By Chris Soderstrom
Rafael Nadal cemented his spot as World No. 1 in men’s tennis yesterday by claiming Spain’s first Olympic gold medal from the tennis arena.
In a best-of-five set final, the Spaniard defeated a gallant Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 and refused to surrender a break of serve throughout the match.
Nadal has now won 38 of his past 39 matches and can add Olympic gold to his list of successes in 2008, which includes the French Open and Wimbledon titles.
“I just want to enjoy this moment because I’m having an unbelievable year,” he told media in Beijing.
“It’s more than my best dreams so I want to enjoy the moment. I know how difficult it is to win these things, especially here. Winning for me is unbelievable.”
Swiss pair Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka won the Beijing doubles gold medal.