Rafael Nadal Loses No. 2 Spot To Rival Roger Federer; Rafa Flops In China As Fed Aims For Shanghai Title

Mission complete for Roger Federer and yet another disappointing campaign for Rafael Nadal in the tail end of the of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) season.

The Swiss Maestro has so far survived the early challenges from unheralded underdogs through his first two rounds of the 2014 Shanghai Open, while the Spanish sensation has been busted out in the early stages of the tournament in Shanghai, China paving the way for Federer to eventually grab the lead in the ATP men’s singles rankings and take over the No. 2 spot previously held by Nadal since July 7, 2014.

ATP Rankings - Top 5 (Before 2014 Shanghai Open)

1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) - 12,150 points

2. Rafael Nadal (Spain) - 8,455 points

3. Roger Federer (Switzerland) - 8,170 points

4. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) - 5,555 points

5 . David Ferrer (Spain) - 4,495 points

Entering the 2014 Shanghai Open, Federer was 285 points behind Nadal but that’s about to change after the new computations of the ATP Rankings after the tournament in China.

Nadal wasn’t on form in his second round loss to compatriot Feliciano Lopez losing in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (6). Reports of a Nadal pull-out were ripe pre-tournament because of an appendicitis. Wanting to defend the points he earned in last year’s Shanghai Open where he made the semifinals, Nadal still played despite the appendix injury.

Federer lucked out in getting to the No. 2 spot in the world by dodging five match points from Leonardo Mayer of Argentina in his 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7) win in the second round at Shanghai. Coupled with the Nadal upset in the same round, Federer will jump over his rivals in the world rankings after Sunday. Federer then beat Roberto Agut, 6-4, 6-2 in the Round of 16 to add more points in the ATP rankings.

Nadal loses 315 points (45-360) for his second round disappointment and drops to 8,140 points good for third place while Federer will add at least 90 points (180-90) to 8,240 ahead of Nadal to steal the second spot.

Roger Federer faces Julien Benneteau in the QF round of the 2014 Shanghai Open, while Rafael Nadal is left licking his wounds as he lost another battle versus his bitter rival.