RAFAEL Nadal moved up one spot in the ATP Tour rankings over the past 12 months, narrowly missing out on the top ranked spot this time last year, but gained it back with a couple of Grand Slam victories and a dominant year.

Rank: #1
Wins: 58
Losses: 7
Titles: 4
Prize Money: $16,349,584

The Spanish clay court star reinvigorated himself in 2019, finishing the year in the pole position despite missing out on the ATP Finals semi-finals. He took home four titles – two of which were Grand Slams – and continued his remarkable dominance on clay. Nadal claimed the latter two Grand Slams, winning his third consecutive Roland Garros – and twelfth overall – as well as his third overall US Open. Claiming ATP Masters crowns in Canada and Rome as well, Nadal stood tall when required.

Nadal won a remarkable 58 from 65 matches in 2019, dropping just three games on clay and three on hard court improving his clay court career record to a staggering 436 from 475 – 91.8 per cent efficiency. His dominance of winning matches after winning the first set was unrivalled, dropping just one match after winning the opening set – against Nick Kyrgios in Mexico – while winning only four of the 10 times he dropped the opening set. His best run unsurprisingly came at Roland Garros where he smashed top 10 players, Kei Nishikori and Roger Federer in straight sets, before taking out Dominic Thiem in four sets. His most disappointing loss would have been the straight sets exit to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open, or the defeat to Kyrgios in Mexico.

Overall, Nadal had an impressive season, rising from the bridesmaid at the end of last season to be the world number one again. He also helped his nation take home its sixth Davis Cup with a terrific performance across the November team event.