Now yes, held the throne for almost four and a half years by Roger Federer at risk.
The surprise defeat by the Swiss embedded in its debut on Wednesday in Toronto, before the Frenchman Gilles Simon, opened the doors to the Spanish Rafael Nadal launch the final attack on the world's number one. "This is not the end of the world, but would have been able to start better. I love this championship and had done well here," said Federer, twice champion at the Masters Series Canada, visibly affected by their tenth defeat in the season and his Early elimination of Toronto.
Since 2002 totaled ten Federer did not fall the same year, and still needed to close a 2008 in which the Swiss ceased to function as a "relojito", even at Wimbledon, where two and a half weeks ago lost his final battle with Nadal in five sets. Faced with the number 22 ranking Simon, Federer committed four errors forced non-consecutive all a sign of its downturn-and French took advantage of his first match point after two hours imposed by 2-6, 7-5 and 6-4.
"It's important to stay positive. I must join forces and look to the Olympics and the U.S. Open. That's really what I want to win. I must make sure it is ready for that," he tried to comfort the once invincible Federer.
The permanence of Federer on top of the tennis world is in real danger. The Swiss last year was a finalist in Canada, so it will lose many points, although not until August, because due to the Beijing Games in 2008 the tournament was ahead of Toronto. The same is true of the Masters Series in Cincinnati, where Federer will defend the title.
Nadal was semifinalist last year in Montreal and Cincinnati was eliminated in the debut, so if far-reaching and the Swiss does a good tournament on U.S. soil-the Spanish could travel to Beijing as a virtual world number one, and what would be officially from August 18.
Federer has not fallen from the top ranking since February 2, 2004, and until this week ahead by 770 points to Nadal and Djokovic by 1,655. For the former German star Boris Becker no doubts: Nadal is already the best but still the numbers reflect. "In the ranking, there is a number one Federer name. But I think in the world of tennis you can ask anyone who it is: the winner of the French Open and Wimbledon," said Becker on Monday, before Federer again to experience the bitter taste of defeat.
