Who could have won Wimbledon 2011: Rafael Nadal – Part 4
The concluding part in the four part series talks about the defending champion, the Spaniard phenomenon, Rafael Nadal.
1. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal was the top seed and defending champion at the 125th edition of the Wimbledon Championships. The Spaniard who at first came to the scene as the clay court king turned into an all surface player with
time. The left-hander is now placed alongside greatest players the sport of tennis has ever seen. The 25-year-old is already a winner of ten grand slam tournaments at this young age. With six Roland Garros titles, Nadal has recognised himself as the best clay
courter ever. The Spaniard remained world’s top ranked player for 102 weeks. Nadal also holds the record for spending most weeks as the world number 2 with 190 weeks.
Nadal started his campaign at this year’s Wimbledon Championships as a two time former champion. The Spaniard won his first title at the SW19 when he dethroned five time defending champion Federer in five marathon sets 6-4,
6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 in the final in 2008. He failed to defend his title as he missed the championship due to knee injury in 2009. Nadal got his fitness back and grabbed the Wimbledon title again last year, dismissing Berdych in straight sets 6-3, 7-5,
6-4 in the title match.
The Spaniard also ended two championships as the runner-up. The 25-year-old reached his first final in 2006, losing to Federer in four sets 0-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 3-6. He was beaten again by the Swiss in five sets 6-7(7), 6-4,
6-7(3), 6-2, 2-6 in the 2007 final.
Nadal faced an upsetting defeat at the hands of Tsonga in the quarterfinals of AEGON Championships in London. However, the Spaniard came at the Wimbledon Championships fresh after winning the record equalling sixth title
at the French Open, beating arch rival Federer in four sets 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 in the final. Nadal also won two other titles this year, his first title of the season at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and the second at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. The
Spaniard stood runner-up to Djokovic at four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events including BNP Paribas Open, Sony Ericsson Open, Mutua Madrid Open and Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The six feet and one inch tall was looking to win the French Open and Wimbledon double for record equalling third time. Nadal looked strong in his first three rounds as he thrashed his opponents in straight sets. The Spaniard
survived an injury scare to beat Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in four sets 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in the round of 16.
The ten time grand slam champion downed inform Fish in the quarterfinals and ended British hopes for the second year in a row as he overcame Murray in four sets 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in the last four. With the semi-final win
over, Nadal entered his fifth final at the SW19 and looked to clinch his eleventh grand slam champion. However, for the fifth straight time in 2011, the Spaniard was overpowered by Djokovic in four sets 4-6, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6 in the title match.
Tags: