Federer and Nadal braced for Beijing power shift

Tag : Power Switch
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be chasing morethan gold at the Beijing Olympics with the coveted world number oneplace suddenly at stake following the Spaniard's stunning Wimbledontriumph.
Federer has occupied the top spot in the rankings for 232 weekswhile Nadal has had to be content with life in the Swiss star'sslipstream for 155 of those.
But the tournament in China could witness the latest dramaticswitch in tennis's balance of power which seemed impossible just afew weeks ago.
Ahead of the French Open, where Nadal cruised effortlessly to afourth successive title, the Mallorcan was too busy looking overhis shoulder at the imminent danger posed by Novak Djokovic who waspoised to take over his number two slot.
But after becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 tocomplete the elusive Roland Garros-Wimbledon double, Nadal is nowpoised to knock Federer off his perch if a complicated series ofscenarios work in his favour.
The defining moment could come on the north American hardcourts, inBeijing or at the US Open where Federer is the defending champion.
Either way, the 22-year-old Nadal is eager for the Olympics to getunderway.
"To play in the Olympics is very special, because when you'revery young you always see the Olympic Games on television,"said Nadal who'll be making his singles debut in Beijing havingplayed doubles with Carlos Moya at Athens four years ago.
"You represent your country, that's the same as the Davis Cup,but at the same time it's completely different. When I play DavisCup I always have this big motivation and I think in the Olympics Iam going to have the same."
Despite Nadal's triumphs at Wimbledon and at Roland Garros, Federerdoesn't take kindly to suggestions that he should be preparing tohand over his number one spot to his Spanish rival.
"You write what you want," he snapped after losing thefive-set thriller at the All England Club, his 12th defeat in 18matches with Nadal.
"I'm going to try and win the Olympics and the US Open andthen we can talk again."
The Federer-Nadal rivalry will be one of the most fascinating atthe Games with commercial backers and the game's rulers lickingtheir lips in anticipation.
If TV viewing figures are any guide, a gold medal clash between thesport's heavyweights will be big box office.
In the United Kingdom, more than 13 million viewers watched theculmination of the Wimbledon final, a huge 47.6 percent of the TVaudience.
Federer finished fourth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and wasknocked out in round two at Athens by Thomas Berdych of the CzechRepublic.
Despite his enthusiasm for the Games, the 12-time Grand Slamchampion acknowledged, however, that Wimbledon, Roland Garros andthe Australian and US Opens remain the benchmark of success.
"You're going to be judged on the Grand Slams you win andnumber ones," Federer says. "The Olympics are a new thingto tennis.
"Maybe in 50 years' time it will also become one of the bigtournaments to win. For me it is already, but maybe some playersand some fans need more convincing that the Olympics is big fortennis."