Former World No 1 Nadal doesn’t mind at having slipped at No 3

Nadal doesn't mind having slipped to world no 3 ranking

Former World No 1 Nadal doesn't mind at having slipped at No 3

Nadal doesn't mind having slipped to world no 3 ranking

Rafael Nadal is taking his demotion to World No 3 in his stride and focussing on the long-term as he continues his comeback from injury at the Cincinnati Masters this week.

Demoted: World No 3 Rafael Nadal. pic/getty images

"It's only a number," Nadal said yesterday. "I hope to be ready in the future to come back to No 2 or to be in the top position.

"No 3 is a very good number, too," he added with a smile.

The 23-year-old Spaniard, forced out of Wimbledon by his aching knees, returned last week in Montreal after an absence of more than two months.

His run to the quarter-finals wasn't enough to stop eventual champion Andy Murray from seizing the world No 2 spot behind Roger Federer.

Nadal said he wouldn't let the rankingsu00a0or anything elseu00a0lure him into pressing too hard, too soon, as he battles to come back and salvage the remainder of his season.

Take it easy
"I need to go slow, no?" Nadal said, even if that means he won't be at his best for the US Open that starts in a fortnight.

"Sure, the US Open is very important," Nadal said. "But after the US Open remains a lot of the season, and I would like to be ready to play a good end of the season."

For this week, at least, Nadal still has the number two seed behind Federer, with defending champion Murray seeded third in the same half of the draw as Federer.

The top eight all enjoy first-round byes, and ninth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon was the highest seed in action, posting a 6-3, 6-2 victory over American Wayne Odesnik.

Federer, who claimed his record 15th Grand Slam title with a five-set victory over Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon final, has taken time away since as he and wife, Mirka, welcomed the arrival of twin daughters.

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