(May 7, 2010) The customary post-match handshake is about as close as Fernando Verdasco has come to closing the gap on compatriot Rafael Nadal.

Winless in 10 career clashes with Nadal, Verdasco doesn't think the four-time French Open champion is playing his best tennis right now, but believes Nadal will be good enough to surpass Roger Federer and regain the World No. 1 ranking — possibly in the next two months.

Suggesting fatherhood may have diminished Federer's focus and pointing to the fact both second-ranked Novak Djokovic and fourth-ranked Andy Murray have slipped this season, Verdasco believes Nadal will reclaim the top spot.

"I see Rafa number one again. I see (Roger) Federer is not the same as before, I don’t know if it’s because he’s now a father or what, and neither are Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray," Verdasco told the Latin American Herald Tribune in Madrid today.  “Nadal’s not at the same level of two years ago, but he’s always (giving 100 percent). If he wins Roland Garros and has a good showing at Wimbledon he can be No. 1 again."

Currently, Federer holds nearly a 4,000-point lead over Nadal in the ATP rankings — Federer has 10,340 points to Nadal's 6,480 — but Federer is defending 5,000 points in the next two months (2,000 points each for his title triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and 1,000 points in Madrid next week). Nadal, who did not defend his Wimbledon title last year due to a knee injury, is defending only 780 points in the same span (600 for the Madrid final and 180 for his French Open fourth-round finish last year).

Verdasco concedes he carries a competitive jealousy of Nadal, who crushed him, 6-0, 6-1, in last month's Monte Carlo final.

“Sure, there’s healthy envy of Nadal. Because when you see a player winning everything he’s winning you’re jealous of that," Verdasco said. "But it’s just healthy envy. He’s a friend first and foremost."

It is Nadal's competitive composure and hs willingness to find a way to win even when his best tennis eludes him that makes him a champion, Verdasco said.

"What I’ve experienced these three weeks, he’s done for five years," said Verdasco. "Great mental strength even when he’s not having a good day is what I would highlight."