Rafael Nadal is officially #1!
Spaniard Rafael Nadal ascended to the No. 1 position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings on Monday by replacing his great rival Roger Federer of Switzerland, who had held the top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks (since February 2, 2004).
Nadal, who had ranked No. 2 behind Federer for a record 160 consecutive weeks (since July 25, 2005), guaranteed himself the World No. 1 ranking after reaching the semifinals earlier this month at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati.
But Nadal celebrated his rise to No. 1 in perfect fashion yesterday, winning the Olympic singles gold medal in Beijing.
"Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year," Nadal said in Beijing Sunday. "I am playing an unbelievable season, no doubt. I have to be very happy for everything.
"The feeling for sure is very happy for being No. 1, but the feeling doesn't change too much because the last years I did very well too. It is a satisfaction... I want to enjoy these two days probably, but later I have to be focused on New York [for the US Open, which begins August 25]."
Nadal, who had ranked No. 2 behind Federer for a record 160 consecutive weeks (since July 25, 2005), guaranteed himself the World No. 1 ranking after reaching the semifinals earlier this month at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati.
But Nadal celebrated his rise to No. 1 in perfect fashion yesterday, winning the Olympic singles gold medal in Beijing.
"Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year," Nadal said in Beijing Sunday. "I am playing an unbelievable season, no doubt. I have to be very happy for everything.
"The feeling for sure is very happy for being No. 1, but the feeling doesn't change too much because the last years I did very well too. It is a satisfaction... I want to enjoy these two days probably, but later I have to be focused on New York [for the US Open, which begins August 25]."