Veteran Rafael Nadal’s reign in the top 10 of the ATP rankings is all set to come to an end. Nadal is currently in ninth place in the ATP rankings with 3315 rating points. However, the Spaniard will have to exit the top 10 after the Indian Wells as he continues his recovery from a hip injury, which he suffered in the second round of the Australian Open.

In fact, Nadal entered the top 10 rankings back in 2005 and he stayed among the top 10 players for more than 18 years, which he feels is nothing short of a miracle given the number of injury woes he has had in his glorious career.

Earlier in 2020, the southpaw broke Jimmy Connors’ record of 789 straight weeks inside the top 10. His current record stands at 910 weeks, which is second-best to legendary Martina Navratilova’s 1,000 weeks in the Open Era.

“I prefer to be in the top 10, it’s obvious, but in the end, you have to accept things as they come,” Nadal said in an interview with Punto de Break.

“With all the injuries I’ve had over the last 18 years, not having left the top 10 on any occasion is practically a miracle. A time has come when a lot has happened in the last year: a broken rib, two abdominal tears, now the psoas, and foot problems. There are many things that, in tennis, with a ranking that lasts a year. You know if you don’t play, you’re out of the top 10,” asserted the Spaniard.

Meanwhile, Nadal will be looking to make a comeback to action in the upcoming clay season. The Spaniard feels the important thing is to be healthy as he once again looks to get back to his best.

“Now the gravel season is coming and we have to try to add [points], but the important thing for me, beyond all that, is to try to be healthy, when I compete on gravel to feel that I can compete for what I want and fight for the ultimate goal, which now, it has to be Roland Garros itself,” the 36-year-old stated.

Nadal will be looking to clinch his 15th Roland Garros title in Paris.