Nadal begins French Open with a big lead in rankings

HAMBURG - Rafael Nadal has taken a big lead as he begins his conquest for a fifth straight French Open title in the men’s tennis rankings issued Monday by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

Nadal tops the bill with 14,960 points ahead of long-time rival Roger Federer, who has 10,470 after handing Nadal a rare defeat on clay in the Madrid masters final May 24. Briton Andy Murray is third with 9,020 points.

The clay court Grand Slam in Paris started Sunday, with Murray already into the second round.

ATP top 10 as of May 25 (previous ranking in parenthesis):

1. (1) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 14,960 points

2. (2) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 10,470

3. (3) Andy Murray, Britain, 9,020

4. (4) Novak Djokovic, Serbia, 8,830

5. (5) Juan Martin del Potro, Argentina, 4,830

6. (6) Andy Roddick, United States, 4,220

7. (7) Gilles Simon, France, 3,890

8. (8) Fernando Verdasco, Spain, 3,830

9. (9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, France, 3,330

10. (11) Gael Monfils, France, 3,150