Nadal v Haase: Wimbledon second round
If there was one thing Rafael Nadal learnt from Roger Federer on Monday afternoon, it was never to underestimate your opponent.
That’s something Federer, the six-time Wimbledon champion, may have been guilty of when he opened up the defence of his crown on Monday, when Alejandro Falla took him to five sets.
If Nadal needed anymore motivation to open up his Wimbledon campaign well, Federer certainly provided it, and against the wild card Kei Nishikori, the world No.1 took no chances and won in straight sets, even if he didn’t play his best.
And after he won his first-round match Nadal sounded like a man on a mission.
“I'm happy to be here again. This year, I worked a lot to be here, I'm perfect, concentrated, very motivated,” Nadal said.
“I'm very happy to come back to this tournament and play in probably the most beautiful and emblematic court in the world.
"The feeling is always amazing. And after the victory in 2008, it is a little bit more special,” Nadal added.
That news doesn’t bode well for Robin Haase, Nadal’s next opponent. Haase beat American James Blake in his first-round match, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 and although the name sounds familiar, Blake’s play is no longer recognisable with injury’s taking their toll on the 30-year-old.
Nadal will provide a whole new challenge for his Dutch opponent and with the two never having met before, the advantage is clearly with the world No.1.
For Haase if playing a former Wimbledon champion wasn’t enough, Thursday is the day the Queen makes her visit to Wimbledon for the first time in 33 years. But for Nadal he says he won’t feel any extra pressure playing in front of Her Majesty, in fact it will be a pleasure.
"For me, it is a pleasure to have the Queen here at Wimbledon. That's very good for the sport," he said.
"And for me is not an extra pressure, for sure. [It will be] just an honour to watch the Queen in the Royal Box. I would love to have the chance to say hello to her."
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