The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Nadal has mind set on Olympics

Rafael Nadal - AP

BEIJING (AP)

A long season of gruelling duels against Roger Federer seems to have taken its toll on Wimbledon and French Open champion Rafael Nadal.

"I feel good considering the calendar this year, which was terrorising," Nadal said yesterday, two days before the opening of the Beijing Olympics. "It's been a good year, but a difficult one."

So good a year that on August 18 Nadal will assume the number-one ranking to snap Roger Federer's 237-week reign as the world's top player. As always, Nadal was trying to downplay the importance of the feat and stay focused on winning Olympic gold, which would be his seventh title this season.

"Right now, I don't really have time to enjoy that because I want to take in the Olympic Games, I want to take in the Olympic experience. It's special. It's an experience you never forget," the Spaniard said.

Down to earth

The 22-year-old Nadal isn't getting caught up in his new ranking, even with a third Grand Slam title in 2008 available at the upcoming US Open. In the Chinese capital, the four-time French Open champion will compete in the singles from his familiar number-two seeding, where he has been firmly planted behind Federer since July 25, 2005.

"Not one of us is up here thinking about points. We're only thinking about our country," he said.

In last month's Wimbledon final, Nadal beat Federer for the fourth time this season - all in finals.

That win in early July not only snapped Federer's five-year winning streak at the All England Club, but it contributed to a number of Spanish triumphs this summer.

Spain's football team won its first major championship trophy in 44 years at the European Championship in June and Carlos Sastre made it three straight Spanish champions with his victory at the Tour de France.

"What we've done this year is fantastic, nearly impossible," Nadal said about Spain's Beijing Games expectations. "What we've done this year will be difficult to repeat."