Rafael Nadal did it!
The Spanish legend managed to secure the year-end world no.1 rank after an outstanding season.
Rafa staged a spectacular comeback that started with the Australian Open final (lost to Roger Federer). Then the world no.1 built up his rankings during the clay court season (Rafa’s style!) winning Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris. Nadal consolidated his lead with a couple of great performances on the hard courts in the second part of the season after he won the US Open, Beijing, and he reached the final in Shanghai. After winning in the first round in Paris, Nadal has put more than 1500pts between him and Roger Federer (ranked no.2) to secure the top spot in the rankings for this year.
This is the 4th time that Nadal ends a season as the world no.1 and he is the oldest player to have achieved this feat.
I have never dreamt about that. NADAL
During the on-court interview, an elated Rafa commented
“I’m very, very happy for everything. It has been an amazing year. One year ago, for sure I never dreamed about being World No. 1 again at the end of the season. It’s something that means a lot to me. But the season is not over.”
Nadal will definitely keep his focus to try to win Paris for the first time and then the Finals.
WORLD NO.1 |
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Rafael Nadal is a great great champion. Without complaint he endured a long period of difficulty, always taking responsibility for his losses. He explained his dedication and endurance with his belief that he still had the passion and willingness to do what was necessary to return to the highest level of play. All the naysayers who counted him out and treated him as a has-been trying to regain his youth have been proven wrong. Rafa`s dedication and humility, his relentless work ethic and love of the game have brought him back to the top where for some of us, he has and will always remain.