Can King of Clay Rafael Nadal win at Wimbledon?
By Harry Floyd
Rafael Nadal is considered an underdog at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships despite his being one of the greatest tennis players ever.
King of Clay Rafael Nadal is fresh off of his 11th title at Roland Garros. His storied success at the French Open has earned him the nickname of ‘King of Clay’ and he shows no sign of letting up during the clay court season. His 2018 ATP World Tour has been right in par with the rest of his career. While he largely takes over during those months, it is Roger Federer, among others, who have taken over when it comes to the grass courts.
Nadal has just two titles at Wimbledon. To anyone besides the greatest players in the Open Era, two titles at any Grand Slam would be welcomed with open arms. Nadal, despite his success at the major tournament in London, cannot be considered the favorite.
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The Spanish superstar is of course one of the top contenders for the title this month. He enters Wimbledon as the second seed. Starting his run at the Grand Slam on Tuesday, Nadal opens against Israeli veteran Dudi Sela. He ought to win his opening round match with ease, but it is no easy feat to take home a Grand Slam win. Nadal, if anyone, understands this. It has also been nearly a decade since the King of Clay claimed glory at the Wimbledon Championships.
Rafael Nadal is a two-time Wimbledon champion in men’s singles. He earned the title in both 2008 and 2010. This year, the second seed plays somewhat of an underdog with Federer in the mix.
Next: Federer Ready For Wimbledon Run
Looking at both of his Wimbledon titles, Rafael Nadal found himself against an incredible talent in the finals. In 2008, he defeated Federer for his first win in London. Then in 2010, he took down Tomas Berdych for his second and last Wimbledon title as of today. The 2010 finals went a bit smoother than his meeting against Federer. Nadal defeated Berdych in straight sets, going 6–3, 7–5, 6–4 against Czech great. As action rolls on in the early rounds, all eyes are on the two tops players in the sport. Federer is the favorite but there is no doubt that Nadal will give it everything he’s got to earn a chance at a third title.