Nadal hopes to settle World Cup score against Federer

When Nadal sat down to watch Spains opening World Cup soccer match,he could not have anticipated a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland for his home team.

When Rafael Nadal sat down to watch Spains opening World Cup soccer match on Wednesday,he could not have anticipated a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland for his home team. Wimbledon may give him the chance to even the score,if he can snatch the title back from Federer.

Federer took full advantage of Nadals absence from the All England Club last year to win a sixth Wimbledon title but could find the fit-again Spaniard blocking his path to a record-equalling seventh. Nadal,who could have followed his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal into professional football if he had not turned to tennis,practised at a blustery Wimbledon on Saturday and looked refreshed after a long claycourt season.

I saw (Federer) just a second ago here. I congratulated him for the football, Nadal told reporters. We probably didnt play our best but we never should have lost that match. It was very bad luck,I think.

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It was not the best omen for the 24-year-old Mallorcan but he is just glad to be back at the scene of arguably his greatest career moment the intense,five-set cliffhanger of a final in 2008 when he brought Federer to his knees.

That title was probably one of the more emotional moments in my career because I worked hard all my life to improve my tennis on the other surfaces than clay, he said. (Wimbledon) has very nice memories and its always a pleasure to be here in this very beautiful club, added Nadal,who lost to Federer in the 2006 and 2007 finals.

Nadal erased any lingering doubts about his knees with a superb,22-match winning streak on clay,culminating in a fifth French Open title this month. After winning two matches on grass at Queens Club,Nadal lost to compatriot Feliciano Lopez which at least gave him a chance for a few days sleep in his own bed back in Mallorca before he returned to London for Wimbledon.