U.S. Open - No extra pressure for Nadal

Eurosport - Sun, 24 Aug 14:34:00 2008

Rafael Nadal said he felt no added pressure entering Monday's US Open as world number one after finally overtaking Roger Federer at the top of the rankings.

TENNIS 2008 Beijing 2008. Rafa Nadal (ESP). Foto: EFE. - 0

"The pressure is the same," the Spaniard said at Flushing Meadows.

"When you want to win the goal is still the same and the pressure the same.

"I'm very happy to be number one. It's a big satisfaction after a long time being number two. But at the same time nothing changes."

Nadal spent a record 160 successive weeks as number two before ending the Swiss master's record reign of 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

The 22-year-old Nadal routed Federer in the French Open final and claimed a thrilling five-set victory over the Swiss in the Wimbledon final before crowning a glorious run with Olympic gold in Beijing.

"It's been a very tough season," he said.

Nadal, beaten by compatriot David Ferrer in the fourth round here last year, has yet to reach the semi-finals of the US Open or win a hard-court Grand Slam.

By contrast, Federer has won the last four US Opens.

"This is the last Grand Slam of the season so it's going to be very important for everybody," said the Spaniard.

"If I play a good tournament here I'm going to have chances to continue to be number one for longer."

Reuters

Comment 31 - 50 of 50

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. ALLAH HELP U..

    From nthk8, on Tue 26 Aug 12:23AM

  2. TO THE XTEND U WAN CHALLEGE ME FOR A BET??COM ON..JUS A­ GAME ONLI..BY THE WAY U WAN BET ON WAT?

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 11:53PM

  3. ALL U KNOW IS YAK YAK YAK BOU NADAL..LIKE AS THOUGH HE­ MUS WIN EVERYTIME..SPARE A THOUGHT FOR OTHER PLAYERS..

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 11:51PM

  4. ARENT U NOT PREJUDICED??

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 11:47PM

  5. If one day you learn to read you will see from my­ comment that I loved Phau's game and admire his­ fighting spirit: far from looking down on the underdog,­ I am on their side when they show guts and class. And­ Kholschrieber isn't exactly unknown. On a good day­ he could beat anyone in the world. Your­ "only" problem is that you are prejudiced,­ narrow-minded, ignorant and rude (no offence meant,­ it's only an opinion).

    From jimwont986, on Mon 25 Aug 11:40PM

  6. COMMENT55-KHOLSCH WILL BLAST NADAL OFF COURT IN­ 4SETS..Y LOOK DOWN ON PLAYER THAT IS LOWER RANK??HE DID­ LOST IN 2 TIE BREAKS...BORIS BECKER WAS FIRST UNSEEDED­ PLAYER WIN WIMBLEDON85..HE TOO WAS A UNKNOWN..

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 11:27PM

  7. nthk8 you really are a pain in the @#$%, but Nadal has­ just scratched you. Will you shut up now, or do you­ want to bet on Kholschrieber now? I'd like to hear­ your intelligent comments on the match. Do you agree­ Phau played a phaunomenal match? Do you wonder as I do­ what he's doing playing Challengers? With that­ backhand, that footwork, that fitness, he played like a­ top 10, didn't he? But Nadal won in straight sets.­ Why??

    From jimwont986, on Mon 25 Aug 11:00PM

  8. Scratch my last comment. Nadal still wearing the same­ gear. The boys and girls from Marca got it wrong, not­ exactly for the first time. Good first set from Phau,­ but Rafa looks to be cruising now. CHEERS

    From rhymes450, on Mon 25 Aug 9:46PM

  9. EVEN THE US CROWDS ROOTING NADAL TO LOSE..

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 8:13PM

  10. nadal cant even volley..he too slow for­ hardcourt..others will win xcept spanish fly rafar­ nuttella..

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 7:39PM

  11. HOW TO EAT DICTIONARY AH??U EAT B4?

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 7:32PM

  12. PLEASE DO ANALYSE ALL THE PARTICIPANTS RESULTS ­ FOR 2008

    A FRISKY NADAL IS FAR AHEAD IN RESULTS­ DUE TO HIS AGGRESSIVE PLAY NEVER SAY DIE

    CHASING TO ­ RETURN IMPOSSIBLE ANGLED SHOTS NOT EXPECTED BY HIS­ BEST OPPONENTS

    IF M SAFIN STAYS FIT HE SHOULD GIVE­ A VERY GOOD ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF READERS

    From Lucie D, on Mon 25 Aug 7:25PM

  13. FIT NADAL TO CLAIM WINNERS FINAL $1.5 MILLION $­ CHECK HE IS HOME & DRY IN 3 SETS ALREADY

    From Lucie D, on Mon 25 Aug 7:22PM

  14. hello misss nothing 8 __ why not try to­ learn one new word a day up to 4letters each

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 7:01PM

  15. hello misss nothing 8 __ why not try to­ learn one new word a day up to 4letters each

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 7:01PM

  16. item 37 -- look where she concentrates her ­ thoughts ___ -- hope she enjoys her viewing ­ darlings

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 6:52PM

  17. item 36 miss nothing 8 -- certainly needs more­ schooling if she plans to eat her brand new ­ dictionary

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 6:47PM

  18. item 36 nothing 8 -- looks quite lost--- she­ has obviously been watching girls olympic beach­ volleyball

    all night---- mixing their beach ­ costumes with frisky Nadal outfits to concentrate­ her interest zone

    this is tennis sweetie pie ­ -- played with raquets -- why not try watching your­ first ever match darling

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 6:45PM

  19. item 36 nothing 8 -- looks quite lost--- she­ has obviously been watching girls olympic beach­ volleyball

    all night---- mixing their beach ­ costumes with frisky Nadal outfits to concentrate­ her interest zone

    this is tennis sweetie pie ­ -- played with raquets -- why not try watching your­ first ever match darling

    From ballerinastar22, on Mon 25 Aug 6:45PM

  20. HOW MANY TIMES WILL NADAL SCRATCH HIS @#$% 2DAY..BET HE­ NEVER WASH HIS THONG..YUCKS..

    From nthk8, on Mon 25 Aug 6:12PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account