Rafa back on top of world

Rafael Nadal will return to number one in the world rankings after his semi-final opponent Tomas Berdych retired injured at the China Open on Saturday, capping an astonishing comeback for the 13-time Grand Slam champion. The Spaniard needed to make the final in Beijing to edge ahead of Novak Djokovic in the new rankings, which will be announced by the ATP on Monday. Nadal, who last topped the rankings in July 2011, has enjoyed a remarkable season, returning from injury to dominate the hardcourt tournaments. He will overtake defending China Open champion Djokovic at the top. Nadal said, after the match that returning to top spot had capped “a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt”. Berdych pulled out of his semifinal after receiving treatment for an injury with Nadal leading 4-2 in the first set. In Saturday’s women’s semifinals, world number one Serena Williams powered through her match with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-2. Williams will face the eighth-seeded Jelena Jankovic in the final after the Serb defeated Czech Petra Kvitova 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 6-1 following an early scare.