Rafael Nadal: Year-end World Number One

Rafael Nadal closed out the current year as the number one player for the fourth time in his history (2008, 2010, and 2013). This comes after a very busy calendar, where he won 67 matches and lost 11 encounters, earning him a return to the top of the ATP rankings.

However, in the final stretch, specifically at the London Masters, fatigue took its toll on him, and he ended up suffering a knee injury. And when preparing to play an exhibition match in Dubai, his limbs failed him once again.

The Spaniard underwent some medical tests before traveling, which ultimately ruled him out of the friendly tournament. The replacement for the number one will be his compatriot Roberto Bautista, who will join Pablo Carreño, another Spanish player who will also compete.

However, Nadal is not the only withdrawal from Dubai, as Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka will also not compete. Their replacements will be Andrey Rublev and Kevin Anderson. With this scenario, the top favorite for the tournament is Croatian player Novak Djokovic, who suffered an injury that kept him off the circuit this season.