• Rafael Nadal loses to Borna Coric in his comeback match at the Cincinnati Masters.
• Third-ranked Nadal had been out for six weeks with an abdomen injury.
• The Spaniard is now behind in the race for the world’s number one ranking.

Rafael Nadal’s comeback match at the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday was a disaster. Because of this, the Spaniard is now behind in the race for the top ATP ranking.

Borna Coric, a Croat, caught Nadal off guard in his second-round match and beat him 7-6 (11), 4-6, 6-3. This ended Nadal’s hopes of passing Daniil Medvedev and becoming the world’s number one player.

Medvedev, who is the top seed, plays Denis Shapovalov on Thursday for a spot in the quarterfinals. If Medvedev wins, he will keep his top spot going into the US Open.

Third-ranked Nadal was very upset by his loss. He had been out of action for six weeks while he healed from an injury to a muscle in his abdomen that kept him from playing Nick Kyrgios in a Wimbledon semi-final.

Now, Nadal has only played one hardcourt match this summer. The US Open starts on August 29 in New York.

“In terms of New York, it’s a Grand Slam, a different kind of tournament,” Nadal said.

“I was only able to play two sets before this match in the last 40 days.

“I know that to gain condition. I will have to (be) on the tour practicing with the guys (other players).”

The 36-year-old Spaniard, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, said he hopes to feed off the energy of the crowd at the US Open, where he has won in 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2019.

“There is an energy the crowd gives me in New York. It’s a very special place for me,” Nadal said.

“I’ve had unforgettable moments there and I’m going to try my very best every single day to be ready for that.”

[embedpost slug=”nick-kyrgios-lost-against-taylor-fritz-at-wta-cincinnati-masters/”]