Roger Calls Rafa the Favorite

Roger Federer admits it. After a year in which he has struggled to maintain his former, effortless supremacy while Rafael Nadal surged to first in the rankings, the four-time U.S. Open Champion said at a press conference on Saturday, "Rafa has played great, you know, so he deserves the No. 1 position. I mean, he's in a way the favorite now all of a sudden, even on hardcourt, because he's played so, so well."

Which may not be the worst thing for Roger. He seemed almost relieved to have the weight of expectations lifted somewhat. "Rafa will now feel what I had to feel for a very long time," he said.