世界１位で一年を終えるのは「特別」、ジョコ追うナダルが意気込み

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニスのラファエル・ナダル（スペイン）は27日、今週行われるパリ・マスターズとシーズン最終戦のATPワールドツアー・ファイナルズでのノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）とのナンバーワン争いを控え、「世界2位より1位でいることを好む」と話した。（写真は男子テニスのラファエル・ナダル）
　３３歳のナダルが世界ランキング１位で今季を締めくくることになれば、同選手にとっては５度目となり、ジョコビッチやロジャー・フェデラー（スイス）、ジミー・コナーズ（米国）氏に並ぶことになる。
　最新のランキングでナダルは首位のジョコビッチを追っているが、両者の争いは接戦となっており、それについてナダルは「素晴らしい」とコメント。
　「世界２位より１位、３位より２位でいることを好む。そして、もちろん世界ランキング１位で一年を締めくくるのは特別なこと。それを実現させたい」
　９月の全米オープンで１９度目となる四大大会（グランドスラム）制覇を成し遂げてから、ナダルが出場した大会はレーバー・カップのみとなっている。
　ナダルは「全米オープンの後は手に問題があったから、望んでいた通りにレーバー・カップを終えられなかった。それからしばらくは立ち止まらなければならなかった」と続けた。「１００パーセントの状態でプレーするという目標を掲げ、僕はここにいる。それが期待していること」
　ナダルはパリ・マスターズで一度も優勝したことがないが、パリが自身にとって縁起の悪い街であるという考えを受け入れることを拒んだ。
　今年４８勝６敗、ここ２９戦では２８勝という成績を収めているナダルは、「ローラン・ギャロス（全仏オープン）で１２勝できたのが幸運でないとすれば、ここで優勝できていないことは不運ではない」と語った。
　ナダルが最後に敗れたのは、フェデラーとのウィンブルドン選手権準決勝となっている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/10/29-09:26）

I prefer to be No. 1 to No. 2, Rafael Nadal said on Sunday as he prepared to continue his rankings battle with Novak Djokovic in Paris this week and in the season-ending ATP Finals in London
If the 33-year-old Spaniard finishes at No. 1, it would be the fifth time he has ended the year on top of the rankings which would tie Djokovic, Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors.
At the moment, Nadal trails the Serbian, but the race is tight.
It's fantastic, Nadal said. I prefer to be No. 1 to No. 2 and No. 2 to No. 3. And of course, finishing the year world No. 1 is something special, and I would love to make that happen.
Nadal's only competitive tennis since winning his 19th major at the US Open in September was the Laver Cup.
I had my problem in the hand after the US Open, so I couldn't finish the Laver Cup the way that I wanted. Then I had to stop for a while, Nadal said. I am here with the goal to play my 100 per cent. That's what I expect.
Nadal also took some time off to marry his partner of 14 years, Xisca Perello, at a castle in Mallorca on October 19.
Nadal has never won at Bercy but he refused to accept that Paris was an unlucky city for him.
If it's not good luck that I won 12 times in Roland Garros, it's not bad luck that I never won here, added Nadal, who has a 48-6 record this year, winning 28 of his past 29 matches.
His most recent loss came in the Wimbledon semi-finals against Federer.
I missed this tournament a lot of times in my career. And other times I didn't play well and other times opponents have been better than me.
As everybody knows, for me it's the most important city in my tennis career, so I love to be in Paris. It always gives me good vibes.
Nadal has also won only two tour tournaments indoors over his career.
Of course it's an indoor surface that in the past is the surface that I had less chances. I think I have been improving the game to be able to play well. I think this year the surface is quite quick, quite fast. But I don't know. I'm happy to be here, Nadal said.
Djokovic and Nadal are the top seeds at the Paris Masters, the last tournament of the regular season.
World number three Roger Federer will decide on Monday if he will join them in the French capital.
I've got a team meeting scheduled for Monday to discuss not just Paris but next season, I guess by tomorrow I'll know if I'm going to Paris or not, 38-year-old Federer said Sunday after defeating Alex De Minaur to win a 10th Basel title.
My fitness is fine, I'm happy with how I feel. I just don't know if I should (play next week). I'll figure it out with the team.