rafael nadal:NEW YORK: June 2011

Rafael Nadal - Semi Final Build Up - Video

I hope that everyone will be able to view this BBC video interview with Rafa.

"World number one Rafael Nadal reveals he was minutes away from pulling out of the tournament due to a foot injury picked-up in his fourth-round match with Juan Martin del Potro.

The two-time Wimbledon champion admits that he now has to have local anaesthetic injected into his foot before matches.

The Spanish player believes he will have to be at his best to beat Britain's Andy Murray in the semi-final on Friday."

Video link here

Rafael Nadal - Practice Photos @ Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal - Various News Articles

Here are some articles ahead of tomorrow's semi final match against Andy Murray.

Guardian

The Scotsman

Sydney Morning Herald

Casey Weekly

Sky Sports

Fox Sports

Rafael Nadal - QF match photos

Rafael Nadal - Into The SF @ Wimbledon

As with 2 other matches today Rafa was given a test by Mardy and pushed to 4 sets.

Match reports:

The Hindu

Defending champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon by beating Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Wednesday... Full story here

Sky Sports

Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal saw off Mardy Fish in four sets to book a Wimbledon semi-final against Andy Murray.... Full story here

Big Pond Sport

Defending Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal booked his place in the semi-finals on Wednesday, overcoming American 10th seed Mardy Fish 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-4.... Full story here

Rafael Nadal Will Beat My Haul Of Majors - Sampras

Pete Sampras said Rafael Nadal will eclipse his total of 14 Grand Slam tennis titles and perhaps challenge Roger Federer’s mark, the only one higher in the men’s game.

Sampras said he expects Federer to win his seventh Wimbledon title at the All England Club in London this year, matching the record shared by the American and William Renshaw and extending the Swiss right-hander’s career mark of Grand Slam championships to 17. Nadal, the defending Wimbledon champion, needs five more major titles to pass Sampras’s old mark, which Federer broke in 2009.

“If you break down his game and what he’s been able to do on all surfaces, he’s only 24 and he’s got 10 majors, you do the math,” Sampras, 39, said in a conference call with reporters.

“Obviously, I think he’s going to pass me at some stage.”

Nadal, who turned 25 this month, has won major titles on clay, grass and hard courts since turning pro in 2001. The left- handed Spaniard has held the ATP World Tour’s No. 1 rank since last year.

Nadal’s opportunity to eclipse the 29-year-old Federer’s record will depend on how he manages his playing time and the physical toll of his playing style, Sampras said. Nadal plays with an intensity that has led to shoulder and knee injuries.

“The all-time record is a lot of work, and Roger obviously can continue to add to his list,” Sampras said. “But if Rafa is smart with his schedule and plans it out right, he can very well do it. We all know how hard he works.”

Injury History

Nadal pulled out of the Madrid Masters in 2008 citing knee tendinitis, and in 2009 was unable to defend his Wimbledon title because of the same injury. Nadal has announced that he won’t participate in Davis Cup matches next week, a move Sampras said he understood.

“Something has to give,” Sampras said. “If you want to stay No. 1 and you want to win majors, there’s not enough weeks in the year to play Davis Cup.”

Sampras retired in 2002 having spent 286 weeks as the world’s top-ranked men’s player. He spoke with reporters in coordination with this fall’s Champions Series, a 12-city tour scheduled to include former Grand Slam winners Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and John McEnroe.

The men’s Wimbledon quarterfinals are scheduled tomorrow. Federer will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and top-seeded Nadal will face Mardy Fish, the lone American remaining in the tournament.

The men’s championship is scheduled for July 3.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net

Rafael Nadal - New Times Blogs

Mardy Fish

Q&A: Get your questions into Rafa by e-mailing rafa@timesonline.co.uk and follow his progress in his own words.

When you hurt your foot against Del Potro, did it enter your mind that you might have to retire? Colin
I didn't know what was going on since it was a new pain and in a new spot so I was really afraid that would be the case. Fortunately things got better after and I managed to finish the match, got an MRI and check I was OK.

How did your meeting with Rory McIlroy go? Jenny
GREAT! I love the guy. He came to the locker room and we talked. I have posted a picture on my facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Nadal). Wanted to thank the Championships for allowing me to post it.

Do you look at the serve speed clock after the point is over during your service games? How about when your opponent is serving? Maya
Sometimes I do but I normally know the speed, especially mine!

