LONDON (AFP) - Rafael Nadal has warned Roger Federer that he is ready to end the world number one's reign as Wimbledon champion.
Nadal's pre-eminence on the clay courts of Roland Garros has yielded four successive French Open titles, but he looked almost as comfortable on grass during Sunday's 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 win over Novak Djokovic in the final at Queen's.
Just seven days after destroying Federer in the French Open final, Nadal made a convincing case that this will be the year he finally takes Federer's crown at the All England Club.
Nadal's back-to-back final defeats against Federer at Wimbledon have only fuelled his desire to go one better and winning his first grasscourt title sent the perfect message to the Swiss star.
While Nadal was becoming the first man to win the French Open and Queen's in the same year since the pre-Wimbledon warm-up took its current format 30 years ago, Federer was also getting back in the winning habit in Halle.
Federer bows to no-one on the lush lawns of south-west London but even he must have been slightly uneasy at Nadal's Queen's success.
"For sure he will have noticed. We have very good relationship. For sure I think he's happy for me and I am happy for him," Nadal said.
"To win a prestigious tournament like this, a very traditional tournament is very nice, and it will give me more confidence.
"But I was full of confidence after Roland Garros too, so for me confidence doesn't matter.
"You never know what's going on in Wimbledon. I think I am playing well. And if I continue playing like this, I am going to have chances for have a good result there.
"Everybody can win it. I can for sure. I played two finals. Why can't I win it? But it will be a lot of work to win Wimbledon.
"Right now it is very easy for everybody to say I am one of the favorites. But the second Sunday of Wimbledon, we will know who is going be the favourite."
While Nadal jetted back to Mallorca for three days much-needed relaxation on the golf course and in his fishing boat, Djokovic will stay in England ahead of the start of Wimbledon on June 23.
The Australian Open champion was frustrated that he missed several opportunities to avenge his semi-final defeat against Nadal at the French Open.
But he took heart from the way he competed against the sport's in-form player.
"It's good to play him before Wimbledon one time, just to see how it goes and if I'm playing better on grass," Djokovic said.
"I think I'm playing better and better match after match. I've improved my serve a lot. There are some things that I need to work on still, so I have time before Wimbledon.
"But I'm not thinking about semifinals and finals already. It's a long way through.
"I've had an intense couple of months. It's been great for me. I've achieved a lot. I just hope to keep on going. The most important thing is to find the balance between work and relaxation and taking some time off."
For short periods of an enthralling Queen's final, Djokovic had the better of Nadal as he rained down a hail of bruising shots from the baseline.
Since winning the Australian Open earlier this year, Djokovic believes his confidence has gone through the roof and he expect that belief to be crucial at Wimbledon.
"It makes a difference being a Grand Slam champion at any tournament," he said. "You have a lot of confidence. You approach every tournament in a different way, with more belief.
"You know that you're on the top. In my case, I'm happy that I can play a great tennis on all kinds of surfaces, which makes me an all around player, which is very important in today's tennis."
Comment 2 - 21 of 21
I love Nadal, but Federer is great too.
I still want him to stay number 1 and win some more titles before Rafa takes over.
After all, Rafael is only 22 and Rogers 26
NADAL IS THE BEST, WHY IS IT THAT HE ALWAYS GET THE TOUGH DRAW, WHEN WILL FEDERER PLAY
DOKOVIC.MAY BE ITS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE THAT THEY GIVE HIM TOUGH DRAWS, HE GETS TO PREPARE FOR FINALS. DOKOVIC HAD AVERY EASY DRAW AT QUEENS ONLY NADAL,S MATCH WAS A COMPETETIVE ONE.
Novak Djokovic gunning for Federer's Wimbledon crown. hrvatskoj euro 08, novaku wimbledon. live from zagreb
RAFA IS BEST ON CLAY........BUT HE'S NOW GETTING BETTER AND BETTER ON GRASS ALSO....SO IT IS BEST CHANCE FOR NADAL TO WIN WIMBLEDON..
