Despite losing to Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5 in the semifinals, by beating Nicolas Lapentti in the quarterfinals (for his 32 consecutive match win) Rafael Nadal assured that he will be #1 in the World on Monday August 18th, one week before the start of the 2008 US Open. Andy Murray will be playing his first ATP Master Series final against Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Djokovic leads their career head-to-head 4-1 but lost to Murray for the first time last week in Canada 6-3 7-6(3).
Rafael Nadal has currently spent nearly 158 weeks (more than 3 years!) in the #2 position behind Roger Federer. That number will end at 160. I wonder how many weeks Federer will spend at #2? He has lots of points to defend until the end of the year, having won the US Open and the end-of-year Masters Cup.
Defending points will definitely give Rafa a challenge come 2009.
ReplyDeleteBe interesting to see if Raja can recapture the #1 spot.
Really want Novak today - just cannot even stand to look at Murray, much less watch that awful game he plays. That Novak/Rafa match was sensational, in that the aggressor really took it to Rafa, and he had very little to offer in return.
The USO should prove interesting.
The Countrywide Classic at ucla should be a dud, at best.