How much will your injury and the four sets against Del Potro impact on you in terms of fatigue against Mardy Fish (above)? Judith
We'll see tomorrow. Hard to know today. Hopefully I will be fine. Besides, Mardy is a great server and I am sure the points will not be that long.

You said you were struggling on your forehand against Del Potro because of your heel injury. Have you not just given Mardy Fish a strategy?
I don't think so since his game is very different.

You were serving very well in your match against Del Potro. In what ways is your grip different and how does it help you to serve better, as in US Open last year? Sharon
I did as a matter of fact and I was very happy too with that part of my game. Not a grip thing this time though.

Why did you look so hurt last night? Are you really totally healthy? We're so worried about it. Yichin, Taiwan.
Thanks for this. It was really painful when I had to stop to get treatment. Got better with time.

Yesterday, a Dutch newspaper had an article on the lessons your uncle Toni taught you regarding being a professional tennis player. Which of Toni's lessons do you consider the most valuable for you? Myra
I think it is not only one lesson that makes you one way or the other. It is the whole thing and that has been a good thing.

Do you play or have you tried other racket sports like squash or badminton? Atch
Not much to be honest with you.

It was great finally to meet Rory McIlroy

Rafael Nadal7 hours ago

Lot of things to say tonight but on a personal level the most important thing is what I posted on my facebook today announcing that the MRI went well, negative result on an injury.

I resumed practiced at 4.30 but in the end it turned out to be one hour later than announced since I got changed courts a couple of times.

Most importantly to me, on a personal level was the visit from Rory McIlroy today who came to the locker room and we had the chance to talk long about his win, golf, tennis and some other things.

What a great guy he is and I am very happy for him to have won his first major tournament. Big thanks to him for coming!

Rafael Nadal - Toni Speaks About Injury

By Tom Pilcher

LONDON (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal came through a training session on a slippery Wimbledon practice court unscathed on Tuesday with his coach saying the world number one will have shaken off a foot injury in time for his quarter-final against Mardy Fish.

Nadal hurt his left foot toward the end of the first set of Monday's four-set victory over Juan Martin Del Potro and needed almost 10 minutes of courtside treatment from a physio and doctor.

A scan earlier on Tuesday revealed no major damage.

"If the world didn't sleep easy because Rafa has a problem it would be the most crazy thing ever," joked the Spaniard's coach and uncle Toni Nadal after the defending champion's hitting session with British junior Evan Hoyt.

"A guy said to me once 'We're worried about Rafa'. I said 'Don't worry about him, worry about yourself'.

"Yesterday he had a problem. Things don't disappear magically but tomorrow he'll be in a condition to play."

Asked if he thought his charge would be at his usual full fitness for Wednesday's match, a daunting proposition for American number one Fish, uncle Nadal was not giving anything away.

"100 percent. What do you want me to say? If he was at 50 percent I'd still say he was at 100," he told reporters with a smile.

"He couldn't move a lot because the court was slippery so it was dangerous, but all is well."

POSITIVE SIGNS

Nadal said after his grueling match with Del Potro that he thought he would "have to retire" and that he had broken his foot but the signs were all positive from his camp.

"There were no bone or ligament injuries. We think he will be alright tomorrow," Spanish Tennis Federation official Ignago Munoz told reporters. "It will be no risk."

Nadal reserved the occasional grimace for poor shots during his session under murky grey skies but had no problems moving around the court as 1987 champion Pat Cash and multiple doubles winners Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge looked on.

The hoards of fans crammed up against the green fence cheered as Nadal grinned in their direction but the happiest person in the complex was undoubtedly Hoyt.

"He's my idol," said the starstruck 16-year-old from Wales, who had Nadal's pre-printed autograph on his bag.

"My sister got his autograph on a ball this week," he added before revealing the words of encouragement from the 10-times grand slam champion.

"He said: 'In two years you have to be in the main draw of Wimbledon'."

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

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Haye will win against Wladimir Klitschko. For me I will give credit for Haye because he is brave to fight a boxer who never been defeated in the past years. Klitschko has not knocked down any boxer in less than 6 rounds for the past 4 years up to now, given the generic shape of those same challengers, what was their physical condition come rounds 7-10?

