For Rafael Nadal, this year certainly feels like 2008 all over again. Much like two years ago when Nadal became the No. 1 player in the world and achieved the French Open-Wimbledon double, La Roja ended their 44-year trophy drought by becoming European Champions and earning the FIFA No. 1 world ranking for the first time. That year, big-time soccer fan Nadal partied away to celebrate with the Spanish national team.
2009 wasn't so good to either Nadal or La Roja, with the former failing to defend both French Open and Wimbledon, losing the top ranking in the process. The latter fell to Team USA in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup, having a streak of 35 unbeaten games snapped.
It's deja vu in 2010, as Nadal reclaims both the French Open and Wimbledon titles, and gets the No. 1 ranking back. As for La Roja? A World Cup trophy nonetheless, winning their first ever World Cup final. Rafa was in Johannesburg, South Africa to cheer on the Spanish side and witness the team's glory in victory, exactly one week after he won his second Wimbledon title. He celebrated with the players in the locker room and even took a bite out of the golden trophy.
Will the coming years bring continued success to Rafa Nadal and La Roja?
