Nadal Clinches Year-End World No. 1 Ranking After Win Over Wawrinka

Rafael Nadal world number 1

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Rafael Nadal world number 1

For the first time since 2010, Rafael Nadal will end the year as the No. 1 ranked men’s singles tennis player in the world, as the 13-time Grand Slam champion defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday.

Nadal has managed to get back on top of his game just nine months removed from a serious knee injury. And while he hasn’t earned the year-end tournament title just yet, Nadal, who won both the French Open and US Open in 2013, has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.

"Being number one at end of the season is something really difficult as there are some unbelievable competitors out there,” Nadal told the Associated Press. “But without my team behind me, it would be hard to think about achieving this, especially after what happened last year."

For his straight-sets victory of Wawrinka, Nadal laced up in his trusty Nike Air Max Courtballistec 4.3 sneakers—a shoe he’s had profound success in during the past couple of years. This time around, Rafa stepped onto the court in a Grey/Light Blue colorway of the Courtballistec 4.3 rather than the new Volt colorways Nike recently rolled out. 

There’s no question Nadal will be the man to beat in 2014, and perhaps Nike will even hook up their ace with a brand new signature shoe.

[ESPN]

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