Can Rafael Nadal challenge for a third Wimbledon title?
ByEurosport
Updated 13/06/2017 at 16:34 GMT
Bouyed by winning a 10th French Open title at Roland Garros, Eurosport tennis analysts Frew McMillan and Chris Bradnam study Rafael Nadal's prospects of repeating his triumph at Wimbledon.
Nadal firmly in mix to win, says Frew McMillan (Three-times Wimbledon doubles champion, and former South Africa Davis Cup-winning captain)
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Firstly, I think it is fair to say Rafael Nadal is one of the main contenders. There are many more contenders to win than on clay.
Nadal has won it twice in 2008 and 2010, and been in three finals. There is a pedigree there on grass. Nadal has lost early on at Wimbledon in the past few years. I don't expect that to happen this time.
Preparation is vitally important for this year’s Wimbledon. He needs good weather at Queen’s Club, and a good week of practice in order to fine tune his grass court play.
This would therefore prevent him losing early. The biggest problem he faces is the speed of the court, and the lower bounce on grass.
Opponents can overpower him on grass, but find it much more difficult to do on the slower clay. I think his game like Roger Federer’s has been refreshed after time out. His service and his backhand has come on leaps and bounds to a level of strength associated with his forehand.
Consequently, together with Federer, Andy Murray, Milos Raonic and to a lesser extent Novak Djokovic, he remains one of the outstanding favourites for Wimbledon.
Federer is slight favourite ahead of the other three, but not by much.
Federer favourite, but Nadal can challenge, says Chris Bradnam (Eurosport commentator and former professional)
I think Roger Federer and Andy Murray alongisde Milos Raonic are favourites for Wimbledon.
Nadal hasn’t been beyond the fourth round since 2011 even though the grass has changed. It is a lot lower bounce which Nadal has said is the worst surface for his knees.
But when he made his first final at Wimbelodn as a professional, he had played less than 10 matches on the surface so his ability and desire to adapt and change cannot be underestimated.
He comes into Wimbledon this year as fit as he has been for years. He volleys extremely well, and must have a chance of going all the way.
I thought at the French Open, Rafael Nadal was the best he has ever been. The two biggest improvements were the serve and the backhand.
He hits the backhand so hard and flattens it out. There is the serve too. It has more pace.
He simply became unplayable on his favourite surface at the French Open.
I’d tip Federer to win Wimbledon. Murray did phenomenally well to make the semis in Paris, but there is still question marks over him to last two weeks and win Wimbledon.
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