Top 3 contenders to finish the year as the ATP World No. 1

2. Rafael Nadal

In April this year, I wrote an article where I said it would be extremely difficult for Rafael Nadal to end the year as the No.1 as he had to defend almost 5000 points on clay, which would be very difficult for him. But oh boy was I wrong! He not only successfully defended his points in the clay season, but he has a pretty good chance of finishing the year as the No. 1 as well.

What's remarkable of Nadal is that, though his season has been plagued with injuries (at the beginning in his hips and right now in his knees), he still sits atop the rankings, and can even end as the No.1. But he will be missing some valuable tournaments in the Asian swing (notably Shanghai), owing to his knee injury, which flared up at the US Open.

He still has a lead of around 1000 points over Djokovic. If he can perform well in the tournaments he participates in after he returns from his injury, he can end the year as the No. 1, but according to me, it is somewhat unlikely for this to happen due to the current form Djokovic is in.

Prediction: Ends the year as the World No.2