Klitschko is a truly a wise fighter because he always conserve his energy. Others predicted Haye will win late rounds. But with the reach advantage of Klitschko, he is still unthoughtful. Klitschko vs Haye Live Stream. Haye is not as good as Klitschko therefore it will be an easy opponent for Wladimir Klischko to knock down. We all know that Klitschko is a stronger puncher and Haye is not a kind of a boxer who can throw one punch then put his challenger on the floor. The advantage of Klitschko is that the venue of their fight is in Germany where he has a lot of supporters from that country.
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Date: Wednesday June 29, 2011
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Kick-off Time: 11:00
Location: Wimbledon, England

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Date: Wednesday June 29, 2011
Kick-off Time: 11:00
Location: Wimbledon, England

Rafael Nadal's Parents Reunite

Report: Rafael Nadal's parents are back together after separation A report on the official website of Tennis Canada says Rafael Nadal's parents, Ana Maria and Sebastian, have reunited after separating two years ago. Ordinarily, this sort of thing wouldn't merit mention, except that Nadal has admitted that the family trouble played a big role in his struggles on the court in 2009.

Nadal's stunning loss to Robin Soderling at the French Open that year, still his only defeat at the tournament, came in the weeks after his parents announced their separation. At the time, a source told London's Daily Mail:

'Rafa is devastated. All through the past couple of months he has been trying to get his tennis back on track, but his heart has been elsewhere. In public he has put on a brave face, but in private he has been hoping for a reconciliation and fervently wishing this wasn't happening.

Tennis.com's Peter Bodo speculated about what it meant:

"The rumors that Nadal's parents are about to divorce keep popping up in the gutter press and in my inbox via emails from acquaintances and sources, and I bring it up for this reason only: there's a parallel to be drawn between how domestic turmoil might affect an obedient son who's never questioned the impermeability of the familial cocoon, and how losing dominion over a patch of earth where he has known only spectacular success might affect a young and still not fully formed tennis player."

And later in the year, Nadal reflected on how the divorce affected him:

"My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me. After that, when I can't play Wimbledon, it was tough. For one month I was outside the world."

"I am OK now but you need time to accept. And it's more difficult to accept when you are outside home and don't know what's happening. At least the injury gave me time to be with my friends and family."

"I played with less calm [at Roland Garros]. One of the reasons was the pain in the knees. And I was down because of the divorce. Soderling played really well and he beat me. But I wasn't ready, mentally or physically, this year."

After his first-round victory on Monday, Nadal spoke about his parents being in attendance (without confirming or denying the rumors and possibly making it seem like he was talking about their seats):

"Too many beautiful things to see my mom and my dad in the Royal Box. I think for them (it) was a great experience. So, everything in general was very, very nice today."

Courtesy: BustedRacquet

Rafael Nadal - Facebook update

And here is the news from the man himself:

Good morning everybody. Yesterday after the match I went to take an MRI at a London hospital. During the match I thought I had something serious but as the match went through the pain got better and thankfully the tests don't show an injury. Today I will practice at 4.30 pm and I'll play tomorrow. Thanks all for the support.

Courtesy: Facebook

Rafael Nadal - Foot Ok For Training

Defending champion Rafael Nadal looks set to play his Wimbledon quarter-final after an MRI scan revealed that his left foot injury was not as serious as first feared, Sky Sports News reported Tuesday.

The world number one suffered the injury in the first set of his last 16 victory over Juan Martin del Potro on Monday and said that he was unsure whether he'd make Wednesday's quarter-final clash against America's Mardy Fish.

However, a Nadal spokesman told Sky Sports News that the scan had revealed no damage although the top seed would test the foot in a practice session at Wimbledon later in the day.

Nadal needed to have his left foot taped at 6-6 in the first set tie-break of Monday's Centre Court clash and told reporters that he was not optimistic about playing on Wednesday.

"I cannot predict the future but I am worried for sure," he said.

"I felt really bad at 6-5 in the first set. I thought I had broken my foot. I asked for the trainer when the game was done. I didn't know if I will have the chance to continue playing."

Courtesy: Yahoo

Rafael Nadal - The Times Blog

Rafael Nadal2 hours ago

Hello everyone and please find here a few words before the answers. Those of you who have seen the match, I am sure you have enjoyed it. It was a great level of match and to be honest I wasn't sure I could finish it.

At some point I felt a lot of pain, like if something had broken... I almost cried of pain and of thinking I could have really gotten injured. I went after the match to get an MRI of my ankle/foot. Will give the results to the press in the morning.

