Steven Wine, AP Sports Writer
18 June, 2005
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- History says Rafael Nadal is unlikely to win Wimbledon this year.
Nadal says the same.
The 19-year-old Spaniard won the French Open on his first try two weeks ago to become the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since 1989. Now he'll try to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back, something no man has done since Bjorn Borg in 1980.
In fact, among the French Open men's champions since 1982, only Andre Agassi also earned a Wimbledon title during his career. Agassi won Wimbledon in 1992 and Roland Garros seven years later.
Winning major titles on both clay and grass requires an array of skills that few players possess. And at this point, Nadal says, he's not among them.
``On clay I can win a lot of matches if I play my best tennis,'' Nadal said Saturday. ``But it is different on grass. I have to improve, and at the moment I do not have the preparation to go far in a grass-court tournament. I need to improve a lot my serve, my volley, my aggressive shots.''
Unlike some French Open champions in the recent past, Nadal speaks enthusiastically about the challenge of playing on grass. He's well aware that the only Spanish man to win Wimbledon was Manuel Santana in 1966, and he said he watched the tournament as a fan growing up in Mallorca.
``Especially I remember Pete Sampras. When I was young, he won every year,'' Nadal said.
``I always say Wimbledon, for me, I want to win. For the Spanish players, to win the French Open is the best because it's clay. But if any Spanish player won here, it's unbelievable, no?''
Ranked third and seeded fourth, Nadal will play Vince Spadea in the opening round. Chasing the dream of winning Wimbledon, he figures time is on his side.
``I felt pressure at Roland Garros. Here, I don't feel any,'' he said. ``I'm young. I'm just 19, so I could play another 12 Wimbledons.''
Win or lose, it will be interesting to see how Nadal is received at the All England Club. He won over crowds in Paris with his precocious play, charisma and clamdigger trousers.
``It's a good shot in the arm for the sport, because the way he plays, he loves playing and he's really enthusiastic,'' three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said.
JUSTINE'S BID
Reigning French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne said she's better equipped to win Wimbledon than in years past.
The Belgian lost to Venus Williams in the 2001 final, then reached the semifinals in 2002 and 2003. But she said her serve and forehand are much better now.
``It's a very good surface for my game, but probably not my personality, because I have to be patient and I get frustrated very quickly on this surface,'' Henin-Hardenne said Saturday.
A Wimbledon title would complete a career Grand Slam for Henin-Hardenne, who is 23. She has won the French Open twice and the Australian Open and U.S. Open once each.
``I am very motivated about this possibility,'' she said. ``I will have a few more chances. It will be a great achievement if I can win.
``I have to improve my game on grass. It wasn't enough the last few years. I have to be more aggressive if I want to win.''
Henin-Hardenne missed last year's tournament with a blood virus. The energy-sapping ailment left her bedridden, but since returning from a seven-month layoff in March she's 27-1 and has won 24 consecutive matches, all on clay.
NEW LEADERSHIP
The ATP Tour will announce Sunday that it's hired a chairman, a new post to work alongside a chief executive officer who hasn't been hired yet.
ATP spokesman David Higdon wouldn't say Saturday who the chairman is, but said it's someone with experience in sports and TV.
ATP CEO Mark Miles is leaving at the end of 2005 after 15 years in the job. He'll be replaced by the chairman, who'll oversee the ATP board, and a CEO who will oversee day-to-day operations.
WITHDRAWAL
Argentina's Paola Suarez withdrew Saturday from singles and doubles because of a hip injury.
Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain have combined to win eight Grand Slam titles, including the French Open two weeks ago. They were top-seeded in the women's doubles and were the Wimbledon runners-up in 2002 and 2003.
They were replaced in the draw by Els Callens of Belgium and Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland. Lucky losers Edina Gallovits of Romania and Angela Haynes of the United States advanced to the main draw.
Suarez's place in the singles was taken by lucky loser Melinda Czink of Hungary.
FUN IN THE SUN?
Forecasters predict a warm start to Wimbledon.
After a slow beginning to the British summer, it hit 88 degrees in London on Saturday, with the same temperature predicted for Sunday.
For Monday's start of the tournament, the temperature is supposed to drop to 75, with clouds but no rain expected.
Last year, rain hit Wimbledon right from Day 1, and heavy showers throughout the week led to matches being played on the middle Sunday for only the third time in the tournament's 118-year history.
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