Nadal returns to US Open as No. 1

Spurred on by another epic clay-court season, French Open champion Rafael Nadal has returned to No. 1 for the first time since July 2014. It’s the fourth time the Spanish legend has captured the top spot, and there were plenty of tributes.

But Nadal will have his work cut out for him on the speedier hard courts of the US Open. He was defeated in the fourth round and quarterfinals of Montreal and Cincinnati respectively, and both losses were to young, rising players.

“I think all the young guys play great against those guys,” Nick Kyrgios said about his quarterfinal victory over Nadal at Cincinnati. “Look at [Alexander] Zverev. He’s killing it at the moment…. and you never see me doing anything silly in a match like this [against Nadal]. It’s easy to get up for these matches.”

Technically, hard courts slice off a few of Nadal’s greatest advantages. Points are quicker, rallies shorter and the ball hops lower and faster. Power servers and quick-strike players have a puncher’s chance against the Spaniard.

Nadal has won five majors outside of the French Open including the 2010 and 2013 US Open titles. Still, Nadal will not be favored ahead of his rival Roger Federer on Arthur Ashe stadium, should they meet for the first time ever in New York.

He'll open his campaign as the top seed against Dusan Lajovic, and is in the same section of the draw as seeds Richard Gasquet, Fabio Fognini and Tomas Berdych. Fognini famously stunned him in the third round of the 2015 US Open.

There are renewed questions about playing on a court that favors the Swiss, especially with Federer’s improved backhand and belief in beating Nadal four times in a row. They could meet in the semifinals.

For now Nadal is concentrating on his preparation. He’s focused and enjoying his work.

Starting next week, it will be one challenging match at a time on the long journey to the title.

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