Nadal cautious on Wimbledon prospects

Rafael Nadal, who has not advanced beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon in six years, is hesitant to say if this is his year to buck that trend.

The Spaniard, who won an incredible 10th Roland Garros title just a few weeks ago to continue his excellent 2017 season, is back to world No.2 and sits atop the ATP Race to London leaderboard.

Healthy, confident and invigorated, Nadal is consistently producing his best tennis in years.

Yet when asked if this was the year he could go deep again at the All England Club, he baulked.

Up one end – @RafaelNadal. At the other – @GrigorDimitrov. #wimbledon #practicemakesperfect pic.twitter.com/Iw7qm55Fng

— Tennismash (@tennismash) June 30, 2017

“I cannot tell you exactly because I experienced all the things,” he said at a press conference on Saturday.

“I had success (here) without feeling myself in great shape. I experienced very negative moments when I was trying to play, and I was not in great shape, like last year in Roland Garros, or like here in 2012.

“So there is always decisions that you have to take. On the decisions, you take risks. Sometimes goes well, sometimes are not going that well.

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“Let’s see what’s going on this year. I know is always difficult. I am excited to be playing again here, in a tournament that I really love. I really enjoy playing. But at the same time I tell you, is a tournament that you can go out very early in the tournament.

“If I am able to go through at the beginning, I think I am with confidence. I am playing well since the beginning of the season, so let’s see.”

Nadal comes to London without new coach Carlos Moya – who has remained at home to be with his young family – and without a lead-up tournament under his belt.

He instead practised on grass at Mallorca and has been seen on site at the All England Club playing practice sets against Grigor Dimitrov and Roberto Bautista Agut.

Same time, same court for @RafaelNadal. Today's practice opponent? @BautistaAgut #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/WtWBjw4qj5

— Tennismash (@tennismash) July 1, 2017

As the fourth seed, he opens his tournament against Australian John Millman.

“I would (have loved) to be playing in Queen’s, obviously. But after the last three months and after what happened in Roland Garros, we decided that for my body is better to have a slower change to the grass, no?” he explained.

“We were practicing little bit more every day. I was lucky to have a tournament there (on grass) in Mallorca. That was a big help.

“I practiced since the tournament start, since Monday until Saturday. So was a good help.”