Nadal on No.1: "It's a Big Emotion for Me"

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Nadal on No.1: "It's a Big Emotion for Me"

Rafael Nadal sat down with media to discuss this week’s Western and Southern Open and the fact that he will rise to No.1 in the rankings at week’s end regardless of his result this week. That’s because Roger Federer has pulled out of the draw with a back injury—cancelling the highly anticipated battle for ranking supremacy that was set to take place at Cincinnati.

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“It’s obvious that it’s bad news for the tournament that a couple of players are not here including of course Roger,” Nadal said. “But that’s part of our sport. I have been in that situation more times that in my career that I would have liked, and that’s part of the game.”

Nadal returns to the No.1 ranking for the first time since July 2014. He will begin his 142nd week at No.1 next week—seventh on the all-time ATP list for weeks at No.1.

“For me it’s something that makes me happy obviously,” he said. “I had injuries I had some troubles with my game, but I worked hard and I maintained the passion for the game and here I am at No.1, so I hope to play a good tournament here.”

Many had counted Nadal out prior to this season. He had gone nearly three years without winning a major and injuries curtailed any momentum he might have had in the second half of last season. When asked if he took any pleasure in proving people wrong Nadal quickly replied that he doesn’t play for his doubters.

“Seriously I don’t play for what the people say or don’t say,” he said. “For sure everybody is free to have an opinion and it’s good because when people talk it’s good for our sport even if it’s in a negative way. The real thing is that there are a lot of players, new generation coming. A lot of players that have been here for a long time that are still having success and that’s a great combination to have. It’s a big emotion for me to be back [at No.1].”

Nadal will begin his week at Cincinnati with a first-round matchup with France’s Richard Gasquet. The Spaniard owns a 14-0 lifetime record against Gasquet and has won the last 21 sets the pair have contested.

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