This isn’t exactly news, but documentation of an ongoing phenomenon. . .

The World Number One Rafael Nadal was asked today who he thought the best player in the world was. Trick question? Apparently so. Here was Rafa’s answer:

“I’m getting tired of this question. When one player has won 13 Grand Slams, 14 Masters Series and for four years has been the No. 1 of the world, an incredible record, then there is no discussion who is the best.”

Oh, Rafa, I love it when you take your staunch Fedophile stance! It’s true, Rafael Nadal is Fedophile #1, with Roger, himself, coming in second, Mirka and family third and the rest of us ranking a distant 4 – 216298 (that would be the number of members on Roger Federer’s website).

Why is Rafa so devoted? Probably because he has first-hand, up-close-and-personal experience with the handsome, talented, sensitive, kind, (etc. etc.) man who is Roger Federer. We could do worse than follow the cues of the World No. 1, right?

(Honestly, I’m starting to wonder WHY reporters keep asking this question. Is it just so bloggers like me continue to write posts like this one?)

Oh, by the way:

Nadal’s playing in Rotterdam this week at the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament. He lost today in doubles (playing with Mallorcan protege Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets, who helped prepare him for the Aussie Open) and will play his first singles match on Wednesday evening against Italian dreamboat Simone Bolelli.

Andy Murray is the second seed (here’s hoping for that Murray/Rafa match we never saw Down Under!) and there’s a great supporting cast including Tsonga, Davydenko (making his ‘09 comeback?), Gasquet, Simon, Ancic, Youzhny and my man Michael Llodra. Hmm, maybe they should have had this tournament in France?

Click here for the tournament website.