Nadal, Djokovic join forces in Toronto

Toronto : World number one Rafael Nadal and second-ranked Novak Djokovic are playing doubles together at the ATP Masters Series Canada tournament that starts Monday, the first such 1-2 singles pairing since 1976.

Not since Jimmy Connors was ranked first and Arthur Ashe was second when they played together 34 years ago at North Conway, New Hampshire, have the ATP's top two singles players joined forces in doubles, according to the tour.

Nadal, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, and Djokovic, whose lone Slam title came at the 2008 Australian Open, will open against the Candian wild card duo of Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil.

Nadal, who reclaimed the top ranking spot from Swiss star Roger Federer in June, has won six career men's doubles titles, the most recent this year at Indian Wells. Djokovic's lone doubles title was in June at Queen's.