Djokovic closes gap on Federer

Novak Djokovic, who won the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, has closed the gap on Roger Federer at the top of the latest ATP rankings, as the Swiss player enters his 300th week as world number one.

The Serb, who beat Britain’s Andy Murray 5-7, 7-6 (13/11), 6-3 to take his 13th masters series title, is now just 195 points behind Federer, who was beaten in the semi-final of the tournament, and could even take his position in the coming weeks.

In the WTA rankings, Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka remained on top after her victory in Linz, Austria, 1,800 points ahead of Russia’s Maria Sharapova and 3,055 ahead of Serena Williams, of the United States.

Heather Watson, meanwhile, jumped from 71st to 50th after giving Britain their first WTA tour victory since 1988 by winning in Osaka, Japan.

ATP world rankings on October 15:

1. Roger Federer (SUI)

2. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

3. Andy Murray (GBR)

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

5. David Ferrer (ESP)

6. Tomas Berdych (CZE)

7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

8. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)

9. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)

10. Juan Monaco (ARG)

AFP