For the first time in more than a decade, former world number one 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will be out of world' top 10 tennis players in the coming week. Argentinean del Potro's win over Robin Haase in the Paris Masters third round confirmed that the 12-time Grand Slam champion will not be named among top ten for the first time since March 2007.
The Serbian's elbow injury had restricted him from playing since Wimbledon in July.
While like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are achieving new heights in their career, 30-year-old Djokovic is struggling with his form due to fitness.
The Serbian has not won a Grand Slam since the French Open in 2016.
Djokovic is expected to make his return at the exhibition World Tennis Championship at Abu Dhabi in December.
Rafael Nadal has assured himself the No. 1 ranking by beating Hyeon Chung 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters. The 16-time Grand Slam winner had not finished the year at the top since 2013, with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray doing so after that.
However, Nadal had pulled out of the Paris Masters on Friday because of a right knee injury, putting in doubt his participation in the ATP finals.
(With Agency Inputs)
