CAMELOT FANTASIES

More time on grass as Nadal chooses Stuttgart and Queen's

http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2015-04-20/more_time_on_grass_as_nadal_chooses_stuttgart_and_queens.html

Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal will make the most of the three-week gap between Roland Garros and Wimbledon, slotting in two tournaments in the build up. Wimbledon.com reports...

What do the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 have in common for Rafael Nadal? They are years he won Roland Garros. They are also years he has played in a Wimbledon final. And they are also the years he prepared for The Championships at The Queen's Club. Four years after his last significant chance at the Wimbledon title, Nadal will once again compete at Queen's in the build-up to Wimbledon. And before that, at Stuttgart too, as the new three-week gap welcomes the German event to the grass court calendar for the first time. Stuttgart, formerly an ATP 250 on clay, has spent two years turning its red clay into green grass as it begins to anchor itself as one of the go-to events of the grass court season in the week following the French Open.

It is the happy fruition of a long process that began with a conversation between Tournament Director Edwin Weindorfer and AELTC Chief Executive Richard Lewis when the three-week gap was announced in July 2012.
"We announced we were going to do the three weeks, with the change of date and then the ATP put out invitations to tender for the extra grass-court slots," Lewis explains. "Then Edwin Weindorfer, the Stuttgart tournament director, made contact. He wanted to know what was involved before he put a bid together, talked to the (Stuttgart) club, the sponsors at the Mercedes Cup. We got to know each other and it went from there."

The AELTC has assisted with the preparation of Stuttgart's courts, offering advice from the groundstaff, and support in promoting the event. "We helped them first of all with advice. They visited us, mainly, to talk about what was involved, helping them access the right type of soil, let alone the grass seed. And the climate, what to do when, how to construct the actual court, then what to do when the grass starts going. It’s very interesting hearing all the different aspects they need to consider to create top quality grass courts," Lewis explains. "We also gave them a bit of support, in terms of being over there for a couple of press conferences, and just created a partnership, also helping them, to a limited extent, to promote the grass-court event, which we think is good for grass-court tennis."
And now, three years after those initial meetings, Stuttgart is just 60 days away.

 “I am very happy to play again in the city of Stuttgart. Last time I played there was a different event, on clay," Nadal commented. "This time it will be on grass and really looking forward to playing there. Great to be back playing soon in Germany.”
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic has also committed to playing in Germany, as are Feliciano Lopez, Tommy Haas and Marcos Baghdatis.

Queen's meanwhile, elevated to an ATP 500 event from 2015 onwards, is similarly delighted to be receiving the Spaniard this year.
“I always loved playing at The Queen’s Club and I am very happy that I will be back this year,” said Nadal. “It was a great experience for me to lift the trophy in 2008 because it is such an important and traditional tournament. To win Wimbledon a few weeks later was like a dream.

Nadal joins Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Milos Raonic, Lleyton Hewitt and Cilic, with more to come.

Rafael Nadal is still the 'King of Clay' says Greg Rusedski
Last Updated: 19/04/15 9:27pm


Until Novak Djokovic wins that elusive first French Open title, Rafael Nadal is still very much the 'King of Clay' in the eyes of tennis expert Greg Rusedski.

Despite losing in straight sets to the Serb in the Monte Carlo semi-finals on Saturday, Nadal would have taken heart from a positive display on his favourite surface against the all-conquering world No 1.

Nadal missed most of the second part of last season - including the defence of his US Open title - with a wrist injury and then appendicitis.
But he seemed to be finding form when he secured his 46th clay-court title at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires which was his first final since winning at Roland Garros last June.

Despite failing to go on and collect a ninth title in the Principality, Rusedski feels the 14-time Grand Slam champion is slowly finding his clay feet.

Having won nine French Open titles in 10 years, the Spaniard's speed, aggression and stamina is building as he aims to secure a landmark 'La Decima' of titles at his favourite home - Roland Garros - which starts on May 25.
"Nadal is still searching for that level of tennis while if you look Djokovic, he is taking the ball earlier, transitioning a little bit better and the serve has improved. Djokovic is going the right way, but if you have a long lay-off because of injury it takes a little bit more time to get back," Rusedski told Sky Sports 4.

"Last time when Nadal had that injury and was out for eight months he stormed back and won 10 tournaments. It's not that same Nadal yet but he's still got enough time to get ready for that French Open.
"Djokovic has to win the French before we can say we have a new 'King of Clay' and the best player always wins in a three out of five set match so until Djokovic does that Rafa is still the king.
"Nadal will go deep in Barcelona and don't be surprised if he wins that event and then after that you're going to have Rome and Madrid, so he's going to build nicely.
"He's also also changed his racket, so it's giving him a little bit more power and spin. It takes a little while to adjust. He finally put it into play in Monte Carlo so once those areas become what he wants it to be he will become even better.
"All those Rafa fans out there - don't worry - he's getting better week in, week out."