Rafael Nadal has an enormous 3,360 points to defend between today and the start of the French Open in late May, but even if he’s injured and can’t play until he gets to Paris, he’ll go into Roland Garros at No. 1.
That’s how big his 3,920-point cushion is with the new ATP rankings out today.
It shows Nadal No. 1 with 12,630 points, No. 2 Novak Djokovic at 8,710 (3,920 behind Nadal) and No. 3 Roger Federer at 8,280 (430 points behind Djokovic).
Now let’s deduct the points these three have to defend between now and the French for a more realistic look at the point standings. This will give you a chance to look at the top three and simply plug in the points they win at Key Biscayne and during the clay court season without having to recall how many points they’re defending from the same week last year.
Nadal: Defending 1,000 points at Madrid, Rome and Monte Carlo and 360 at Key Biscayne for a total of 3,360.
Djokokic: Defending 360 at Monte Carlo, 180 at Rome, 45 at Belgrade and 10 at Key Biscayne for a total of 595.
Federer: Defending 600 at Madrid, 90 at Key Biscayne, 90 at Estoril and 10 at Rome for a total of 790.
Using those totals to adjust ranking points leave you with No. 1 Nadal at 9,270, No. 2 Djokovic at 8,115 (1,155 points behind Nadal) and No. 3 Federer at 7,490 (625 behind Djokovic).
This, of course, assumes that the three players will duplicate their schedules from 2010 through the French Open and that probably will be the case with Djokovic and Federer. But Nadal, at least at this point, is planning to Barcelona to his schedule, and since he didn’t play there last year, any points he picks up there is a bonus.
There’s not much point in plugging in No. 4 Robin Soderling. He’s too far behind No. 3 Federer to make much impact.
Not surprisingly, the biggest mover this week in the rankings was Juan Martin Del Potro, who gained 39 spots to No. 51. He’s rapidly getting back the ranking points he lost during his recent injury hiatus.
Ryan Sweeting, the American from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., cracked top 100 for the first time, at No. 91.