Rafael Nadal admits Roger Federer is the favourite to win 2012 Gerry Weber Open – Tennis News
Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is seeded first at the event, has said that Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, has the most chances to win the Gerry Weber Open title this year.
Although, Nadal is ranked and seeded higher than his long time rival but the Spaniard thinks that Federer is quicker in making transition from clay to grass courts.
The right-hander said, "He's a specialist. I did pretty well the last few years, winning Wimbledon and Queen's. But for Roger, the transition from clay to grass is easier than for me, it takes less time."
Nadal has reached here after capturing a record seventh title at the red clay courts of Roland Garros. He defeated the reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic, in four sets in the final of French Open on last Monday.
He went on to state that it is very difficult to play at a grass court tournament straightaway after winning the Roland Garros title. The Spaniard shared that there are chances of him getting beaten in the opening match against
Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.
Nadal said, "I need a period of time, spend hours on the court to compete. Every match I'll play here will work for me. I'll try to play the most hours I can."
The Spaniard is featuring at the Gerry Weber Open after a gap of seven years. He played here for the last time in 2005, when he had come here straight after winning his first French Open crown, but was stunned by Alexander Waske
of Germany on his opening match.
Nadal is trying to adjust to the grass courts by also playing the doubles event this time. Partnering his countryman, Marcel Granollers, the Spaniard defeated Slovakian-Serbian duo of Michal Mertinak and Viktor Troicki in a close
match 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 in the first round.
The 11-time singles Grand Slam winner said, "The first set, it was a little tough to adapt but it got better in the second set. I hope that playing doubles will help with my singles."
Second seed, Federer, will start his campaign against Germany’s Florian Mayer in the second round. The Swiss legend is a five time former champion of this ATP World Tour 250 event.
If Nadal and Federer do not get upset before the final, they will face each other for the first time on grass courts other than the Wimbledon Championships. They have faced each other in three title matches at the All England Club,
with the Swiss Maestro winning twice.
Tags: