Rafael Nadal (Photo : Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal could lose his spot for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November, with the King of Clay currently sitting at the No. 8 spot of the Race to London rankings.
Nadal's chances of qualifying in ATP World Tour's season finale in London could be in jeopardy after the Spaniard moved down to spots from No. 6 to No. 8 following disappointing finishes in the past two tournaments, most recently at the US Open, where he lost to French Lucas Pouille in Round of 16 of the tournament.
Fortunately for Nadal, who has 3,200 points at No. 8, is only down five points behind Austrian Dominic Thiem, who also moved down two places in the Emirates ATP Race to London. But with only four tournaments remaining in his calendar schedule, Nadal will need to refocus on winning to solidify his spot at the Tour Finals later this year.
The 14-time Grand Slam winner is set to compete at the China Open and Shanghai Masters before returning to Roger Federer's homeland for the Basel Swiss Indoors. He will then participate at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris next month before hoping for a spot in London.
However, before Nadal aims to accumulate points needed to secure his spot at the ATP World Tour Finals, the Mallorcan will aid Spain first at the Davis Cup World Group playoff on September 16-18 against India.
"Our immediate target is to return to the World Group. Spain has been out of the World Group for a couple of years and we would like to be back there," Nadal said, reports The Times of India.
"We have squandered opportunities in the past to be in the World Group and this time we are hoping that we can achieve our goal. Away ties are specially difficult and we will have to be at our best."
Meanwhile, France's Gael Monfils, who became world No. 8 after reaching the semifinals of the US Open, improved his standing for the season-ending tournament with 3,355 points at sixth place, while Kei Nishikori has a comfortable lead ahead of Nadal at No. 5 with 4,315 points.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are comfortably sitting at the No. 1 and No. 2 spot, respectively, while Stan Wawrinka, after winning his third Grand Slam title in New York, secured the third place followed by Canada's Milos Raonic at No. 5.
