Nadal up to fourth in world rankings

PARIS (AFP) –

Rafael Nadal wins a point against Juan Martin del Potro at Indian Wells on March 17, 2013. Nadal beat del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to earn his third Indian Wells ATP Masters title.

Rafael Nadal’s tournament win at Indian Wells on Sunday has thrust him back into the top four in the ATP world rankings.

The Spaniard dropped out of the elite bracket of players, comprising Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray earlier this year as he took seven months out to deal with a recurring knee injury.

Compatriot David Ferrer moved up to fourth place, but Nadal won two claycourt tournaments in South America as he launched his comeback last month and the win at Indian Wells brought him a big haul of points as it is one of the Masters Series events.

Nadal is back to fourth, nudging ahead of Ferrer with Djokovic, Federer and Murray still ahead of him. He has withdrawn from the Miami Masters starting this week and will return to action for the European claycourt season.

ATP world rankings

1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 13,280 pts

2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8,715

3. Andy Murray (GBR) 8,350

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6,745 (+1)

5. David Ferrer (ESP) 6,630 (-1)

6. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 5,010

7. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4,830

8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 3,750

9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 3,090

10. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2,960

11. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2,570 (+1)

12. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 2,435 (-1)

13. Gilles Simon (FRA) 2,300

14. Juan Monaco (ARG) 2,185

15. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,135 (+1)

16. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,095 (+1)

17. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 1,960 (+1)

18. Tommy Haas (GER) 1,925 (+1)

19. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 1,785 (+1)

20. Sam Querrey (USA) 1,760 (+3)