| Friday, 4 July 2008 Written by Adam Lincoln Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer agree: Nadal’s crushing win over the world No. 1 at Roland Garros four weeks ago is more or less irrelevant as far as Sunday’s men’s final is concerned. Different court, different surface – different tournament histories. At least, that is what they both say in public. If Nadal felt his 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 semi-final defeat of unseeded German Rainer Schuettler was not quite up to the standard he displayed against Andy Murray in the quarters, he knows he will have to be at his absolute peak on Sunday if he is to secure a first Wimbledon title. He certainly has growing faith in his abilities on the green stuff – and not just because he won at Queen’s Club a few weeks ago. “Having made three finals, I don't have to show anybody that I can play well here," Nadal said. "I get confidence from the clay court season and the US hard court season as well. I think I am a better player in general than last year. But for sure, winning or losing is an important difference. If I win on Sunday, my career is changing a little bit more, no?” It would indeed, for Nadal is bidding to become the first man to do the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double since Bjorn Borg nearly three decades ago. Already on track to usurp the great Swede as the most successful clay court player of all time, Nadal is now bidding to pull off the trickiest feat in tennis: winning majors on clay and grass in the space of a month. If he manages it, his name might even start to enter more general discussions about all-time greats. But, while Federer insists he knows what he has to do to succeed against Nadal on grass, the humble Spaniard was more circumspect when asked if he felt the same about the five-time champion. “No, no. I’m only gonna try my best. Go on court, try to play my best tennis, try to get my rhythm, my intensity. If he plays better than me, he beats me, I’ll just congratulate him like every year.” But in no way should that be interpreted as a verbal capitulation. “Last year I was very close. I hope on Sunday to be at the same level of performance – a little bit better – so I have my chances to win. For sure, if I win here probably it’s going to be one of the most important wins in my career, no? But I don't want to speak about a win. I only want to speak about how I have to play the final, I have to play my best tennis if I want chances to win this final. Later, if I am here on Sunday with the title, well, you can ask me what I feel.” Nadal was also asked, if he did win on Sunday, whether he would consider himself confirmed as the best player in the world, regardless of the official rankings. “If I have the title on Sunday, on Monday I will continue be the No. 2,” he responded modestly, but the 22-year-old clearly has an eagle eye on the forthcoming US season already. “I’m gonna have more chances to be No.1 in the next months, that's true.” As for those discussions about legends, the Majorcan again showed great respect for his rival. “I think for me [Federer] he’s the best of the history. I don’t know if he’s the best on grass because Sampras has seven, no? Federer has five – hopefully not six this year. So he has to win two more times to be at the same level as Sampras here on this surface. But in general I think he is the best,” Nadal concluded, putting the burden of expectation firmly onto his Swiss opponent.
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