ARTICLES:

• The Fourth Day: Wimbledon 2014 Daily Preview (via Wimbledon)

There will be a collective, sharp intake of breath on Centre Court from Rafael Nadal fans as he starts his match today against Lukas Rosol, the man who sent him tumbling out of The Championships at the same second round stage of the competition two years ago.

• Toni Nadal: “Murray with Mauresmo? He’s rich, he can afford her. Nadal is less rich so he choose me” (via ubitennis.com)

“Murray choosing Mauresmo is a beautiful decision because she’s beautiful. Nadal choosing me is also a beautiful decision, because I’m beautiful too”. Words of Toni Nadal, funny as usual when it comes out of the player’s box, interviewed at the Lavazza’s stand in Wimbledon.

• Rafael Nadal will play at Wimbledon even if it puts his knees at risk, insists Uncle Toni (via Daily Mail)

‘For us it’s very important to play here, it’s a dream for us. When Rafael was young my dream was that he could win at least once here. Every year when we come here it’s a dream, and we’ll try to keep coming. If we play bad this year we’ll come back next year, so still we have a little chance to make a good tournament when we come here.’

• Rafael Nadal ‘unfazed’ by Lukas Rosol says coach Toni Nadal (via BBC)
• Wimbledon champion Andy Murray pays tribute to rival Rafa Nadal: Nine out ten French Open wins might make him the greatest athlete of all time (via dailyrecord.co.uk)

“But for what we do yeah, it is challenging to stay mentally focused and sharp. For me, what Rafa has done at the French Open might be the biggest achievement in sport. “For an individual to win a tournament nine out of 10 years, a tournament that is so physical, it is mentally very draining as well. It’s very, very impressive indeed.”

• First Ball In, 6/25: Round Two, Phase Two (via tennis.com)

The world has been waiting for this Centre Court rematch of Rosol’s earth-shattering upset from two years ago. He and Nadal have played once since, earlier this year in Doha, and Rafa won in a briefly tricky two sets… the way Rafa won his last match, by refusing to lose in the first round at Wimbledon again, makes me think he’ll refuse to lose to Lukas Rosol again.

• Wimbledon Day 4 matches to watch: Nadal, Federer each face tests (via SI.com)

Can Rosol, now ranked No. 52, do it again? I doubt it. After that 2012 loss, Nadal shut down his season to rest his ailing knees. He comes into this tournament much healthier and his four-set win over Martin Klizan in the first round seemed to cast away his grass court demons.

• Nadal ante “un tío peligroso” (via El Pais)

“Espero que aquel partido no sea una gran referencia”, valoró Toni Nadal, tío y entrenador del número uno del mundo. “No es el mismo Rafael de 2012, cuando tenía muchos problemas físicos, de rodilla, que afectan mucho aquí, porque le costaba flexionar y estar positivo: sabía que era la crónica de una muerte anunciada, que si no era Rosol [quien le ganara] era el siguiente”, radiografió.

• Nadal: Roland Garros-Wimbledon double no longer that tough (via tennis.com)

”If we are thinking about our era, I don’t see a big difference of winning Roland Garros, and Wimbledon, because if you’re in the final, you really make the same adjustment,” said the world No. 1. ”I was able to do that five times. Djokovic was able to play the final in Roland Garros, or semifinals, and then win here. So that match will not make a difference.”

VIDEOS:

• Rafa plays football with his cousins
• Day 4 Preview: Rafa v Rosol, the rematch (via Wimbledon)
• Wimbledon Day 4 Preview (via ESPN)
• Rafa’s longest #Wimbjuggledon game? (via Babolat)

REMINDER: Nadal vs. Rosol – What time does Rafa play? / A que hora juega Rafa en tu país?