Tomorrow Rory McIlroy is coming to Wimbledon and I am really looking forward to meeting him again!. Had the chance to meet him in NY last year and now I will see him again after he's won a major! I am normally hitting in the afternoon, at around 4 but will come to the tournament site just to see him.

Since you are such a good mover on the court, are you also a good dancer? Loreta
No, not at all! I am a bad dancer!

During the 2008 Olympics, I had an opportunity to see the Spanish national basketball team play and was impressed with Ricky Rubio. Now I see he is going to play in the NBA. Do you have any thoughts? Do you follow basketball? Jane
I think he is a great player and will do very well, really looking forward to playing against the best. He is really, really good!

Have you ever watched Bollywood movies?Kaushik
Not for the moment.

Are there some places in the world (besides Manacor) where you can still walk around without attracting too much attention?Cynthia Tanner
Not that I am aware of but it is nice to see people like you.

Is it true, that the taller the player, the bigger and better his serve is? Tathagata
That is normally the case.

Was it too much to play in the Davis Cup on hard court just one week after Wimbledon?Goran
I have said it loud and clear to the media on Sunday and again today. Things must change in the Davis Cup. I love to play for my country and the way it is scheduled is simply impossible.

I love the traditions at Wimbledon but the one where both players walk off the court together seems to have been overlooked this year. What do you think? Natalie W
I haven't realized that since I always walked on court and out with my rival.

What did you think of Andy Murray's performance today. Are you worried about possibly meeting him in the semi-final?Julian
Andy is a great player and I have always said it. Right now my main concern is Mardy Fish, my next rival. Have to be frank with you.

You've said before that you like Wimbledon as a place but have you had an opportunity to visit anywhere else in the UK? If so where?Kirstie
Not much, apart from London I have not had the chance. One day I suppose. Benito, my PR guy, tells me there are many beautiful places down south too.

Q&A: Get your questions into Rafa by e-mailing rafa@timesonline.co.uk and follow his progress in his own words.

Did you see Spain U21s win in the European Championship Final. Has it inspired you?Alexei
I did have the chance today to watch the whole match. Last night I went for dinner and could not watch it live. I did follow it after when I came back and saw the result.

During the US Open 2010, you were consistently serving at 125-130 mph. It played a big part in your winning the tournament. But currently you are serving at around 115-120 mph. Is it intentional, or is it because you haven't found the same rhythm? I remember uncle Toni saying after the French Open this year, that if you serve faster then the returns come back quicker which makes it difficult for you to control the rally. So can you explain the variation in the speed of your serve? Jonas
There is not much difference but it is true that I have to try to get my serve a bit better as I did at the US Open last year. Not that I don't want to, simply that I have to find it.

Will you be more circumspect in your scheduling in the future? We love you and want to see you have a long career with no more injuries! Also, is it true you will retire from tennis at 28-29? Sandy, Los Angeles
I have never said at what time I will retire so not really sure. There is not much chance on deciding what to play since with the Grand Slams and the Masters 1000 of the ATP plus the mandatory 500 there is not much room NOT to play.

A couple of years ago you were having problems with your wisdom teeth. Did you ever get them removed? Kate
Yes, it was in Miami when I had trouble. Had them finally removed.

Can you make Crema Catalana? Jorge
I can only eat it!!!! :-)

If you had to rank the tennis players in terms of their football ability, who would be your top 5 (excluding of course, you and your wicked lefty leg)? Eno
Wow, tough question that will get me in trouble for sure! I would say Murray, Francis Roig, Fernando Vicente, Djokovic.

Did playing against a big server on Friday/Saturday help your preparation for your game against Juan Martin Del Potro?Sharon
No, not at all. Different matches, different player.

Has the possibility of a semi-final with Andy Murray crossed your mind yet? Jules
No, not at all. I am only thinking about del Potro since yesterday. Before that each player I played. It could be that on Friday I am already at home!

Rafael Nadal - ESPY Awards

Rafael Nadal receives two nominations for the ESPY Award 2011 – Tennis News

World number one, Rafael Nadal of Spain, got nominated for the 19^th annual ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Award, to be held on 13^th July at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, United States, on Wednesday.

Currently reckoned as the best tennis player in the world, Nadal got nominated for two different categories for the ESPY Award, the first one being the Best Male Athlete and the other the Best Male Tennis Player.

