Nadal is now in line for No. 1 ranking

Source: Agencies  |   2008-8-2  |     ONLINE EDITION

FOR Rafael Nadal, moving up to No. 1 is just a matter of time.

The 22-year-old Spaniard made a change at the top inevitable yesterday by advancing to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters. He beat Nicolas Lapentti 7-6 (3), 6-1 for his 32nd straight win, setting up a seismic shift in the world rankings.

After three years of chasing Roger Federer, he's about to pass him.

Nadal would take over the top spot in next week's rankings if he wins the tournament. Even if he fails, he now has piled up enough points in Cincinnati to overtake Federer when the rankings come out on Aug. 18. The rankings include points earned in the last 52 weeks, and time is on Nadal's side.

He knew it when he took the court, and showed it when Lapentti's forehand return sailed wide to finish off the match. Nadal joyously smacked a tennis ball and tossed his wristbands into the stands.

"I've fought a lot the last few years to be No. 1," Nadal said. "To be seen as No. 1 always is a goal."

Federer was knocked out of the tournament on Thursday, jeopardizing his streak of 235 consecutive weeks atop the rankings. Nadal has been right behind him since July 25, 2005, a span of 158 straight weeks.

With two more wins this weekend, Nadal would trade places right away. He'll play third-seeded Novak Djokovic in the semifinals on Saturday. The other semifinal pits eighth-seeded Andy Murray against Ivo Karlovic _ a 6-foot-10 Croat who knocked Federer out of the tournament and opened the way for Nadal to move up.

Djokovic feels good about his overall game heading into the semifinal against Nadal. His first serve was a concern earlier in the week, but he got two-thirds of them in while beating Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 6-4.

"I thought that I was serving much better, and day after day I'm getting stronger in the segment of my game which is really important coming up to the final stages of the tournament," Djokovic said.