The Matador Named Nadal

Rafael Nadal, the Spaniard who will be the  No. 1 ranked player in the world for 2008, is the first Spaniard to do so. He is also the only left hander since John McEnroe to finish the year at No. 1.

After being Federer's nemesis for over four years now, he has finally achieved the coveted position. Although in the past, he has said that was perfectly content being No. 2, the exalted position of numero uno is something that nobody will refuse.

His arrival on the court has given a new meaning to the game. The sport whose unofficial master was Roger Federer, had a new prodigy.

The fans welcomed the arrival with open hands. The capris, the aggressiveness, the biting of the trophies became a regularity, and the fans sensing that this was something that was going to be memorable were thrilled.

Finally, there was someone to challenge the master and the fight for the Grand Slam titles began.

Especially on the French Open, played on clay, where Nadal showed who was the best for four consecutive years.

Federer used to defeat his opponents to reach to the final and there was Nadal waiting for him to overturn him like a skittle.

And then there came Wimbledon.

Federer's own arena, his reign on the center court for five years and there yet again was Nadal waiting to capture that too. And he did that in a splendid way.

Vamos Rafa. You deserve that!

The fans all over now wait, wait with bated breath to see their favorites pitted against each other, for their matches are perhaps the most scintillating and spell-binding.

I can perhaps even say that playing against Federer brings the best out of Nadal and it is a treat to watch these players lock horns.

There is a certain ruthlessness and adamancy about the way Nadal plays and this is what that is unique about him. He achieves what he wants and will fight tooth and nail for it.

The US and the Australian Open are the only grand slams to have eluded the stubborn Spaniard, but he will engrave his name upon it. That's for sure!

What he has achieved is absolutely awesome and especially on the surface which has proved difficult for many stalwarts, including Federer.

How far he will go as being No. 1 is unknown for the present, but whether he stays or relinquishes the spot, he will be regarded as one of the best players that the sport has ever seen.