The Spaniard's unmatchable successes during the last year have earned him two nominations for the prestigious award. Nadal proved his mettle throughout the last ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) season, winning three of the four Grand Slam tournaments in a single year. He took the French Open title in the summer of 2010 and then took Wimbledon Championships in the same month to continue his way to glory. The world number one then went on to clinch the US Open title to become the first player since the legendary Rod Laver, who won all the four Grand Slam championship titles in one calendar year.

Nadal complete his Career Grand Slam last year when he won the US Open for the first time, becoming the seventh male player to win all the four Grand Slam titles. The Spanish has won 10 Grand Slams so far in his career, with three of them coming in 2010, making him one of the most successful sportsmen of the year.

The prestigious ESPY Award is presented to distinguish the individual and team athletic achievements and other performances in the field of sports in a calendar year. The star-studded ceremony will be held on the evening of 13^th of next month hosted by American actor and comedian, Seth Meyers.

The ESPY ceremony brings together top performers in sports from all over the globe to relive the unforgettable moments and acknowledging the leading performances and performers in during the past one year. Sans all around the world determine the winners of the awards by voting for them online at ESPN.com or facebook.com.

No doubt Nadal's gleaming performances with the racquet last year makes him one hot favourite for winning the award for the Best Male Tennis Player of the year and he might get the honour of wining the Best Male Athlete award as well. It all is up to the Nadal fans that how much they vote only for their beloved tennis star and take him to the glorious title on the night of 13^th July.

Other nominees for the Best Male Tennis Player include Swiss maestro Roger Federer and Serbian juggernaut Novak Djokovic.

Rafael Nadal & The Foot Concern

Courtesy: LondonEveningStandard

Defending champion Rafael Nadal fears his Wimbledon campaign may be over after he suffered a foot injury in today's four-set victory over Juan Martin Del Potro.

Nadal revealed he will have an MRI scan on the injury, which he sustained near the end of the first set of his 7-6 (8/6) 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 victory on Centre Court. The Spaniard, seeded number one, had close to 10 minutes of treatment before the start of the first-set tie-break and said afterwards that he will go for a scan on the problem on Tuesday.

"I don't know what the injury is yet. I will have an MRI (scan) as soon as possible," Nadal said. "I am worried for sure. I will have the scan and then let's see if I can recover for Wednesday. I cannot predict the future."

Nadal, who missed the defence of his 2008 title due to a knee injury, admitted he came close to retiring from Monday's match after picking up the foot problem.

"I felt the problem for the half of the first set. It was really bad," the world number one added.

"At 6-5 I felt terrible. I pushed hard with a forehand and I just felt something crush in the back of the foot. I didn't know what went on.

"The pain stayed with me for the next point and all the matches."

Should Nadal's injury not end his campaign, he will take on American Mardy Fish in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

He could then play Andy Murray in the semi-finals if the Scot beats Feliciano Lopez.

Rafael Nadal - Into the QF @ Wimbledon

Scrappy hard fought match that had a few twists, turns & MTO's.

Yahoo

Defending champion and top seed Rafa Nadal showed all his fighting spirit and irrepressible will to win when he overcame a painful foot injury and a testing examination from Juan Martin Del Potro to advance to the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday. Full story here

BBC

Defending champion Rafael Nadal battled through a foot injury to beat Juan Martin del Potro and reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Full story here

NewYorkTimes

Defending champion and top seed Rafa Nadal showed all his fighting spirit and irrepressible will to win when he overcame a painful foot injury and a testing examination from Juan Martin Del Potro to advance to the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday. Full story here

Rafael Nadal's Shoes Go Under The Hammer

Courtesy: ThisIsLincolnshire

A CITY charity wants to ensure there's not "much a-deuce about nothing" during Wimbledon fortnight by auctioning off a historic piece of tennis memorabilia.

Cooke and Connell fundraisers have acquired the trainers worn by Rafael Nadal when he secured his second SW19 title by beating Thomas Berdych last year.

Adelaide Park manager Vik Szendrey, left, and Frank Connell with the signed trainers.

The Nike Air Max are signed by the Spanish great as well as two tennis balls which are being sold off to raise money for three local football teams.

A bid of £250 has already been lodged for the trainers, but they are expected to raise a huge amount of money.

The trainers were acquired by Frank Connell, whose company has been raising funds for local sports clubs for more than 20 years.

Connell has a friend who works at Wimbledon where he managed to snare the trainers and two balls from the breathtaking number one seed.

