Nadal secures world No.1 until end of year

Paris Nov 2 (IANS) Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal got the better of South Korean Hyeon Chung 7-5 6-4 to advance into the Paris Masters third round.

With the win here on Wednesday evening Nadal secures the ATP ranking s top spot until the end of the year for the first time since 2013.

Nadal s top ranking comes after his main rival Swiss Roger Federer pulled out of this year s last Masters event reports Efe news agency.

The 31-year-old Nadal became the oldest player to top the rankings in its 44-year history.

"I m very very happy for everything. It has been an amazing year. One year ago for sure I never dreamed about being World No. 1 again... It s something that means a lot to me. But the season is not over " Nadal said on-court.

Both players exchanged breaks early in the first set but Nadal managed to carve out a 4-2 lead.

While serving for the set the 21-year-old Chung ranked world number 55 broke Nadal s service again only to make Nadal sweat a little more before the Spaniard clinched the set.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion put pressure on Chung s serve as the second set wore on earning a break in the ninth game which proved to be decisive.

--IANS
ajb/mr