Federer returns to world No. 1 ranking

Madrid: Switzerland’s Roger Federer took back the No. 1 spot in the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world singles rankings released on Monday after being second to Spain’s Rafael Nadal for six weeks.

Nadal dropped to second place after being defeated in the Madrid Open quarter-finals by Dominic Thiem of Austria 7-5, 6-3 on Friday.

Alexander Zverev maintained his third position, after the German claimed the title of the 2018 Madrid Open for the first time after winning 6-4, 6-4 over Thiem, who dropped to the eighth spot, with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray both attempting recovery missions after injury.

“I would say probably now, besides Roger and Rafa, he’s the best,” Thiem said of Zverev. “You just need to look at his results.”