It's going 2 very tough 4 rafa.if he traverses the semi finals then he'l have a beter chances of wining wimbledon.his mode of play has realy improved but he'l need much more 2 grap e trophy 4rm federer.
come on, Nadal. Your time has come!
Djokovic can be on either side & so he can meet Roger if he is drawn in the top 1/2.
I think the winner of Wimbledon will all depend on how hard the matches are before the final. Djokovic tires, so if he's taken to 4 or 5 sets several times he could lose before the semis. Rafa had 2 tough matches at Queens, so again we shall see how easily he moves through the 2 weeks. Roger as well, is still not completely 100% fit after his Glandular Fever in January & February. In my opinion, this is what will decide who wins in SW19 this year.
im surprised that nadal beat djokovic at queens. anyhow djokovic remains a better player on hardcourts. nadal has alot to prove on that surface in the slams. nadal is probably in a better position then ever to win wimbledon but djokovic will be on his side of the draw again. plus at wimbledon anything can happen. nadal isnt nearly as dominant on grass as he is on clay. he had a really hard time beating karlovic at queens for instance. i see federer breezing through to the finals again and the other half will probably be between nadal and djokovic again. nadal would have a better chance then djokovic if he makes it to the final. go roger!
rafa is the best, he can do anything he wants
go get that title at wimbledon
this final shows that rafa is mentally much more superior to novak although both are incredible in terms of tennis.
rafa is the best player is this year. sure i hope that he wins wimbledon this year. but just like everybody else he needs to win before he can get to the final. and federer and djokovich lover don't be hating just because rafa is now playing better on al surfaces and not just clay. you al think he can't play good when he is not on clay. but now that he won queens I hope y'all see that he is a good tennis player.
vamos rafa
you are the best
It was a very exciting match. If he can play this game against Rog, everything can possible. Nadal has a very good era. Rafa, I'll be waiting for you in Wimbledon's final to win! Vamos, vamos!
Belief plays a huge part in tennis which is partly the reason Federer is yet to beat Rafa at Roland Garros. Rafa's timing with a first grass court triumph is impeccable and inevittably endows him with enornous belief. Add to it his two final appearances at wimbledon the last two years, and you have a mouth-watering prospect. Who knows, the king of clay may yet assume the one at south-west london, a tall, tall order considering the stats in favor of Federer.
It is a long way to Wimbledon. Every thing can happen, winning in tie breaks does not make any one comfortable. Morons with little knowledge of tennis try to be prophets, but they look like a morons' prophets. Certainly that we have three players: Federer, Nadal and Djokovick. Before we use to have two and anyone of them can lose in the way to the finals. Morons' of the world watch and learn. If you do no play tennis stop making stupid comments.
you are best nadal
viva nadal
go rafa
Nadal is better than federer right now and he deserves to win wimbledon. Federed might have been unbitten for all these years but this can't last forever can it? I love Nadal v Djkovic final as they are the best players this year!
There would be a new birth at the end of wimbledon as a new era of King Nadal would begin. Age is on his side and believe me roger is getting scared and age is catching up. There would be a first time for everything and the time is now..... All hail the the new King Nadal
Federer will trash Nadal in the final of Wimbledon, and the same people that are now bashing Federer will come here to bash Nadal.. The main point is that Nadal needs a lucky draw to get to the final of Wimbledon, while Federer will get there through any... For instance, Blake in the Nadal's half of the draw would mean "no final for Nadal this year", while for Federer Blake is not that big danger...
this years is rafa's so better be ready roger coz you will be eaten alive at wimbledon
@sfareedshah1111, Federer is unbeaten on grass for 6 years. His last defeat on grass was to Ancic in 2002. Over that time he had some bad and great matches on grass. Federer survived several match points during that period, but won in the end... 6 years unbeaten on grass...
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