RAFAEL NADAL reclaimed the top spot in the men’s ATP rankings Monday a day after Swiss rival and defending champion Roger Federer crashed out early in Miami.

Nadal, who hasn’t hit a ball in anger since pulling out of the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, saw Federer take over the top spot Feb. 18.

The Swiss veteran, however, slipped 10 points behind his Spanish rival and into second place after a second round defeat to Thanasi Kokkinakis. Towering American John Isner leapt eight places to ninth thanks to his eventual victory Sunday in the Masters 1000 event.

Isner thus equals his previous best ranking of ninth, reached in April 2012, while beaten finalist Alexander Zverev of Germany moved up one place to fourth.

South Korea’s Hyeon Chung meanwhile continued to chip away at the rankings, the 21-year-old breaking into the top 20, to 19th, for the first time in his fledgling career thanks to his quarterfinal appearance in Miami.

ATP rankings Monday (change in ranking in brackets):

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 8.770 pts (+1)

2. Roger Federer (SUI) 8.670 (-1)

3. Marin Cilic (CRO) 4.985

4. Alexander Zverev (GER) 4.925 (+1)

5. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 4.635 (-1).(SD-Agencies)