Nadal steals Federer's thunder in 2008

LONDON: This was meant to be the year when Roger Federer would equal, if not break, Pete Sampras' record of 14 grand slam titles.

Instead, it was a season in which Rafael Nadal finally spread his tentacles beyond Roland Garros. The Spaniard first grabbed Federer's Wimbledon crown, then snatched Olympic gold in Beijing.

That failed to satisfy Nadal's hunger and he went on to end Federer's record 237-week reign as world number one just hours after the Olympic medal had been placed around his neck.