His play and his peers are increasingly testifying that Rafael Nadal is the world’s best men’s tennis player. But for the time being, the rankings and Nadal himself continue to rate Roger Federer No 1. When the men’s tennis rankings are updated, Federer will retain his No 1 spot, which he has held since February 2004. But Nadal is now only 275 points behind, with a chance to claim the top spot next week in Cincinnati. For that to happen, Nadal would have to win and Federer would have to lose before the semi-finals, according to the ATP Tour website. Whatever happens, it could set up a potentially dramatic showdown at the United States Open in August.“Every player wants to be No 1,” Nadal said Sunday after defeating Nicolas Kiefer, 6-3, 6-2, in the Rogers Cup final. “I have to be very happy if I am No 1 or No 2,” he said. “Because if I am No 2, it’s because in front of me there is an amazing player like Roger.”Nadal, the 22-year-old from Spain, has been the better player lately, however. He has won 29 straight matches dating to a second-round loss at the Rome Masters in May. The streak includes victories over Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.This was the second Rogers Cup title for Nadal, who also won in 2005. And it was his 30th career tournament title. Federer’s loss Wednesday in the second round of the tournament to unseeded Gilles Simon has only increased talk of Nadal’s ascension. Addressing the crowd after the final Sunday, Kiefer said he expected Nadal to be the No. 1 soon.Kiefer had less success predicting Nadal’s moves on the court. Kiefer made his task harder by committing 31 unforced errors, and his serve failed him at critical times. Only 47 per cent of his first serves were in, and he double-faulted five times, including consecutively during the sixth game of the second set when Nadal broke him. “When I had that break, I felt I was very close,” Nadal said.But by then Kiefer’s confidence was already broken. In the previous game, which featured deuce six times and a series of thrilling rallies, Nadal maintained his composure and his serve.With a growing repertory of shots and his trademark energy, Nadal has been a more versatile player this season. Against Kiefer, he converted 10 of 10 net points. And with five titles in a row, he has a new air of invincibility. “I win on every surface,” Nadal said. “I win on grass, on hard, on indoor and on clay, too. So if I’m playing my best tennis, I can win on every surface.”
