Novak Djokovic warns Rafael Nadal after China Open success

Beijing, China: Rafael Nadal will be crowned the new world number one in men’s tennis when the Emirates ATP Rankings are released on Monday, but the outgoing Novak Djokovic has warned the Spaniard to be wary of his spot for the remainder of the season.

Reigning US Open and French Open champion Nadal was confirmed as the new No 1 after he won his semi-final at the China Open here on Saturday, but Djokovic beat his rival 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday’s final and afterwards insisted he will do all he can to regain the top ranking.

“It’s obvious that being number one at this time, especially this era, is an ultimate goal and challenge for anybody,” Djokovic said. “I know how hard it is because I’ve been fighting for that place for the last couple of years. I know what a player needs to do in order to end the year at number one. It’s still not lost for me. He’s [Nadal] going to be number one for Monday, but the season is still not over.

“I’m defending points and he’s not. I have some room to get points here and there, but generally I just want to keep on playing well. And as long as there is a chance, I will be fighting for that spot.”

The calculations involved in the rankings system are complex, but Nadal will definitely be world No 1 for at least a week. The fact he is now top owes much to the fact — aside from the awesome season he has enjoyed so far — that Nadal has no points to defend at the China Open and this week’s Shanghai Masters, while Djokovic won both tournaments last year.

Coming into the Beijing event, Nadal was on 10,860 rankings points and Djokovic on 11,120. Following his entry into the final, the Spaniard went up to 11,160 as Djokovic slipped to 10,920, ensuring the Serb’s 101 weeks at the top came to an end.

But Djokovic can go back to the top in Shanghai, depending on how Nadal fares in the competition that has 1,000 points at stake.

“He has had a big season and is definitely been playing the best tennis in 2013,” Djokovic said. “But the season is still not over. I have some room to get points here and there, but generally I just want to keep on playing well.

“Hopefully if I maintain this rhythm, the end results will follow the good performances.”

In Sunday’s final, Djokovic, who has won the event the four times he has entered, was at his ruthless best in inflicting Nadal’s first hardcourt defeat of the season.

The second seed in Beijing only showed rare glimpses of the form that has seen him win 10 titles this year, with his Serbian opponent racing to a 3-0 lead in the first 10 minutes. Top seed Djokovic then powered ahead, showing formidable power-hitting to take the first set 25 minutes later.

The pair displayed incredible movement in the opening game of the second set, engaging in quickfire net-play, much to the delight of the crowd.

Nadal came out on top of that duel, winning the point, but Djokovic took the game to break serve.

Djokovic then kept his nerve, holding serve until the conclusion of the match on one hour 27 minutes.

— With inputs from agencies