After a successful run at the Wimbledon Championships, Rafael Nadal arrived to a hero's welcome in his home town of Manacor on the Spanish island of Majorca, and declared that the number one spot in world tennis is now his goal.
"Now it has become a little objective," Nadal said.
Nadal has long been world number two, behind five-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer of Switzerland.
However, Nadal admitted that things have changed after beating Federer in Sunday's historic final.
Federer continues to lead the way in the ATP ranking with 6,600 points, followed by Nadal on 6,055. This is the closest gap for them.
Nadal acknowledged that he has "good options" to reach the top spot in the upcoming North American tour, when he plays the Masters Series tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati.
He was acclaimed by hundreds of fans - including Balearic Islands regional president Francesc Antich and Manacor Mayor Antoni Pastor - as he waved to them from the balcony of the Manacor town hall.
Nadal, 22, said he stands a chance of becoming world number one provided he maintains his current level of play and keeps "working with the same humility," while he again praised Federer as "the best player in history."
I think he made the right decision by pulling out from the Mercedes Cup due to fatigue and to prevent further injury to his knee.
(Images by JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images)
(Most of the text via bangkokpost.com)
The newly crowned Wimbledon men's singles champion, Rafael Nadal, arrives at the dinner.
Wimbledon women's singles champion, the undisputed grass court queen, Venus Williams.
Tell you what, I'm still awed by last night's battle between Nadal and Federer.
(Images by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani spent another day at the Centre Court cheering for Roger Federer.
The couple sat next to Federer's girlfriend, Mirka Vavrinec throughout the 4 hours 48 minutes match, the longest in the history of Wimbledon final.
Throughout the tense final, it seems that the heavily pregnant Gwen Stefani is merely accompanying her husband. She looked bored, what more had to put up with the match suspensions due to rain.
However it's totally different for Gavin who, just like Mirka, seems to show a lot of emotions during the match.
Stefani is expected to remain in London until she gives birth to her second baby.
(Via dailymail.co.uk)
If you are a Nadal fan, you'll be just as emotional as me witnessing his win at the Wimbledon men's singles final moment ago. He finally became the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980.
Nadal, the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon since Manolo Santana in 1966, also avenged his losses to Federer in the last two finals here and snapped Federer's All England Club winning streak at 40 matches and overall grass-court run at 65.
During the championship point, Federer sends a forehand error into the bottom of the net. After so much of drama and rain delays, the 4 hours 48 minutes match finally ended with the results 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7.
Nadal in tears, hugs his great rival and immediately runs up to his box to hug his family and pick up a Spanish flag. He then hops over to the royal box to shake some hands of Spanish royalty!
Nadal celebrates his win with Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and Princess Letizia of Spain.
During the interviews with the players, Federer said, "I tried everything, it went a little late and everything, but look Rafa is a deserving champion, he just played incredible today. He's the worst opponent on the best court, but it's been a joy again to play here, I know I couldn't win it under the circumstances, but I'll be back next year."
According to the new Wimbledon champion, "This is my favourite tournament, for me to win on this court is a dream. I'm playing in the same time as the best player in history, Roger Federer. He's still number one, he's still the best, he still has five titles here, and I just have one."
Now Nadal has won his 5th Grand Slam title, adding to his four consecutive French Open championships. Federer, meanwhile, remains two shy of Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam wins.
Wow, it's almost 5 a.m. and I'll have to go to work in a couple of hours. But this is one of the best Monday morning, ever. And I can't wait for the Olympics tennis to start.
(Image by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Julian Finney/Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
(Some part of the text from Yahoo! UK Eurosport)
