Nadal withdrawal gifts Djokovic top spot

NOVAK DJOKOVIC will return to the top of the ATP rankings following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the Paris Masters.

Nadal has pulled out of the final tournament of the regular season due to an abdominal injury, meaning the Serbian will end his two-year absence from the top of the pile when the new list is published on Monday.

Djokovic, who has won Wimbledon and the US Open in the last four months, was memorably disposed as world No 1 by Andy Murray in the French capital in 2016.