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The jury of the Prince of Asturias Award County this morning the most important prize in the sports world

Rafa Nadal was aware that he was competing "with great athletes. And it is a prize to the trajectory so this quiet because I hope, if not this year, will be the next ". These were the words of Manacor before knowing that the Prince of Asturias Sport can move on to swell their trophy cabinets.

It is a recognition not only to this extraordinary 2008 but also has to be seen as a reward for the record, the tenacity, when, as well said his close friend Carlos Moyà, "not to lay down their arms ever" ... When any other would have stopped running, he would have forgotten the number one and would have been contented with beating another kind of records.

But it is Nadal, the Spanish athlete more relevant today. And is that Rafa reflects everything that is rewarded with the Prince of Asturias. In the first instead, their deeds sports: four consecutive Roland Garros, with the double Wimbledon this year (for the first time since 1980) after two late missed, the best streak in history on any surface (81 consecutive wins on clay), the better number two in history (160 consecutive weeks in that post) and, finally, world number one ... Without forgetting that also looks with pride and Olympic gold that was in 2004, 18, the youngest champion in Davis Cup the full story.

A second requirement is his most human side. Rafa remains the same the first day, according to media with a smile and responding to the maximum possible number of requests from fans. There is nothing strange to see him twenty minutes signing autographs at the conclusion of their training sessions. His behavior has not been altered by his ascension to the top. On the contrary.

And the third alternative: its contribution sport. The contribution of the tennis Nadal no doubt because it has become one of the most popular athletes in the world and their presence on the circuit has meant one of the greatest rivalries in history and has brought, as identifies two legends like Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, the most that has ever seen in the final of Wimbledon.

Rafa is at a higher level. Any recognition, as highlighted his own comrades circuit, is more than deserved.

The path of Rafa Nadal at the top of the tennis world was not a smooth, quite the contrary, it was hard and difficult, since its inception as a professional, has by the añso 2002 until today.

That was the year that has reached the top, but had not been Federer would have secured long ago.

Graphic of evolution in ATP rankings, Nadal, by courtesy of AS

Despite falling into the semifinals of the Masters Series in Cincinnati before the Serbian Novak Djokovic, Nadal said: "I played a very good tournament here, reaching the semifinals after winning in Toronto is almost perfect. I have the best track season lasts of my career so far, so I am very happy about it. "

Nadal, who lost (6-1 and 7-5) before 'Nolan' Djokovic in the semi-finals of Cincinnati, wanted to congratulate the Serbian because it is "doing well" in American tournament. "He played unbelievable in the first set. In the second I found myself well and at some point I felt I was playing better than him, but ultimately reached a 'break' and beat me", he said.

The winner of Roland Garros and Wimbledon assured that perhaps was not in his "best condition" but was optimistic by the way they played in the second sleeve. "In the second set I played better than previous days, so we finish the tournament with good feelings," he said.

Finally, asked about the possibility that the current number three in the ATP ranking comes in the future to be number one in the world, Nadal wanted to emphasize that until you leave the official list is the number one Swiss Roger Federer. "I think Djokovic also want to be number one, but at this moment, I'm still not the" lapsed.

The Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, second-seeded host this Sunday, against German Nicolas Kiefer in the Masters Series in Toronto, its ninth final of this season.

The player Mallorcan, who this week cut differences with the Swiss Roger Federer in their struggle to reach number one in the world thanks to the early elimination of Swiss in Toronto, has qualified for the finals of the tournament after eliminating the Canadian Scots Andy Murray, eighth favorite.

Although the first set was marked by equality, 7-6 (2), Nadal displayed its superiority in the second before a rival who did not want to give up-saved two match balls in the ninth game-and also won this partial 6-3.

Rafa Nadal, winner this season in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Hamburg, Roland Garros, London and Wimbledon runner and in Chennai (India) and Miami, will face in the final to German Nicolas Kiefer, who has informs the organization of the ATP circuit. defeated in the semifinals French Gilles Simon.

The German tennis player needs three sleeves, 6-7 (4), 6-3 and 7-6 (5), which was to defeat the executioner of Federer in the second round.

Nadal, the world number two, and Kiefer (37) have clashed three times in the ATP circuit, with the same number of wins for Spanish, the last of them at Wimbledon.

The Toronto Masters Series is endowed with $ 2.6 million prize, according

Rafa Nadal faces a tough test of maturity on the grass of the All England Club, where you expect Andy Murray and 15,000 fans, who dream in the aspirations of Scots. Feliciano Lopez, meanwhile, examines the revival of Marat Safin.

Also at the plant, Swiss Roger Federer on Wednesday will give another chance in the quarterfinals to Croatian Mario Ancic, the last player who could Vence lawn six years ago. In Track 1, Russian Marat Safin undergo a new test its recovery as a player before Feliciano Lopez.

Federer, the world number one, leads won 63 consecutive matches on grass, including five Wimbledon titles and five of Halle. The last player who could defeat on grass was precisely Ancic, but six years after his victory in first round, the Croatian is aware that things have changed a lot.

"I could sit here and tell stories about a great victory and how Yankee Stadium for baseball, Madison Square Garden for basketball, "he said.

Federer and Ancic to beat this year, and did so with ease, in the third round of Roland Garros, however, knows that the Swiss are different worlds. "Maybe not moving very well from the bottom, but is a player strike, with the potential to remove and volea," he said. "We'll see what happens with Mario." Roger Bate, but in reality was not the Federer we know today, "admitted Croatian, who fell to the Swiss in the same round in 2006.

The ghosts are more than appalling, since Federer defeated his opponent five times clashed since that game, but the Swiss granted a new opportunity to Ancic in a victory sign from which it could boast.

"Playing in the Pista Central Wimbledon is like a footballer to play at Wembley. It is