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Statistics: Nadal joins elite company

August 18, 2008 14:35 IST
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Rafael Nadal clinched a golden treble to wrap up the Olympic tennis tournament on Sunday, overcoming Chilean Fernando Gonzalez to add the Games men's singles title to his French Open and Wimbledon crowns.

The unstoppable Spaniard won 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to mark his impending rise to the top of the world rankings with his country's first ever Olympic gold medal in tennis.

- Perfectionist Nadal still not satisfied

Nadal takes over from Roger Federer, who held the No 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a record 237 consecutive weeks from February 2, 2004, after winning his first Australian Open title, until August 17, 2008.

- Legends laud the new No 1

Nadal is the 24th player to hold No. 1 in the history of the rankings (since August 23, 1973). He becomes the seventh active player to rank No. 1 in his career. Here is a list of the 24 players who have ranked No. 1 for the first time in the history of the rankings (since 1973):

The number ones

Player (Country) Reached No. 1 Age Total Weeks
Rafael Nadal (ESP) Aug. 18, 2008 22 years, 2 months 1
Roger Federer (SUI) Feb. 2, 2004 22 years, 5 months 237
Andy Roddick (USA) Nov. 3, 2003 21 years, 2 months 13
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) Sept. 8, 2003 23 years, 6 months 8
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) Nov. 19, 2001 20 years, 8 months 80
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) Dec. 4, 2000 24 years, 2 months 43
Marat Safin (RUS) Nov. 20, 2000 20 years, 9 months 9
Patrick Rafter (AUS) July 26, 1999 26 years, 8 months 1
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) May 3, 1999 25 years, 2 months 6
Carlos Moya (ESP) Mar. 15, 1999 22 years, 6 months 2
Marcelo Rios (CHI) Mar. 30, 1998 22 years, 3 months 6
Thomas Muster (AUT) Feb. 12, 1996 28 years, 4 months 6
Andre Agassi (USA) Apr. 10, 1995 24 years, 11 months 101
Pete Sampras (USA) Apr. 12, 1993 21 years, 8 months 286
Jim Courier (USA) Feb. 10, 1992 21 years, 5 months 58
Boris Becker (GER) Jan. 28, 1991 23 years, 5 months 12
Stefan Edberg (SWE) Aug. 13, 1990 24 years, 9 months 72
Mats Wilander (SWE) Sept. 12, 1988 24 years, 1 month 20
Ivan Lendl (CZE) Feb. 28, 1983 22 years, 11 months 270
John McEnroe (USA) Mar. 3, 1980 21 years, 15 days 170
Bjorn Borg (SWE) Aug. 23, 1977 21 years, 2 months 109
Jimmy Connors (USA) July 29, 1974 21 years, 11 months 268
John Newcombe (AUS) June 3, 1974 30 years, 11 days 8
Ilie Nastase (ROM) Aug. 23, 1973 27 years, 1 month 40

Most consecutive weeks at No. 1

Player Weeks Duration
Roger Federer 237 Feb. 2, 2004-Aug. 17, 2008
Jimmy Connors 160 July 29, 1974-Aug. 22, 1977
Ivan Lendl 157 Sept. 9, 1985-Sept. 11, 1988
Pete Sampras 102 Apr. 15, 1996-Mar. 29, 1998

Total weeks at No. 1

Player Weeks
Pete Sampras 286
Ivan Lendl 270
Jimmy Connors 268
Roger Federer 237
John McEnroe 170

Left-handers to rank No. 1

Player Weeks
Jimmy Connors 268
John McEnroe 170
Thomas Muster 6
Marcelo Rios 6
Rafael Nadal 1

Courtesy: Greg Sharko/ATPptennis.com

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