BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both kept their heads down after training at the Beijing Olympic tennis venue on Wednesday leaving former world number one Lleyton Hewitt to sing their praises.

CINCINNATI, August 2, 2008 (AFP) - Rafael Nadal marked a changing of the guard in tennis Friday with a quarter-final victory at the Cincinnati Masters, which will insure he replaces Roger Federer atop the rankings this month.

The swashbuckling Spaniard held off a stern challenge from Nicolas Lapentti, beating the Ecuadoran 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.

CINCINNATI, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has slammed the ATP for a hardcourt tournament schedule which is taking its toll on the players.

MADRID, July 12, 2008 (AFP) - Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal has been honoured a week after his epic Wimbledon victory over Roger Federer by having an asteroid named after him.

PARIS, July 12, 2008 (AFP) - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will be chasing more than gold at the Beijing Olympics with the coveted world number one place suddenly at stake following the Spaniard's stunning Wimbledon triumph.

Federer has occupied the top spot in the rankings for 232 weeks while Nadal has had to be content with life in the Swiss star's slipstream for 155 of those.

STUTTGART, July 7, 2008 (AFP) - Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal on Monday pulled out of his title defence in Stuttgart the day after his epic final at the All England club.

'I haven't stopped playing for the past four to five months,' said the world number two, who toppled five-time champion Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 on Sunday night.

LONDON, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal savoured his greatest ever victory but insisted that dethroned All England Club king Roger Federer was still the best player in the world.

LONDON, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal savoured his greatest ever victory but insisted that dethroned All England Club king Roger Federer was still the best player in the world.

LONDON, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Wimbledon finalist Rafael Nadal launched a furious attack on sections of the media on Sunday after claiming he had been ambushed by the paparazzi when he arrived at a London restaurant.

LONDON, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Wimbledon finalist Rafael Nadal launched a furious attack on sections of the media on Sunday after claiming he had been ambushed by the paparazzi when he arrived at a London restaurant.