Double celebration for Nadal

2008-08-18 07:30

Beijing - After three years stuck behind Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal was finally crowned men's tennis number one on Monday, capping a brilliant spell including his first Olympic title just hours earlier.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who reached the second spot in July 2005, underlined the transformation in men's tennis by brushing aside Fernando Gonzalez in the final with Federer's challenge already a distant memory.

With the Swiss misfiring this season, Nadal has seized his chance winning eight tournaments since April including his fourth French Open and his first Wimbledon.

He was demonstrably the best player after a slow start against Potito Starace, blowing away Lleyton Hewitt and Igor Andreev before passing the toughest of tests against hard-court specialist Novak Djokovic.

Buoyed by his success on the surface, Nadal will now be favourite to claim his first US Open title at the season's final Grand Slam starting in New York next Monday.

Asked about his feelings on becoming number one, the Mallorcan left-hander was typically phlegmatic.

'I'm number one'

"I'm very happy to be number one. But the feeling doesn't change too much because the last years I did very well, too," he said.

"I was very happy being the number two. So finally I'm number one. For sure there's satisfaction, but at the same time ... I don't know. I don't have time to celebrate. I play New York in one week."

Sunday's final was always a formality despite Gonzalez's 2-0 record against Nadal on hard-courts and the Chilean's Olympic pedigree of 2004 bronze and doubles gold.

The Spaniard admitted afterwards that his error-free, aggressive performance was "almost perfect."

"I just want to enjoy this moment because I'm having an unbelievable year," he said.

"It's more than my best dreams so I want to enjoy the moment. I know how difficult it is to win these things, especially here. Winning for me is unbelievable."

Gonzalez was left to rue his sole chance when he let slip two second-set points on Nadal's serve, putting a simple volley wide and batting two shots into the net.

'I'm playing good'

"It looks easy but when you're running a lot, you get a little bit tired, you get a little bit dizzy," he said of the open-court volley.

"I was expecting like a passing shot to the other side.

"You know, I'm going to keep remember the next two points that I missed, easy balls. Normally if I'm playing good, I'm not going to miss those. But it can happen."

While Nadal swept all before him in singles, Federer was relegated to the doubles draw after his shock quarter-final defeat to James Blake. He claimed the gold medal with Stanislas Wawrinka late on Saturday.

Afterwards, the 27-year-old Swiss appeared to hand over the baton to Nadal, five years his junior.

"That's what I expected and hoped for many years ago when I got to number one, that if ever somebody were to take it away from me, he would have to play an incredible tennis schedule, win the biggest tournaments, dominate the game basically, and then like this he can take number one," Federer said.

"I didn't want it to happen that I would play completely bad and somebody would pick up number one in the world. So I think Rafa totally deserves it."

- AFP