Rafael Nadal

Tennis world number one Rafa Nadal said his Spanish compatriots' 1-0 World Cup triumph against Netherlands on Sunday was "unrepeatable" and should be celebrated for a whole year.

Keen soccer fan Nadal was at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium to watch Andres Iniesta fire the Iberian nation to a first world title with a goal in the second period of extra time that gave the European champions a dramatic win.

"We have to celebrate this for a whole year because it will be very difficult to repeat," Nadal told Canal Plus television.

When Rafael Nadal limped out of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London last November having failed to win a set in three matches, the whispers were becoming more like murmurings. Many were convinced that we had seen the best of the Spaniard, that his troublesome knees could not withstand the torture of pounding the courts year after year. Eight months on the 24-year-old awoke today with what must have been an unparalleled sense of satisfaction after adding a second Wimbledon title to the fifth French Open crown he won in June.

Tennis world number one Rafa Nadal has become a shareholder at financially troubled Real Mallorca, the Spanish league side said on Thursday.

"It's an honour to be able to help Real Mallorca, I will help in any way I can," Wimbledon champion Nadal was quoted as saying on the club website (www.rcdmallorca.com).

"I am proud to be a part of this new project put together by Mallorca locals. I am very pleased to have (Michael) Laudrup as the new coach and as the image for the club."

Rafael Nadal will be missing when Spain face France in this week's Davis Cup quarter-finals but such is the depth of quality the holders boast they should stay on course for a hat-trick of titles.

Wimbledon attracted a record crowd for the final Sunday of the Grand Slam tournament.

The All England Club said Monday that 32,036 spectators came through the gates Sunday, which featured Rafael Nadal’s straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych in the men’s final.

The figure beat the previous record of 30,867 on the final Sunday last year.

So impressed by Rafa Nadal's second Wimbledon triumph on Sunday, John McEnroe has described the Spaniard as an 'animal' who should complete his career grand slam of the majors at the U.S. Open later this year.

Roger Federer slipped down one place to world number three on Monday, the first time the Swiss great has been ranked outside the top two since November 2003.

Federer, winner of a record 16 grand slams, suffered a shock quarter-final defeat to Czech Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon, won for the second time on Sunday by world number one Rafael Nadal.

Federer also lost at the same stage of the French Open in June, breaking a record sequence of 23 consecutive semi-final or better appearances in grand slams going back to Roland Garros in 2004.