PARIS: Rafael Nadal will finish as the world’s number one for the second time in three years, the ATP announced on Thursday, just three days after the Spaniard won the US Open to complete a career Grand Slam.
The 24-year-old is the ninth player in the history of the world rankings to finish on top of the pile at least twice.
He and Roger Federer are the only players since 2000 to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking in the week after the US Open. Federer did it in 2004 and 2006.
"It has been an incredible season — one of my best ever, if not the best," said Nadal.
"Winning the US Open together with Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the three back-to-back Masters in Europe, was not easy. 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."
On Monday, Nadal became the seventh man in history to achieve a career Grand Slam as he earned his first US Open title.
He is also the first player to win three straight Grand Slam titles in the same year since Rod Laver won all four in 1969.
