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U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal reached home on Wednesday, mentioning his latest tennis triumph did not adjudge him as Spain’s greatest athlete. Nadal, who became the seventh player to complete a career grand slam with Monday’s victory in New York, said any comparisons to the greats was “madness.” Rafael Nadal with US Open 2010 Trophy “As a tennis player, I took an important step forward with this and these have been six unforgettable months,” Nadal said shortly after touching down at Madrid’s Barajas airport. “I can’t say that I’m the best Spanish sports person of all time because I have no idea. But it’s an honor to be considered.” Nadal’s 2010 triumphs, including French Open and Wimbledon titles, have brought his total of major championships to nine at age 24. His successful season has been a big part of a tremendous year of international sporting success for Spain, which won soccer’s World Cup for the first time and saw Alberto Contador win his third Tour de France. ...

Spain’s golden time of sporting success just shining with new ray. Rafael Nadal’s victory at the U.S. Open is the latest and remarkable triumph for Spain in a season-long fiesta on the international stage. Spain won the World Cup in South Africa, Alberto Contador achieved his third Tour de France and Nadal completed a career Grand Slam on Monday night. Nadal followed up his victories at the French Open and Wimbledon this summer by beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the U.S. Open final for his ninth Grand Slam title. At age 24, the Mallorca native is being talked about as one of the greatest players of all time. “He’s already a legend,” sports daily Marca said of Nadal, describing him as “the best in history” by this stage of his career. Many newspapers were wondering if Nadal could be the greatest Spanish athlete of all time. Nadal also won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008 and helped Spain to three of its four Davis Cup titles since 2004. “History is at his feet,” Marca ...

Rafael Nadal has won all 12 sets he’s played so far at the 2010 U.S. Open. He’s also won all 61 games he’s served. Nadal moved into the U.S. Open quarterfinals and stretched his winning streak at major tournaments to 18 by beating 23rd-seeded Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that finished at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday. The top-seeded Nadal saved all four break points he faced against Lopez and has erased all 13 he’s had to deal with this year in New York. “I am playing well, but I am not playing - yet - at my highest level,” Nadal said. “To be in (the) quarterfinals of the U.S. Open without losing a set and without losing serve, two things must work very well: concentration and the serve.” Nadal finished with an impressive ratio of 34 winners to 14 unforced errors against Lopez. It was a point Nadal lost, though, that might have included his top shot. Early in the third set, Nadal did his best Roger Federer impression, chasing down a lob and, with his back to the net, hitting the ball...