Novak Djokovic Will Reclaim No. 1 Ranking at ATP World Tour Finals

Continuing their endless back-and-forth to determine which tennis player rightfully deserves the "best in the world" moniker, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal take to the court at the ATP World Tour Finals. Djokovic will regain the upper hand.

Djokovic enters the tournament fresh off winning the BNP Paribas Masters Finals in Paris. Although he did not have to slay Nadal in the finals, Djokovic easily ousted David Ferrer in two sets during the last round before besting Roger Federer in the semifinals.

In yet another incredible year, The Joker has gone 67-9 with six singles titles, including the Australian Open. Yet that just stacks up as a normal year for the 26-year-old. If anything, it's a disappointment considering Nadal's superior performance.

Rank	Player	Points
1	Rafael Nadal	12,030
2	Novak Djokovic	10,610
3	David Ferrer	5,800
4	Andy Murray	5,790
5	Juan Martin del Potro	5,055
6	Tomas Berdych	3,980
7	Roger Federer	3,805
8	Stanislas Wawrinka	3,330
9	Richard Gasquet	3,330
10	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	3,065

Returning stronger than ever from a knee injury, Nadal boasts an exquisite 71-6 record, winning a career-best 10 singles titles when many worried if he'd ever display the same agility as before.

The two stars have traded victories all year, but Nadal currently holds the 3-2 edge. Most recently, however, Djokovic has embarked on a scorching tear while Nadal has entered a slight funk.

Since falling to Nadal in the U.S. Open, Djokovic has won 17 straight matches and three singles titles. He encountered his rival once during that stretch, dropping Nadal in two sets (6-3, 6-4) to secure the ATP China Open championship.

Djokovic has held his end of the bargain in manufacturing more legendary finals showdowns, but Nadal succumbed to Juan Martin del Potro in the Shanghai Rolex Masters semifinals and Ferrer in the BNP Paribas semifinals.

Is it a simple return to normalcy for a man destroying the competition, or do these recent losses represent more than a return to the mean? Considering the sheer dominance of these two men, it's enough to warrant moving Djokovic ahead of the Spaniard for now.

Djokovic has traditionally performed better in the World Tour than Nadal, who has never won the tournament. Nadal also has just one career title indoors and just two from after the U.S. Open until the year's conclusion.

The world's No. 2, on the other hand, is defending his championship in London, and the Serb has no trouble handling the indoor conditions. 

Of course, neither star has an automatic bye to a championship hoedown. Djokovic must conquer Federer in the first round, while Nadal has Ferrer, who beat him a few days ago, on his plate. Sometimes one of the others sends out a stark reminder that men's tennis spans beyond two guys.

But only Nadal and Djokovic can say with a straight face that he's the best. Nadal holds that honor for now, but look for Djokovic to poach it in London.

After that, the chase continues some more. These two could swap places at Nos. 1 and 2 for years.