pts), Rafa will gain 315pts over Murray to get to the top of the rankings

… and Cincinnati?

By the way, it seems to be a matter of time for Murray to lose the top of the rankings in August because he needs to defend 600 pts soon after in Cincinnati where he was the finalist in 2016 while Rafa has no points to defend.