Rafael Nadal's Coach Reflects On Overtaking Roger Federer In 2008

Rafael Nadal's coach Carlos Moya looked back on the Spaniard's "big achievement" in 2008 when he overtook Roger Federer in the ATP rankings.

It was 10 years ago in August that Nadal became world No. 1 for the first time in his career. He had already won Grand Slam titles and was No. 2 in the world for many years leading up to his accomplishment.

However, he was competing with Federer at the time, who was virtually unbeatable against anyone other than Nadal, who had a winning record over the Swiss legend but could not get ahead of him in the rankings. Federer notably lost just four matches in 2005, five in 2006, and seven in 2007 with seven of those 16 losses coming against Nadal.

In the end, however, Federer's four-and-a-half-year at the top of the rankings came to a halt when Nadal's win over him in the final of Wimbledon followed by the latter's performances on the American hard-court events saw the Manacor native rise to the top.

Since then, the only two other players who have reached the summit are Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

"It was a great goal," Moya recalled, as per Tennis World USA. "Rafa was seeking it for a long time and wasn't granted to do it. He was dealing with injuries and with an unplayable Federer. It was a big achievement. I am very happy and satisfied that a friend like him can be number one."

"You have to consider the situation: in the three previous years, Federer had dominated the tour and he was almost unbeatable. Then Rafa came, the only one to beat him in head to head meetings. It's true that in the grass-court season, Rafa could lose to several players, but Federer was losing only to him. The fact that Rafa was number one wasn't a surprise, but it's surprising because it seemed impossible - overcoming Federer."

Nadal, of course, is the current No. 1 a decade later and has held the top ranking for a total combined 186 weeks as of now, with just five players, including Federer and Djokovic holding it for longer.

The argument could be made he could have held on to the ranking longer and even won more Grand Slams had it not been for his constant injuries over the years, but Moya believes it shows more of Nadal's character that he was able to bounce back from his setbacks and still be No. 1 today.

"Seeing it now that ten years have gone, that he came back as No. 1 many times, that he came back from injuries, that he won a Grand Slam 13 years after the first one... I think it's something that in individual sports you see less times. At least not in my era," Moya explained. "Now Federer seems to be more normal, but until 15-20-30 years ago it was impossible to see."

Nadal will look to remain No. 1 when the US Open commences this month from Aug. 27 to Sept. 9, with the 32-year-old being the defending champion.