Nadal a Wimbledon title threat after claiming grass crown

Tennis News

Jun 15, 2008, 23:34 GMT

London - Rafael Nadal flew out Sunday night for a few days of rest and golf at home on Mallorca, his Wimbledon confidence riding high after lifting the first grass-court title of his career at the Artois Championships. A week after claiming a fourth straight Roland Garros trophy, the world number two defeated Novak Djokovic 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 to win the prestige Grand Slam tune-up event 'I'm a little bit tired,' confessed Nadal, the first man since Ilie Nastase in 1973 to follow up a French Open trophy with one in west London at Queen's club. 'In a few days I'm gonna be ready for Wimbledon (which begins a week from Monday). 'And if not, it doesn't matter, because Wimbledon is a very, very important tournament, and the motivation is hundred percent. It doesn't matter if I am tired mentally. 'Physically I'm fine.' Spain's king of clay showed that he has the talent to win on the lawns as he laid down a challenge to five-time Wimbledon champion and world number one Roger Federer. Less than an hour after the five-time Swiss Wimbledon winner claimed the Halle title on grass in Germany for his 59th straight victory on the surface, world number two Nadal made his own breakthrough in two hours, 15 minutes. He is the first Spaniard to win an ATP grass court title since Andres Gimeno captured the crown in Eastbourne in 1972. 'The draw was very, very tough. I can't imagine I would have won the title her, I had a very good week.' The Spaniard was playing Djokovic for the third straight event and fourth time this season, improving his record in the series to 9-3. While grateful for his first grass honours after 22 on the ATP on clay along with four outdoor hard courts and one indoors in Madrid, Nadal owns a circuit-best 49 victories this season against seven defeats after claiming his fifth trophy of 2008. 'This is not the first time I've had a lot of chances against him,' said Djokovic, world number three. 'But again, he managed to come through. 'Partly was my fault, you know, and partly it was luck as well. You have to have a little bit of luck.' Nadal took the opening set after more than an hour and Nadal broke in the second game of the second but lost it a game later as Australian Open winner Djokovic battled to get back into the contest. The pair traded breaks in the ninth and tenth games before Nadal recovered from 0-40 down to 6-5 and broke Djokovic with an overhead putaway a game later to wrap up the win. 'I've got a title on a surface where I've never had one before,' said Nadal. 'I have titles in all the surfaces right now, so I am more complete player right now than one week before (smiling). 'To win a prestigious tournament like this, a very traditional tournament where the best players of the world have been here in the past is great. 'This is nice for me, very nice.'

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Nadal a Wimbledon title threat after claiming grass crown

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