On this day 17 years ago, Nadal reached world number one for the first time!

While everyone is looking forward to another epic Alcaraz-Djokovic final, today also marks a memorable occasion. Seventeen years ago, Nadal, having just won his maiden Wimbledon title and followed it up with Olympic singles gold, overtook Federer in the rankings to claim the world number one spot for the very first time.

Since Federer won Wimbledon in 2003 and the Australian Open in 2004 to claim the top ranking, he had dominated the position for over four years, standing head and shoulders above his peers. Perhaps even fate thought Federer’s reign was becoming too monotonous for tennis, paving the way for Nadal’s dramatic arrival on the scene.

Unlike Nadal’s then-unbeatable form on clay, his performance on grass—especially hard courts—wasn’t as dominant, and he couldn’t consistently best Federer outside of clay. In the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon finals, Nadal lost to Federer both times, sometimes managing only a single set, or even suffering a bagel.

With relentless determination, Nadal seized his opportunity in 2008. After 160 consecutive weeks ranked world number two, he finally overtook Federer to become the new world number one.

In the four months leading up to his ascent, Nadal captured eight titles out of ten tournaments, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Olympics. He achieved the rare French Open-Wimbledon double back-to-back, and added the Olympic singles gold—a prize many players never attain in their careers—making that summer truly unforgettable.

The Federer-Nadal rivalry produced many classic encounters, but the 2008 Wimbledon final stands as one of their greatest, rivaled perhaps only by the 2017 Australian Open. The match was so legendary that a documentary titled “Strokes of Genius” was made to commemorate this epic duel and the two extraordinary competitors.

Nadal remained world number two for an extended period due to Federer’s dominance; despite winning numerous titles, he couldn’t surpass the Swiss maestro in the rankings for a long time.

Perseverance paid off! Although predecessors like Moya and Ferrero had briefly reached world number one, Nadal, as the standout Spanish player of his era, ultimately claimed the top spot and maintained it for a considerable duration.

Now, the King of Clay has retired from the tour, but his glorious chapters still shine brightly in tennis history. August 18th remains a special day in the sport, forever associated with Nadal’s legacy.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)