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Rafeal Nadal seeks Wimbeldon success
Fearless French open champion, Rafeal Nadal hopes to buck Spanish trend by doing well in this year's Wimbeldon
Manuel Santana became the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon in 1966. Since then, however, Spanish tennis players have viewed the grasscourt grand slam as little more than a pointless inconvenience.
Six of the last 13 winners of the French Open have come from Spain, yet the likes of Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Albert Costa have never shown any desire to prove themselves on the All England Club's slick lawns.
Diplomatic injuries and rows over seedings meant some of the Spanish brigade skipped it altogether, preferring to rest their clay-weary legs at home in the Iberian sunshine rather than suffer on London's damp green grass.
Newly-crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal is different.
The 19-year-old has identified Wimbledon as his greatest challenge.
"Lots of Spanish players have done well at the French Open but not many have managed it at Wimbledon," said the teenager who has become a sporting phenomenon back home, rivalling the country's top soccer players.
"Of course I would love to do well, but I am realistic to know that it will be very difficult for me to win matches at Wimbledon. But I would love it, it would be a dream."
Fearless Nadal, blazed his way through the claycourt season winning five claycourt titles this year before capping it all in glorious fashion at Roland Garros. John McEnroe and world number one Roger Federer are just two of the members of his fan club.
"He's a shot in the arm for the sport," said three-times Wimbledon winner McEnroe, adding that he had not seen a young player make such an impact since Boris Becker burst on to the scene by winning Wimbledon in 1985.
"I don't think he's quite ready for a major breakthrough on grass, but he's so eager and enthusiastic, he loves playing."
His uncle Toni, who is also his coach, said his early exit in Halle last week was a useful learning curve.
"He will have to hit the ball earlier and flatter, and will have to be more aggressive on the serve and go to the net more often without worrying about being passed," he told on Thursday
"The favourites are Federer and Roddick. We are going to learn and next year we will try to win the tournament. I would take a semi-final this time round...the important thing is he's rested and raring to go."
"I'm going to Wimbledon to enjoy myself and do my best, my intention is to go there and learn so that one day I'll be able to do something big there," Nadal said.
