Mark Petchey says Rafael Nadal will soon end Roger Federer's record-breaking reign at the top of the world rankings after Sunday's remarkable Wimbledon win.
Nadal: future world number one?
Federer is still the number one player in the world, despite seeing his five-year reign as Wimbledon champion ended by Nadal in Sunday's epic final, a result which has led many to suggest that the balance of power at the top of the men's game has shifted to the Spanish player.
Sky Sports commentator Petchey feels it would be wrong to describe Nadal as the unofficial world number one because Federer is still an awesome talent, but he says the new Wimbledon champion is soon likely to end the Swiss star's reign at the top of the rankings, which has lasted for more than 230 consecutive weeks.
He told Sky Sports News: "I think the balance of power has switched a little bit having beaten Federer on the grass.
"I feel Nadal will go to number one at some stage probably over the summer. Roger has got quite a few points to defend, but Rafa has obviously got the ability to go a lot deeper in some of the events that he didn't do so well in last year.
"I think over the next couple of months, Nadal will pass him at some stage and be the official world number one.
"I'm not too sure about the idea of an 'unofficial' world number one because Roger's such a phenomenal player. He was so gracious after the final because it must have been one of the toughest defeats he's ever taken."
Fitness
Nadal has pulled out of a tournament in Stuttgart this week after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury in Sunday's final, leading to some concerns about his long-term fitness.
But Petchey feels Nadal is strong enough to cope with the rigours of top-class tennis for many years to come and insists the decision is probably precautionary.
He continued: "Lots of people have talked about the wear and tear on his body because of the way he plays, but if you go back and look at the matches he's played on clay this year, he's won them so easily that he's not actually on court that much.
"I'm not totally convinced that he's going to be another burn-out case later on in his career.
"He played Stuttgart last year because he was chasing so hard for the world number one spot and it was a lot of points to win that tournament.
"I think he now feels he's in a good position to take Federer over the summer, which is why I think he's pulled out to give himself some time to rest."
Record
Petchey also feels Nadal's rise to prominence - along with that of world number three Novak Djokovic - will slow down Federer's march towards Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam wins.
However, he feels the rivalry between Nadal and Federer could captivate men's tennis for at least the next decade.
Petchey added: "It's going to be tougher for Federer, but I still believe that over the next few years he's going to surpass Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
"What he's done so well in the last few years is to take his opportunities to win three in a year and that's what's got him into this situation.
"But if you look at all the great champions, many have stopped at around 11 or 12 titles because other people have come along who are superior or are going to match them.
"That's what's happening now with Nadal and Djokovic, who won the Australian Open and is only going to get better.
"I think it's going to be tougher for Roger to collect three titles a year - or even two - but I do think he's going to pick up singles and maybe one more double before the end of his career.
"I'd like to think this rivalry has another decade. Roger's talked about playing until he's 35 and if Nadal's body holds up then he's going to be around for at least another eight years.
|"I think over the next couple of months, Nadal will pass him at some stage and be the official world number one."
"We really do have a wonderful opportunity to watch two of the greatest players of all time going head to head."
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