By Chris Soderstrom
It’s official: Roger Federer’s four year reign atop the rankings at the end to the season will end this year after Rafael Nadal’s solid performance in Madrid.
The 22-year-old did enough to put the result beyond doubt at Madrid despite succumbing to Gilles Simon in the semi-final on the weekend. Federer did likewise succumbing to eventual winner Andy Murray.
“To become No. 1 during the year was one of my goals and it is important to have achieved it,” said the Mallorcan, who is the first left-hander to finish No. 1 since John McEnroe back in 1984.
“Moreover, if you finish the year as No. 1 it is even more special. I am also very happy to bring something more to Spanish sport, something for Spanish history and for our great tennis tradition.”
Having emerged from Federer’s shadow to take the No. 1 ranking back in August, Nadal never looked back and currently holds an amazingly consistent 80-10 record for the year.
He held No. 2 for a record 160 weeks and finished second at the end of the past three seasons.