August 14, 2017 09:47 pm | Updated 09:53 pm IST
Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns the ball to Netherlands’ Robin Haase during Rogers Cup tennis semifinal match in Montreal. File
Rafael Nadal was assured a return to world number one for the first time since July of 2014 on Monday when 19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer withdrew from this week's ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament.
Federer said he injured his back in Montreal, where he lost in the final to Germany's Alexander Zverev.
He was the only player who could have denied Nadal the top spot in next Monday's rankings.
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