Nadal now eyes No.1 spot
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Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal arrived to a hero's welcome in his home town of Manacor on the Spanish island of Mallorca on Tuesday, and declared that the number one spot is now his goal. "Now it has become a little objective," Nadal said.
In one of the most nerve-jangling finals seen at the All England Club, Nadal survived two rain breaks and an astonishing Federer fightback to end the Swiss's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a thrilling 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 victory.
Federer has led the rankings for a record 232 consecutive weeks, and Nadal has been second for a record 155.
Nadal capped a brilliant summer for Spain, as their football team won the European championships to end a 44-year wait for a major trophy.
"Whoever wins the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year for me is the number one in the world," Boris Becker said after that dramatic Wimbledon final. "The computer just didn't get it yet."
He was acclaimed by hundreds of fans-- including Balearic Islands regional president Francesc Antich and Manacor Mayor Antoni Pastor-- as he waved to them from the balcony of the Manacor town hall. Nadal, 22, said he stands a chance of becoming world number one provided he maintains his current level of play and keeps "working with the same humility."
The Wimbledon trophy has a place of pride not only for Nadal, but for Spain. The tennis players from the country have ruled the French Open but the grass-court Slam has been largely elusive. Before the 22-year-old, Manuel Santana was the last Spaniard to lift the coveted trophy in 1966.
Nadal acknowledged that he has "good options" to reach the top spot in the upcoming North American tour, when he plays the Masters Series tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.
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