Rafael Nadal is one set away from clinching the year-end No. 1 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The Spaniard claimed a see-saw first set against Next Gen ATP star Hyeon Chung 7-5 in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Nadal is bidding to become the oldest year-end No. 1 and first season-ending No. 1 over the age of 30 since the Emirates ATP Rankings were established in 1973. It would be his fourth time finishing atop the Rankings, adding to 2008, 2010 and 2013.
It wasn’t plain sailing for Nadal against the 21-year-old Chung, who is due to feature at the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan next week. After breaks were exchanged in the early stages, Nadal then rallied from a 0/40 deficit before breaking Chung to lead 4-2.
However, with Nadal serving for the set in the ninth game, his South Korean opponent broke back and levelled at 5-5. The Spaniard eventually got over the line in the first set as he opened up a 0/40 lead on Chung’s serve in the 12th game and clinched it with a forehand winner as the match ticked into the hour mark.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour http://ift.tt/2A4489n
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