Award caps Nadal's perfect year

As we approach the middle of December now is the time many of us look back and reflect on the year gone by.
The same goes for the sporting world as well and for Spaniard Rafael Nadal he can look back on 2010 with a feeling of well-deserved satisfaction.

The 24-year-old was named International Tennis Federation world champion for 2010 this week after a blockbusting, title-filled year, although things didn't start to well though for the Majorca-born star.

A knee injury forced him to retire in the Australian open quarter-finals against Andy Murray back in January, although the latest tennis scores at the time suggested he wasn't going to win anyway. This caused him to drop to fourth in the rankings for the first time in five years.

But solid showings at Indian Wells and Miami showed he was getting back to his best ahead of his favoured clay-court season in the spring.

Nadal is deadly on that surface and this year was no exception, claiming an unprecedented sweep of all the major clay court titles - all three Masters 1000 titles and victory at the French Open at Roland Garros - in a 22 game unbeaten run. Those who follow the latest scores in tennis were astounded by his run.

His victory over Roger Federer to win in Madrid set a new all-time record of 18 Masters 1000 titles, surpassing Andre Agassi's total of 17.

The summer grand slams at Wimbledon and New York were duly wrapped up, making him the youngest ever player to complete a career Grand Slam and moved him up to seventh in the all-time slam list.

An ATP tour finals defeat to Roger Federer in November was a personal disappointment but it can't disguise what has been a magical year for the Spaniard, which has seen him win 71 of 81 matches and lift seven titles from nine finals. His ITF title is richly deserved and one that few can argue with.