Rafael Nadal on fast track to becoming World No. 1

Rafael Nadal began the year as the World No. 9 with a cloud of uncertainty hanging around his future. After missing most of 2016 with injuries, a year after a subpar 2015, very few analysts expected Nadal to bounce back and play at a high level besides challenging for Grand Slam titles.

The Spaniard has made a spectacular start to the new ATP season, reaching the finals in four of his six tournaments, besides capturing last week's Monte Carlo Masters. The victories have placed Nadal at No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Race To London, a calendar-year points race that started in the first week of January. Nadal trails arch nemesis Roger Federer, also off to a great start to the season, by 810 points.

With Federer skipping most of the clay-court season, Nadal take home at least 2,500 ATP Race To London points over the next few weeks. He has also risen to World No. 5 in the ATP World Tour Rankings and has a legitimate shot at regaining the World No. 1 ranking before the end of the season.

Rafael Nadal could regain World No. 1 ranking this season

After winning a record tenth Monte Carlo Masters title, a fully healthy Nadal will now continue his clay-court season at the Barcelona Open (April 24-30), Madrid Open (May 7-14) and the Italian Open (May 14-21) before kicking off his pursuit of Grand Slam title No. 15 at Roland Garross starting the last week of May. If Nadal were to breeze past the clay-court season and win the 2017 French Open, he will very likely displace Novak Djokovic as the World No. 2 and put World No. 1 Andy Murray on notice.

At Monte Carlo, Nadal made history by becoming the first player in the Open Era to win a tournament on ten occasions. He will now attempt to do the same at Barcelona and Roland Garross. “(In Barcelona), I am playing another very important event for me at home and I'm excited about that. Then I going to keep playing at home in Madrid/ There are so many opponents to play before (Roland Garross), so many important matches. Every event in this part of the season for me, in my heart, is so special. I enjoy every day," the World No. 5 said after winning the Monte Carlo Masters, his career 29th ATP Masters 1000 title.

Nadal has now increased his career title count to 70 which includes 50 victories on clay, four on grass and 16 championships on hard courts. “It has been an amazing week on one of the most important events on the tour. I played well here, which helps me a lot to start the clay court season with confidence,” Nadal said after winning his 10th Monte Carlo Masters title. Rafael Nadal, 30, will now participate in the Barcelona Open (April 24-30) before the Madrid Open (May 7-14) and the Italian Open (May 14-21).