Wimbledon: Bjorn Again? Nadal Says He's Too Green for Wimbledon

Even as Rafael Nadal lay like a starfish on a beach having just won the French Open title, it was impossible not to fast-track forward to the grass-court season and wonder whether this brilliant young Spaniard could do what nobody has done since Bjorn Borg - namely win the titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon back to back.

Borg managed what has since become thought of as virtually impossible no fewer than three times, from 1978-80, and came precious close to a fourth, falling at the final hurdle to John McEnroe at the All England Club in 1981.

Borg was a year younger than Nadal when he won his first French Open in 1974, and had added a further Roland Garros crown and two Wimbledon titles before collecting his first double, by which time he was 22.

The 19-year-old Nadal, unlike the other leading Spaniards of the past decade, has no dislike of the grass. On his first and only appearance at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2003, which was also his grand slam debut, he reached the third round, the youngest in the men's draw since Boris Becker in 1984. In his first match he had defeated Mario Ancic, the big-serving Croatian who last year reached the semi-finals, defeating Tim Henman on the way.

Mats Wilander, the last player to win the French Open on his debut at Roland Garros and the winner of seven grand slam titles, including three in Paris, has likened Nadal to Borg, although the comparison left the amiable Spaniard incredulous. "I am very pleased about the nice things Wilander said, but to compare me with Borg, it's not possible."

Nadal, who has risen to No3 in the world rankings after Sunday's hard-fought victory over Mariano Puerta, was quick to scotch any notion that he might win at Wimbledon this year. "But I want to improve and that is why I am going to play on grass in Halle [Germany] this week. I know it is not my best surface, and I want to improve my serve and volley."

He also intends to play doubles, even though his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, is concerned that he might overdo it. "He's always had a big heart, even when he was a quiet kid," said Toni. "He has that special type of characteristic. He's been preparing and working for moments like these for a long time. I don't like when he plays defence too much, but he does play defence very well."

And so he does. Understandably he was nervous at times, and the ferocity and quality of the Argentinian's hitting was such that the French crowd could not help but warm to him. But as Nadal showed in Rome when he defeated another Argentinian, Guillermo Coria, in the final, the quality of his match play is extraordinary at such an age.

By winning Monte Carlo, Rome and the French Open, Nadal linked his name with Romania's Ilie Nastase and Austria's Thomas Muster, the only other players to achieve this rare clay treble in the open era. Not even Borg managed that one.

"I just fight, fight, fight," said Nadal. "It's a natural instinct." And one that seems likely to frighten the living daylights out of the other leading players. Roger Federer, who may play Nadal again in Halle this week, will be looking to reimpose his authority after losing their semi- final at Roland Garros on Friday.

On a quicker surface the Swiss world No1 may have the edge for some time, but the guarantees have gone. Only Australia's Lleyton Hewitt stands between Nadal and Federer in the rankings, with Sunday's win earning the Spaniard a place in the eight-man end-of-season Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.

"What surprised me most," said Puerta, "was the strength he showed, specifically in passing shots; the strength he has in his legs, the way he explodes when he steps into the court to hit a passing shot. He obliges you to volley, and you have to pass him twice. Also, he's very calm. He's cool. I think he has the mental strength to beat records."

There are dangers. Prema ture burnout is the most obvious, for Nadal plays with a fierce intensity and covers acres of ground, and as yet he does not win many cheap points on his serve. His uncle wants him to be more aggressive so that he doesn't have to run quite so much, and that may come.

"He might struggle after a couple of years playing with this sort of intensity, but he's so young and you can't stop him because that's the way he is," said Muster.

"I think he's going to be a long-term great player because he's got the determination and the willpower. The pressure will start to grow on him now and we'll see how he copes with that. But his potential is just enormous."