Rafael Nadal Clinches Year-End No. 1

Rafael Nadal has clinched the No. 1 spot in the year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings for the second time in three years. He is only the ninth player in the history of the rankings -- since 1973 -- to finish on top of the ATP rankings at least twice.

Nadal won his ninth Grand Slam title on Monday at the U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam -- joining a group of only six other male players (Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Don Budge and Fred Perry) to have completed the career Slam.

Nadal, 24, claimed his third Grand Slam in the 2010 calendar year by defeating Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open final on Monday. The 24-year-old Spaniard also won the French Open and Wimbledon titles this year. Since 2000, only Roger Federer has clinched the year-end top ranking in the week following the U.S. Open (2004 and 2006).

Nadal will be officially awarded the title in London during the ATP World Tour Finals that end the ATP's calendar year -- not including the Davis Cup final on Nov. 21-28.

"It has been an incredible season - one of my best ever, if not the best. Winning the US Open together with Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the three back-to-back (ATP World Tour) Masters 1000s in Europe, was not easy," Nadal said. "I worked very hard to get back to the top and it feels really good to know I will end the year as No.1."

Nadal has compiled a 59-7 record this season and has won a tour leading six titles in 2010.

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