2018 ATP Preview: No. 1, Rafael Nadal

As a preview of 2018, Baseline is taking a look at all the Top 10 finishers, beginning with the ATP.

See No. 2 here.

1

Going into 2017, no active player had won the same title 10 times. Then Rafael Nadal did it in Monte-Carlo:

And in Barcelona:

And at the French Open.

In September, he tacked on a third US Open as well:

Nadal finished the year as the world No. 1:

Hot Shot of the Year

On his way to a double breadstick in Monte Carlo against legitimate top player Alexander Zverev, Nadal curved this running forehand winner from what, to most players, should have been a losing position.

Outlook for 2018

Nadal struggled physically at the end of the year (He withdrew from the ATP Finals after just one match.), but who among the elite finished the year completely healthy? If all goes well in the offseason, he has to be a favorite at the start of 2018.

JANUARY: THIS MONTH ON TENNIS CHANNEL PLUS

NEW SEASON, MORE TENNIS! Get Tennis Channel Plus now at BuyTCPlus.com

A LOT of tennis action will be played on Tennis Channel Plus from January through June

Starting with January …  gear up for the Australian Open with 6 LIVE tournaments in the lead up to AO, exclusively on Tennis Channel Plus

1. Mubadala – Abu Dhabi

2. Hopman Cup

3. ATP Sydney

4. Fast 4 Sydney

5. World Tennis Channel – Adelaide

6. Australian Open Qualifying

7. Australian Open (Best 20 Matches of AO will be on-demand)