NADAL GRABS NO. 4 SEED AT ROLAND GARROS

                        

Rafael Nadal saw his position in the Fly Emirates rankings take a blip during his 7 months absence, as the Mallorcan born slipped to 5th in the world.

Tennis critics have been calling for the ATP and the Roland Garros organisers to give Nadal a top 4 seed at the French open.  

Rolland Garros committee member Guy Forget said last month: "Since we can see them (vs Djokovic) meeting in the finals of the biggest events in the next weeks, it would be a shame to have them in a quarter-final in Roland Garros," 

"The rules state the Grand Slam events have the right to change the seeding regarding the situation of the players. Wimbledon have done that in the past," Forget added.

"I would not find it illogical to change the seeds."

Earlier this month Roger Federer shared a different opinion when he said: "He's been so successful there in the last eight, nine years that everybody knows that he deserves it," Federer said.

"But it's not like he's ranked 80 in the world and he's going to bump into the seeds or bump into the top four or something like that.

"Is it really going to make a huge difference if he's five or one? Not a whole lot.

"Rafa obviously has a great chance because of the great player he is on clay.

However with Nadal's win over the swiss in Sunday’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia final in Rome (HERE), the left handed Real Madrid fan has overtaken David Ferrer for World No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings today. 

                             

The result has huge implications for Roland Garros, as Nadal's No. 4 seeding guarantees the seven-time champion cannot meet World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Andy Murray or No. 3 Federer before the semi-finals. Murray’s status remains questionable, as the Scot is battling a lower back issue (HERE) .

Nadal will enter Paris on the back of a 15-match win streak and three successive titles (Barcelona, Madrid, Rome) as he bids to extend his record reign at the second major tournament of the season. Last year, the Mallorcan surpassed Bjorn Borg for the most Roland Garros titles of all-time by defeating Djokovic for his seventh crown in eight years. Nadal has won 41 tour-level titles on clay, including five this season.