Sport | Tennis
Nadal downplays Slam success
Spanish ace describes us open victory as another step forward in his career
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 September 16, 2010
- Image Credit: AFP
- Rafael Nadal of Spain, US Open Champion, poses with the trophy in Times Square in New York City on Tuesday. The 24-year-old was taken on a whirlwind tour of Manhattan, showing off his new trophy to screaming fans in Times Square and on Fifth Avenue before being whisked around television studios for a series of interviews.
Madrid: World number one tennis ace Rafael Nadal yesterday downplayed his achievement in completing a career Grand Slam, describing it as merely "a step forward" in his career.
"I'm not the best sportsman, it's quite obvious that I'm not," the Spaniard told a news conference on his arrival at Madrid's airport from New York.
Nadal on Monday became only the seventh man in history — and the youngest at 24 — to have won the world's four top tennis tournaments: the US, French and Australian Opens and Wimbledon.
The left-hander achieved the feat after he overcame second-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 at Flushing Meadows to capture his first US Open crown.
"As a tennis player I have taken a step forward," he said of the achievement, adding that he maintains "the hunger for victory and the hope to keep winning".
But he described the Grand Slam as a "dream" as the US Open "has been in past the one that has been hardest for me".
"First of all there was my knees," he said, referring to the tendinitis he suffered the 2007 edition, when he lost in the fourth round to David Ferrer.
The following year, "I was very tired after the Olympics, and last year I pulled an abdominal muscle."
Nadal said the 2010 season so far has been "very special, as when you don't win for some time and then you start winning again it means that you have overcome the problems." He said he was now focused on the Shanghai tournament and the Masters events in Paris and London.
"The last part of the year is important to continue winning points," he said.
On Tuesday, the world number one was taken on a whirlwind tour of Manhattan, showing off his new trophy to screaming fans in Times Square and on Fifth Avenue and being whisked around the television studios.
Nadal, dressed casually in denim jeans and a navy blue polo shirt, was looking remarkably fresh after managing just a few hours sleep from the night before because of all his media commitments after the final.
He said he had celebrated his victory by having a quiet meal with his family, including his coach and uncle Toni who had convinced him to focus on tennis.
His achievement, at just 24, immediately reignited the debate about who is the greatest player of all but Nadal, wincing every time the subject is mentioned, remained reluctant to talk about it.
He has always maintained that Roger Federer, with a record 16 grand slam titles, is alone at the top of the mountain. Nadal has nine grand slam titles.
Federer won the US Open five times in a row from 2004-2008 and Nadal, who was once considered a clay-court specialist, said he was happy just to win once on the hardcourts at Flushing Meadows.
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