Nadal Is Shocked To End The Year At Number One

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 7th November 2013

Nadal Is Shocked To End The Year At Number One

epa03938461 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in their group A singles match for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 06 November 2013. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Rafael Nadal has returned to the year-end No. 1 three years after last holding it as the Spaniard capped a miracle comeback season after winning a second group match at the World Tour Finals. And Nadal could not be more thrilled.

Nadal has so far won ten titles – including five Masters 1000s and the French and US Opens. He is into the semi-finals of the season wrap-up event appears stunned by his accomplishment. “This was one of the best things that I did in my career, coming back to the number one after three seasons,” said the year-end holder in 2008 and 2010. “That’s very difficult in our sport, and after a very important injury.

“It’s an emotional thing for me, for sure. In the same time be able to qualify for the semi-finals is an extra thing. And the good thing is after two matches now, I can really be focused only on the tournament because the year end is over.”

Happy as he may be to return to the top, Nadal joins other elite players including Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer as submitting that the top ranking is nice, but not an absolute goal for them anymore.

“I don’t want to fight for No. 1 in the next season,” said Nadal. “My goal is to be enough competitive to keep having chances to win important tournaments. That’s my biggest goal, the thing that really motivates me. This year, because all the success that I had, I am the No. 1, but I never thought about that during the season.