Tennis | Roger Federer's ranking in danger

MASON, Ohio — Roger Federer lost another match and, perhaps, his longtime grip on No. 1, as well.

The world's top-ranked player had another out-of-character setback on Thursday, a three-set loss to Ivo Karlovic that left the Croat exulting on his back and opened the way for Rafael Nadal to take over the No. 1 spot by winning the Cincinnati Masters championship.

Nadal stayed on course for the seismic shift by beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) later Thursday, reaching the quarterfinals with his 31st consecutive win. Three more wins and the top spot in the world rankings belongs to him next week.

Even if he doesn't win the championship in Cincinnati, he can pile up enough points to overtake Federer in the next few weeks.

"I know I'm in good position," Nadal said. "In truth, I don't think about it too much."

It's been a long time coming.

Federer has been ranked No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004, a record of 235 consecutive weeks. He and Nadal have held the top two spots since July 25, 2005. They will swap if Nadal extends his run of five consecutive tournament titles.

Asked about the possibility, Federer said, "I don't care."

He's got bigger concerns.

Since his epic five-set loss to Nadal at Wimbledon, Federer has lost in the second round in Toronto and failed to make the quarterfinals in Cincinnati, where he won the title last year. The 26-year-old Swiss star has been struggling to regain his aura of domination since he started the year with mononucleosis.

Nadal has taken advantage by improving his hard-court game and surpassing Federer on the court if not in the rankings.

"Look, he's doing well and I have done well in the past," Federer said. "This year was hard, I guess, with the start of the year. But nevertheless, I still think it's been a good year. I just hope I can show it now at the Olympics and the U.S. Open."

TENNIS LIFE OF FEDEX:

• Born: 8 August 1981
• Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
• Best Known As: Wimbledon men's champion, 2003-2007

Roger Federer is the Swiss tennis player whose five consecutive titles at Wimbledon (2003-2007) helped make him the dominant men's player in the world. Federer turned pro in 1998 after a stellar career in junior competition. He made a name for himself in 2001 by beating defending champion PETE SAMPRAS in a match at Wimbledon, before being knocked out himself in the quarterfinals. Federer won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 2003, and in 2004 he again won Wimbledon and added the Australian and U.S. Opens, with only a third-round loss in the French Open keeping him from the Grand Slam. In 2005 Federer won his third consecutive Wimbledon (defeating ANDY RODDIC in the finals for the second year in a row) and then defeated ANDRAE AGASSIE for his second straight U.S. Open title. In 2006 he lost to RAFAEL NADAL in the finals of the French Open, beat Nadal in the finals at Wimbledon and defeated ANDY RODDIC win the U.S. Open. His 2007 victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon (again beating Nadal) and the U.S. Open gave him a total of 12 Grand Slam men's singles titles, two short of Sampras's career record of 14.

Rafael Nadal broke Federer's streak at Wimbledon in 2008, beating him in a five-set thriller for the men's singles championship... Federer's father is Swiss, but his mother is from South Africa... Federer had no coach during 2004, the year he was first ranked as the world's best tennis player... Nike first approached Federer with a sponsorship deal in 1996, two years before he turned pro... Federer has never won the French Open, but has won each of the other three tennis majors at least three times: the Australian Open in 2004, 2006 and 2007, the U.S. Open from 2004-2007, and Wimbledon in 2003-2007

DAVIS CUP - ROGER CONFIRMS DAVIS CUP RETURN

GOOD NEWS FOR FEDERA FAN............HE WILL PLAY DAVIS CUP THIS SEPTEMBER........HE SAIT THAT"I am looking forward to the opportunity to help Switzerland, along with my teammates, get back into the World Group for the 2009 season."LETS ALL WISH FOR HIM TO WIN THIS ONE............

ATP - DOUBLES WITH STAN IN BEIJING

Swiss Olympic has selected four players for the Olympic Games in Bejing this summer. Roger and Stanislas Warinka will compete in the men's singles, Patty Schnyder and Timea Bacsinszky will take part in the women's competition.

Roger will also play the doubles tournament. His partner is Stanislas and not Yves Allegro, as might have been expected. Severin Lüthi, captain of the Swiss Davis Cup Team, explained: "We are convinced that this line-up is the one we have the best chances with."

