In a final Federer-Nadal, I see Rafa 100% champion

The Californian Brad Gilbert was a player rather discreet, but as a coach has dealt nothing less than Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. And safely predicts the triumph of Nadal in Wimbledon 2008

What do you think of that might be the third final Federer-Nadal?
First, we have to win the semifinals. I know both are favourites, but, you know, these things must stop. But it seems obvious that we all thought in a final between Rafael (Ralph, said Gilbert) and Roger. And my favorite in that final Nadal would be: 100%.

With so much security?
It was what I said and I repeat: a final against Federer, Nadal to win the 100% chance.

What has seen improvement in the game for Nadal to make a prediction like that?
Overall, I think Nadal is the best player who has given Spain, all I have seen. Later, Ralph has achieved many improvements and all together we have made progress on grass: is banging the ball much harder, with better position within the track. Advancing a step forward with each stroke, increasingly close to the line. The setback also what fails, and remove and la volée are tremendously better. If last year tightly lost in five sets before Federer, almost by a miracle, and these things did not as now, and see why I have so much confidence in him.

And the battle for No. 1?
If Nadal wins the tournament, will be where it should be to be number 1 at year's end. That depends on most circumstances, but on paper there would be no reason not to the outside. Nadal always find ways to do things. You, who worked with Agassi, Roddick and Murray, who waged memorable battles with McEnroe and Lendl, you who has written two bestsellers " tennis ( "Winning ugly" and "Te pillé in the back"), will see that Nadal could be compared with any other player? Boris Becker, for example, said that Rafah is a case apart

I agree. The de Nadal is a dimension or a galaxy apart. And within this galaxy, he has his own star, which is something I love, which I love so much.

The Balearic tennis player Rafael Nadal won the German Andreas Beck in his debut at Wimbledon (6-4, 6-4 and 7-6). The Latvian Ernest Gulbis awaits him in second round.

Nadal met with the script laid down in two hours and twenty minutes of play in a game where the German, from the prior and that this year had reached rooms in Halle, barely disturbed the Balearic player. Proof of this was not arranged in any of ball break throughout the match.

No Still, the German played very loose and displayed a powerful service and a style and daring battles. Nadal Sudan to crush his rival in the first set and in the past, in which Beck was able to force the tiebreaker.

Very sure of their chances began Beck, who gave no options with his service points and only lengthened. Nadal was surprised by the strength of his rival and decided to wait, while retaining his serve and maintain balance on the scoreboard.
/> Just Manacor rose to the tape, so we could not see their progress in the auction. Something that compensated with an astonishing effect on first service, no fewer than 17 direct serves during the encounter.

When I was creating more uncertainty and more dangerous the German landscape painting for the Spanish, Nadal raise their repertoire of solutions and began throwing balls deep cut very troublesome for his opponent, who failed counter. A puntazo the Mallorcan in the seventh game with a cut setback led to a break that gave him the first set. (6-4). The encounter was decided by minimal details.

In the second raise bet, despite Beck started the scoring and rival. Not too many gave the German facilities, but neither Nadal, and the psychological duel won by the Spanish goal. Andreas Beck, who from the outset had taken many risks with its second service, began to waver. And Nadal pressured to dominate the match with solvency and close the second sleeve by 6-4.

In the third, Beck was outside the party and relaxed, aware that already had nothing to lose. Retrieving the sensations of the first set, Nadal made a run and connected services as the start of the match. However, despite some trouble to put on his rival, collapsed in a 'tie-break' that ended Nadal winning in white.

The Latvian Ernst Gulbis, one of the revelations in The latest edition of Roland Garros, hopes to Mallorcan second round. It will be another good test for Nadal, who has always ido fewer than in this tournament.

NADAL could lose second place FOR SI CAE Djokovic in the semi-finals

The semifinals will dispute that Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic will have an incentive more than the ticket for the grand final of Roland Garros: the second grade in the global list of entries ATP. As happened in the Masters Series Hamburg, Manacor must win if they do not want to lose the privilege of being the world's second best racket at the time.

Novak Djokovic played this Friday at Roland Garros its fifth semifinal of a Grand Slam in a row, something that has succeeded only in the 'Open Era' Roger Federer, Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker. On this occasion, can have a double reward.

Rafa Nadal has 5,585 points in the list of entries for the ATP, the 5,225-Novak Djokovic, ie 760 points of difference between Spanish and Serbian. The Manacor has to defend the 1,000 points in Paris who managed last year to achieve victory, while the Belgrade only has to defend the 450 that gave the semifinals of the last edition.

Should Djokovic to break Nadal in the semi-finals, the Serbian would ensure, at least, leave next Monday with 5,475 points (5,775 could be ended if winning Roland Garros), leaving the Spanish with 5,035 points eliminated in semifinals. In the event that Nadal to break Djokovic, there would be no more 'account of the dairy'. This will be the second has disputed three Roland Garros earlier, with the semifinals last year his best result: 18 matches, 15 wins, 13 sets against and two withdrawn.

Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have met on ten occasions so far, with a positive balance for the Spanish tennis player of 7-3. At Roland Garros have crossed the last two years, in the quarter-finals in 2006 and the semifinals in 2007, always being the victory for Rafa. The Serbian has only been able to occasion, after the Hamburg Masters Series, which puts Nadal in the second game ladder world.

The statistic is lenient with Nadal
The situation is the least complex for the Serbian. Rafa Nadal has not ceded any set in this year's Roland Garros, but do not know what is falling defeated in this tournament and has its shares for wins: 26 matches, 26 wins and only 7 sets against. For its part, also Djokovic imposed on the Spanish, today, hard surface. Do break the curse this year?