"It really is a fantastic piece of memorabilia for any sports fans to own," said Connell.

"The more and more I have spoken about them, the more I realise how valuable they are.

"I've auctioned off lots of memorabilia before, but this is very, very exciting especially with Wimbledon taking place at the moment."

Collectors wishing to bid for the trainers, which will come with a record detailing their authenticity, can do so by phone on 01522 527 696.

Bidding by email is also available and you can submit an offer to CookeandConnell@hotmail.co.uk.

Rafael Nadal - New Times Blog Entry

Hello everyone,

Kind of late today writing this blog after I had a quiet dinner at my house with my team and family. More or less like a typical Sunday although with Spanish times!

It was a really beautiful day today, very sunny and warm and I have to say that with days like this it is difficult to find a nicer place than the UK. So green and nice it is just amazing!

Thanks for all your support

Rafa

Rafael Nadal Fears Del Potro

Courtesy: Telegraph

When Juan Martín del Potro was suffering with the wrist injury that made him fearful about his very future in the sport, Rafael Nadal was among those who sent messages of support to one of the game’s most outstanding young talents.

Now 16 months on, while as thrilled as everyone else in tennis that the Argentine came through his crisis and is now making considerable strides back to his howitzer best, Nadal was left wondering quite what he has done to deserve drawing the menacing and ever-improving comeback man in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

“I’m not lucky to play against Del Potro in the round of 16,” bemoaned the champion, who has so far been ruffled by nothing, not even big serving leftie Gilles Muller playing out of his skin in the third round, as he has so far marched through without the concession of a single set.

Unlucky, Nadal believes, because he is sure that Del Potro is really a top-five player masquerading as the 24th seed. Unlucky, too, because he knows only too well the danger posed by the only man to have broken the Nadal/Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic monopoly on grand-slam triumphs in the past 25 editions stretching back six years.

Of course, del Potro is not yet back to being quite the man who overpowered Nadal in the semi and then Federer in the final of the 2009 US Open, victories aged only 20, which seemed to signal his massive threat to the Rog-Raf axis until last season’s wrist injury so sadly interrupted his progress for, effectively, an entire year.

Indeed, the way Del Potro sells it, he is still in need of much restoration work, as he reminded us of how he was soundly beaten by Nadal in Indian Wells only in March. “He won really easily and I don’t know if I’m still far away from that level. Going to be tough for me,” he said.

Nadal will not be sidetracked by these protestations. Del Potro has returned confidently enough to have won a couple of tournaments this year already and to have given Djokovic, when the Serb was still unbeaten for the season, a run for his money at the French Open. Now, Del Potro has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time too.

And Nadal will not forget how much trouble he has had in the past trying to tame the 6ft 6in beanpole’s big serve and murderous flat forehand, having lost three of their eight encounters, most notably the 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 hiding two years ago at Flushing Meadows.

When asked what was so difficult about del Potro’s game, he shrugged: “Everything. I think he has a good serve, very good shots from the baseline, he’s a complete player. It’s always a big challenge to play against him; he’s one of the best players in the world and I have to be playing my best tennis to win.”

Well, Nadal has been playing some of his best tennis, making smooth progress in search of a third title and with the only concern being a slight leg muscle niggle, which he suffered after a slip and that necessitated a visit from the trainer during the Muller match. “But this is not limiting my game. I can play without problems,” he insisted.

Yet perhaps the biggest threat to him is Del Potro’s nothing-to-lose mentality. For when the Argentine thinks back to early last year, he felt “scared” then that nobody could identify exactly the tendon problem in his right wrist.

“It was a very bad year,” he recalled. “When nobody knew the problem, it was a bad thing for my mind. Then, after I had surgery, it was difficult to come back too because I felt the world wanted to see me playing, and it was a lot of pressure.

“After the surgery, the doctor said it would take between four and six months before you are playing again. So I was very, very quiet, thinking if I follow him step by step, very quietly, I will be playing again.”

Now the quiet period is over, maybe Del Potro is ready to make a big noise again. You can almost feel that sense of release and freedom that he can swing through the ball again with the old violent intent.

So, how to beat Nadal? “Well, you should play unbelievable tennis. You should play everything perfect, and then maybe you have a little chance,” said Del Potro. All Nadal will recognise, though, is that he has been on the wrong end of this fellow’s “unbelievable tennis” before.

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