Rafael Nadal to finish 2008 at the top of the tennis rankings

Hamburg - Rafael Nadal run to the semi-final of the Madrid Masters on the weekend guarantees the Spanish remain top of the ATP tennis ranking until the end of 2008.

The French Open and Wimbledon champion Federer has 7100 points in the new rankings issued Monday, to sit in front of the former number one Roger Federer of Switzerland (5805) and Serbian Novak Djokovic (4575).

Gilles Simon of France moves into the Top 10 after its race to the final in Madrid, where he was beaten by Andy Murray.

In Mar del Plata Davis Cup final to be held

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -The Davis Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be held at the Islas Malvinas Stadium in Mar del Plata.

Argentina had proposed holding the Nov. 21-23 event in Cordoba at the Orfeo Stadium.

``This was one of the most challenging decisions we have made during my more than a decade-long tenure on the Davis Cup Committee,'' said Juan Margets, chairman of the International Tennis Federation panel on Friday.

The Argentine team hoped to play on a fast indoor court in Cordoba to bolster the strengths of David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro.

Both venues don't meet the ITF's requirement of 12,000 seats. Margets said it was more feasible to increase the seating in Mar del Plata's venue.