Rafa Nadal will celebrate his rise to the top of the world on Monday as the new Olympic champion after a straight sets victory over Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in Beijing on Sunday.

The irresistible Spaniard triumphed 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to secure another high point in his remarkable season and send him off to the US Open in style as he bids to claim his third Grand Slam crown in a row.

Rafa will finally overtake Roger Federer as world number one when the next ATP rankings are announced on Monday the 18th of August.

THE MATCH

The 22-year-old has embraced the Beijing experience and has stayed in the athletes' village, despite all the attention that entails. Last night he threw himself onto the court to celebrate a match, highlighted by his 25 forehand winners, that lasted two hours and 22 minutes.

Rafael was simply red hot in the first set but got lucky in the second when Gonzalez, who stood toe-to-toe with the 22-year-old, fluffed an easy backhand volley on set point.

Rafael needed no second invitation and moved in for the kill as Gonzalez began to buckle. He then hung on at 2-5 in the third set, saving three match points, but it was only delaying the inevitable and Rafa converted his fourth chance in the next game.

• With this victory Rafa becomes the first Spaniard to win an Olympic gold in tennis.
• The 28-year-old Gonzalez now has the full set of Olympic medals after his doubles victory in Athens four years ago, when he also took bronze in singles.
• Serbia's Novak Djokovic completed the podium after beating American James Blake in the bronze medal match.

Vamos Rafa!