Getty Images
Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.
- Rafa Nadal could serve up a financial ace against his old rival Roger Federer in the coming weeks.
- If Nadal wins the 2018 French Open title he will add $2.54 million to his 2018 earnings - enough to leapfrog Federer's haul.
- Nadal beat Simone Boletti in the Round of 128 on Tuesday and is five wins away from the French Open final.
- Federer takes home nothing as he skipped the entire clay season.
Rafa Nadal appears set to serve a financial ace against his arch tennis rival Roger Federer.
Federer took a break from the clay season so he could be as fit and fresh as possible for the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, but during his absence Nadal has enjoyed top form, collected three ATP titles, and stormed to the top of the ATP men's rankings.
Now, Nadal could leapfrog Federer in another ranking - the tennis money league.
As Nadal won the Monte-Carlo Masters, the Barcelona Open, and the Italian Open - all clay competitions - he is the favourite to claim an 11th French Open title in the coming weeks.
Should he triumph at Roland-Garros then he will add €2.2 million ($2.54 million) to his 2018 earnings to date, a figure that already stands at exactly $3,412,970 according to Forbes.
This would mean his total prize money for 2018 would swell to $5.95 million, far surpassing the current money leader Federer, who has won $4,336,500 thanks to his successes at the Australian Open and the Rotterdam Open.
Rafa Nadal defeated Simone Boletti in the French Open Round of 128 on Tuesday and is five matches away from the tournament final on June 10.