Tennis: Rafael Nadal will be unable to nudge Roger Federer off the top of the tennis rankings next year if the Swiss master maintains the form he as shown this season, the Spanish number two has admitted.
"I'm convinced that if Federer keeps playing this well it will be impossible to catch him," Nadal told a news conference.
"I'm still young, only 20, and I have to keep working hard so that one day I will have the chance to become the number one. But given the circumstances at the moment being number two could hardly be better."
Federer has won eight tournaments in a superb year in which he claimed three grand slam titles to take his tally to nine.
Nadal has been victorious in five tournaments, with a successful defence of his French Open title at Roland Garros and wins in the Masters Series tournaments in Monte Carlo and Rome.
He also reached the final of Wimbledon but was unable to stop Federer winning a fourth consecutive title there.
Nadal said that success at Wimbledon remained one of his main career ambitions.
"My aim is to play well at every tournament but, given what is stands for, the one I would really like to do well in is Wimbledon," he said.
In the short term the Mallorcan said he hoping to cap the season by repeating his triumph in the Masters Series event in Madrid.
Last season he fought back from two sets down to beat big-serving Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.
"Last year's victory was a miracle and without the support of the fans I couldn't have done it. I had doubted whether I would be able to play at all because of my knee problems but they carried me through the week.
"It gave me some unforgettable memories and it is always a special motivation to play in Spain whether it be in the Davis Cup or in a tournament like this one."
The Madrid Masters begins on October 14th.