ATP World Tour: Roger Federer back on hunt for world number one

STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 11: Roger Federer of Switzerland talks to the media during a press conference on day 1 of the Mercedes Cup at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 11, 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 11: Roger Federer of Switzerland talks to the media during a press conference on day 1 of the Mercedes Cup at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 11, 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /
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ATP World Tour action continues this week at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. Roger Federer has a chance to retake the world No. 1 ranking.

As the ATP World Tour gears back up following the French Open, there is plenty on the line in men’s singles tennis. Swiss superstar Roger Federer has a lot to play for, including the world number one ranking. Rafael Nadal has largely been in control of the tour since the start of the clay court season. His winning the 2018 French Open was just the icing on the cake. Now, Federer enters the Stuttgart Open as the top seed in men’s singles and he has a chance to knock Rafa out of the top ranking.

Federer must reach the finals at the Stuttgart Open in order to retake number one.

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Despite Nadal’s surging in the last few weeks, Federer remains right on his heels in the ATP World Tour rankings. Right now, Rafa is chasing him in terms of total Grand Slam singles titles, but it is Federer who is chasing Nadal for the sport’s top position. Despite several younger rising stars making headlines in men’s singles tennis, both Rafa and Federer continue to dominate.

Federer took home the title at the Australian Open earlier this year and Nadal completed the defense of his Roland Garros title last week.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal pick up right where they left off on the ATP World Tour: chasing after one another in a battle for the top singles ranking.

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The Swiss superstar enters Stuttgart as the top seed. The tournament’s second seed is French tennis star Lucas Pouille. The Frenchman is also the defending champion at the ATP World Tour 250 series event. Federer needs to reach the finals if he hopes to retake the top ranking in men’s singles and he squares off against German veteran Mischa Zverev first. Federer is 5-0 against Zverev throughout their careers. He is the heavy favorite in his first match at the Stuttgart Open. The path to the finals will not be easy though. Stay tuned to see if Federer can get back into the world number one ranking.