The great news for tennis is that the rivalry between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer is likely to continue for years to come

At last the BBC can stop replaying Bjorn Borg versus John McEnroe finals in the direction of infinity. Only when yesterday's match was all over, in the gloaming, and its truly epic nature had unravelled, could it be properly appreciated for what it was. By then, at 9.16pm, after almost five hours of tennis that took the breath away from the spectators if not the remarkable players, it didn't really matter who had won the longest men's singles final at Wimbledon for both men were gloriously triumphant.

Before then it had rained on Wimbledon. For the first two sets it had rained on poets too. And on aesthetes, stylists and all those with a keen sense of the refined. For Roger Federer, the world's greatest player - until now, at least - and the most exquisite talent the beautiful game has seen, appeared to be going out of this momentous final in straight sets and then had to save two match points in the fourth.

It would be churlish not to appreciate the extraordinary energy source that is Rafael Nadal, his astonishing speed, muscular strength and indominitable spirit. His is an aggression that is devoid of hostility and because there is a humility about everything he does he too must be celebrated. But yesterday, in the blustery dampness of south-west London, the light that is the tennis of Roger Federer flickered and was in danger of being extinguished in three sets. And tennis, indeed the world of sport, felt slightly impoverished by the likelihood of his tame going.

In the middle of the royal box, Boris Johnson, who knows a thing or two about the changing order of things, nodded in approval and did not look in the least surprised. To his right Bjorn Borg, who had anticipated the fall of Federer after equalling his record of five consecutive Wimbledons, appeared unsurprised to the point of boredom. No one looked surprised. In retrospect, the first two sets of this final, both won 6-4 by Nadal, felt inevitable. Federer had beaten Nadal in four sets two years ago. Last year it was five sets.

This year Nadal returned stronger still, with a better forehand and backhand and also with an appreciation that a net can be used for something other than wrapping a fish supper. Federer, on the other hand, had returned with many of his weapons - apart from his extraordinary serve, which had got stronger match by match - in decline. And yesterday even his service was only fitfully as strong as it had been in his semi-final. The conditions did not help and the wind scoffed at the precision of his game. Nadal certainly didn't help him. The 22-year-old Mallorcan scampered and muscled his way to almost every ball.

Federer's error margins are narrower than Nadal's because of the style of his game and they were squeezed ever narrower yesterday by the Spaniard's breathtaking mobility. But this threatened to be as much about an empire imploding as being overthrown. Federer's considerable mental strength is, essentially, manufactured - Nadal's comes naturally - and the Swiss player looked fragile when he missed a succession of break points.

Federer, of course, is tough enough, as he has proved in 12 grand slam victories and a winning streak of 65 matches on grass going into yesterday's match. But Nadal, who had won their three previous meetings this year, had been allowed to infiltrate his psyche.

When rain sent the players to the locker room yesterday, with Federer leading 5-4 in the third set, the champion had 75 minutes to consider the fact that he had won only one break-point in 12 while his rival had won three from four.

When the players returned the sun came out and, for a few games at least, the wind dropped, which was to the advantage of Federer's more subtle game. More than that, we saw his true fighting heart.

He had saved three break-points to avoid going 5-3 down, took that third set in a tie-break and then, in the fourth, we saw the seemingly impregnable Nadal falter. With no breaks of serve once again it went down to another tie-break and this time the challenger led 5-2. Federer battled back to have a set-point at 6-5. But then, at 8-7 and 9-8, Nadal twice had match point and spurned them both.

How, one wonders, will this compelling rivalry develop. This is the real battle, the epic tennis tussle. Borg-McEnroe didn't last for long, while Federer-Nadal is already a more substantial contest than that. And the great news for tennis is that it should run and run and run for some years yet.

NO SOONER had it finished than the 2008 final was feted as the greatest Wimbledon decider of all time.

Boris Becker, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg all agreed - this was the best.

At 288 minutes, this was the longest final in All England Club history.

From the first point to the last, this was an epic, finishing in almost pitch darkness - and marking the end of Roger Federer's imperious reign.

With rain delays, it took almost seven hours to complete. But when it was over, Rafael Nadal stood as a colossus. The worthy new champion.

