McEnroeisanartist
Hall of Fame
Since 1973, only one player who was ranked #1 at year end for one year, and whose year end ranking fell out of the top 3 of another year, was able to get back into the top 2 of a later year. In other words, the player ranked #1, then fell out of the top 3, then got back into the top 2.
Andre Agassi was #1 in 1999, fell to #6 in 2000, and got back to #2 in 2002.
In other words, it looks very unlikely that Nadal will ever finish a season ranked in the top 2 again.
Note: there have been only two players who were ranked #1 at year end for one year, whose year end ranking fell out of the top 3 of another year, and were able to get back into the top 3 of a later year. Ilie Nastase was #1 in 1973, fell to #10 in 1974, and was #3 in 1976. Lleyton Hewitt was #1 in 2002, fell to #17 in 2003, and was #3 in 2004.
Andre Agassi was #1 in 1999, fell to #6 in 2000, and got back to #2 in 2002.
In other words, it looks very unlikely that Nadal will ever finish a season ranked in the top 2 again.
Note: there have been only two players who were ranked #1 at year end for one year, whose year end ranking fell out of the top 3 of another year, and were able to get back into the top 3 of a later year. Ilie Nastase was #1 in 1973, fell to #10 in 1974, and was #3 in 1976. Lleyton Hewitt was #1 in 2002, fell to #17 in 2003, and was #3 in 2004.