- Title: VARIOUS: TENNIS - Federer dreaming about Olympic gold medal
- Date: 9th July 2008
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JULY 8, 2008) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN CLOCK SHOWING "31 DAYS"
- Embargoed: 24th July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA7XNVAN25OSWQLSAYTG3CF25AQ
- Story Text: Rafael Nadal stands on the verge of becoming the best player in the world, even if Monday's rankings showed that he was still number two.
Regardless of the computer reading, Nadal stamped his supremacy over Roger Federer when he ended his Swiss rival's five-year Wimbledon reign on Sunday in a heart-stopping five-set thriller.
For a man who had won 12 grand slam titles in the space of just five years, Federer has had to contend with some serious setbacks in 2008.
He will now be looking to salvage his season with victory at the Beijing Olmpics.
Federer dream is Olympic medal which he has never won despite competing in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
"I am dreaming about gold medal because being a number one in the world for so long I am obviously gonna have chances on my side so I hope I can do well and reach my dreams over there," said Federer.
"It would mean as much as grand slam," he added.
Lest anyone should doubt just how difficult it is to achieve the French Open-Wimbledon double in the same year, Nadal became the first man to pull off the feat since Bjorn Borg in 1980.
Nadal, four-times a French Open champion and first Spaniard in more than four decades to win the Wimbledon men's singles title, had pulled out of this week's Stuttgart Cup tournament due to a knee injury.
Beijing tournament will be played on the hard surface and with its unusual format always proves to be an open event.
"I will try to go there and try my best after anything can happen - you know it is not clay it is going to be a hard surface it is going to be difficult but I have good results in hard too," said Nadal.
When asked where Olympic medal would rank for him his answer was different to Federer's.
"After grand slam comes the Olympics I think," the Spaniard smiled.
Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will also look for revenge in China after he was demolished by Russian Marat Safin in the second round of Wimbledon.
21-year-old Serb regarded the Olympics as important.
"Just to be there and be a part of such a great event is a big honour but still I want to do well I want to win a medal because this stays for life," said Djokovic.
British number one Andy Murray climbed back into the world's top 10 on Monday on the back of his run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Murray came from two sets down to defeat Gasquet and reach his first Wimbledon quarter-final where he was later eliminated by Nadal in straight sets.
"Yes very excited, obviously I have never played the Olympics before but you know watched it on TV since I was very young and to be involved in an event like that you do not get that sort of opportunity very often, maybe once in your life if you are lucky - yeah I can't wait for it,"
said Murray.
Beijing tournament is set to offer a superb line-up, with 17 of the men's top 20 confirmed for the event which will take place from August 10th to 17th.
Chile's Nicolas Massu will be defending Olympic singles and doubles tittle. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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