Over five sets and innumerable momentum swings, the two great warriors of modern tennis shared a war that will be celebrated down the ages.

In the end, Nadal prevailed 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7 to deny Federer a sixth successive Wimbledon title and inflict the Swiss maestro's first grasscourt defeat in 66 matches.

"It's impossible to explain what I felt in that moment," said Nadal, referring to when he collapsed on the baseline before clambering into his support box to celebrate with family and friends.

Having failed to take advantage of two match points in the fourth set, Nadal stared down defeat to notch his fifth grand slam victory and became the first man since Borg in 1980 to nail the French Open and Wimbledon double.

Federer lost more sets yesterday than he had in the past two years at the home of tennis. He absorbed defeat with dignified resignation, but he was burning inside.

"It is probably my hardest loss by far, there is not much harder than this right now," he said after narrowly failing to become the first man since William Renshaw in 1886 to claim six consecutive Wimbledon championships.

"It is always nice to be part of great matches. Later on in life I will look back on it as a great match, but right now there is not much of a feel-good factor or anything positive about it."

"Look, Rafa's a deserving champion. He just played fantastically."

This match merits reverence alongside Borg's celebrated five-set victory against John McEnroe in 1980.

It featured the contrasting style of disparate individuals. It was brutal, beautiful and dramatic.

Nadal's bravery was telling. He saved 12 of 13 break points and he broke serve four times.

"He was rock-solid, the way we know him," Federer, who hit 25 aces, said. "He's definitely improved his game."

Nadal is the first Spaniard since Manolo Santana in 1966 to win the Wimbledon men's title.

Borg and Santana watched from the front row of the Royal Box as tigerish Federer tried everything to conjure victory.

Both men nodded approvingly as Nadal and Federer savaged each other.

In the end, Nadal struck 60 winners to Federer's 89, but the critical number was unforced errors -- the Spaniard restricted his to 27. The Swiss made 52.

In a contest where Nadal won 209 points to Federer's 204, that figure is the only one that matters.

Emotions play tricks, even on gladiators such as Nadal. The Mallorcan had the chance to serve out the match at 5-2 in the fourth-set tiebreak.

He choked. "I played terrible there," said Nadal, who double-faulted and opened the door for Federer.

Down 6-5, Federer erased a match point with a 215kmh service winner. Facing defeat again at 7-8, Federer hit a backhand passing winner.

A forehand winner put Federer ahead 9-8, and when Nadal missed a backhand return, the match was even. Federer jumped and bellowed.

No man since 1927 had come back to win a Wimbledon final after losing the first two sets, and none had overcome a match point to seize victory since 1948.

This was apparently Federer's time. Or so it seemed.

"But Rafa keeps you thinking, and that's what the best players do to each other in the end," Federer said.

"That's what we both do to each other."

Finally, after six glorious Wimbledon campaigns, Federer frayed.

As one of the most gracious figures in international sport, Federer was displeased at having to play in the gloom. The match finished at 9.16pm as street lights burned.

"It's rough on me now, obviously, you know, to lose the biggest tournament in the world over maybe a bit of light," Federer said.

"I almost could not see who I was playing at the end, it was not funny.

"It would have been brutal for the fans, for the media and for us to come back tomorrow, but it is also tough on me to lose the biggest tournament in the world because of a loss of light."

Nadal agreed: "In the last game, I didn't see nothing.

"I am very happy for me, but sorry for him, because he deserved this title, too."

Nadal has won the past four French Open finals, with three of those victories coming against Federer.

He had been on the wrong end of the 2006-7 finals here against Federer.

This was his time in a stadium where rain would have its say for the last time.

Centre court will be covered by a retractable roof next year.

And for the first time in half a decade, the defending champion's name is not Federer.

These are monumental times.

IS IT THE END OR THE BEGENNING?

TO MANY PEOPLE IT MAY SEEM THAT THE ERA OF FEDERA IS FINISHED...........BUT IS IT SO???...ACCORDING TO ME HE HAS LOST BECAUSE OF DARKNESS........WE HAVE ALL SEEN HOW HE FOUGHT BACK FROM THE TIE BREAKER.....BUT THAT DAY LUCK WAS WITH NADAL.........BUT FEDERA WILL BE BACK WITH A BOOM........