TNT Sports
You can't be serious!
By
Published 19/05/2005 at 22:11 GMT+1
Never in Rafael Nadal's wildest dreams did he believe, on the eve of his first Roland Garros championships that he would be ranked the fifth best player in the world. The Mallorcan, who has won five titles in 2005, talked to Eurosport about his recent for
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
Tournament victories in Costa do Sauipe, Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome has seen Nadal's ranking rise 46 places from 51 at the end of the 2004 season.
While tennis insiders have realised his potential for four seasons, it wasn't until his victory over American Andy Roddick in the Davis Cup final that his fame in his native Spain went into orbit.
Since then, the 18-year-old has taken the men's tour by storm winning 41 of 47 matches and claiming 17 red dirt scalps on the spin.
KING ON CLAY
And for this reason Nadal ranks top of Eurosport's clay court rankings ahead of French Open champion Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Coria and Roger Federer.
His only objective for the clay season had been to aim for a Top 20 ranking.
"Never at all did I believe I'd have such a ranking," he told Eurosport.
"My only objective was to finish the clay season near the Top 20. Now I realise that I will finish between the Top 5. It's incredible, I'm really happy."
Nadal has even knocked Barcelona and Real Madrid football clubs off the front pages of Spanish sports papers during his remarkable run.
And this, as a result has put further pressure on a player who has played just 131 career matches.
So the tag of French Open favourite does not rest easily on his broad shoulders.
"I don't want to be under more pressure," he explained.
"Of course, it [Roland Garros] is the most important tournament on clay but I have already had good results on clay and this will help me because I won't have the stress of needing to earn ranking points.
"Anyway, there are so many good players.
"That's why I'm not the favourite but if somebody says I'm one of the 15 candidates that's okay because my statistics show that.
"But I'm not the favourite at all!"
The youngest player to crack the Top 5 since Michael Chang in 1989 insists that as long as he keep enjoying his tennis he'll improve in time.
"I'm playing well and the most important thing is to keep progressing every day. To have your feet on the ground and not think about the comparisons people are making," he smiled.
"The important thing is that I continue being myself, try to keep training at 100 per cent as I always do and have the same illusion I have now.
With the advice of his uncle, the former Spanish and Barcelona footballer Miguel Angel Nadal ringing in his head, Rafa concluded: "If I follow this line I'm sure I will continue having victories.
"But, it I start thinking that I have already won everything I'll be in trouble for sure."
You can follow live coverage on the French Open, from Roland Garros in Paris on Monday 23 May at 11:00cet / 10am on Eurosport TV and eurosport.com
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement