ARTICLES:

• Nadal Could Face Murray In Wimbledon QFs (via ATP World Tour)

Seeded 10th at The Championships, Wimbledon, Rafael Nadal faces a difficult path if he is to triumph at the All England Club for the third time over the next fortnight.

• Djokovic avoids big four rivals until final (via Wimbledon)

There will be no Roger Federer, Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal standing in Novak Djokovic’s path for a third crown at the All England Club until at least the title decider at the end of the coming Fortnight. But the man who has caused him more Grand Slam grief than any other in the past 18 months – Stan Wawrinka – stands as his potential semi-final roadblock.

• Rafael Nadal in warrior mentality for Wimbledon: ‘I am very motivated’ (via The Guardian)

“Everything is a little bit easier when you are a kid. But all the moments of your career have that beautiful thing: your mentality changes. It is important to adapt your tennis, your mental condition, to those different moments.” … “I am seed 10 because I didn’t play well enough and because I was out injured for six months last year. I am where I deserve to be now, and I hoped to be in a higher position back here. I am going to work for that, but what gonna happen gonna happen. I need to do it my way.”

• Rafael Nadal says grass is healthier; stats say he’s right (via CNN)

“I think clay and grass are surfaces that are a bit less aggressive for the body,” the Spaniard, who has spoken in the past about hard courts taking a toll on his body, told CNN’s Open Court. “To save a little bit more (of) your body, it would be great if we could play more and more on grass and clay.”

• Healthy Nadal in a better state of mind (via ESPN)

“With every defeat, you feel less confident,” said Toni Nadal, Rafa’s longtime coach. “It’s a pity that Rafael hasn’t had a very good year, and that he has had more defeats than ever and more defeats than is normal. That’s our problem. Rafael’s game isn’t bad, it’s just that he needs more confidence.” … “There are many favorites ahead of Rafael. But over five sets, Rafael has more possibilities, because a match doesn’t run so fast as it did here at Queen’s. A lot depends on the draw, and whether you are lucky. At Wimbledon, if you can make the second week, anything is possible.”

• Why Nadal has extra incentive at Wimbledon (via ESPN)

This year, Nadal isn’t injured and he doesn’t appear to be overworked. He’s not too old, and he’s not too lazy. And Nadal has more incentive than most anyone to do well. His kingdom lies in ruins. His ranking is down to No. 10. The only buzz around him is that of flies looking for carrion.

• Wimbledon 2015: Imagine having Rafa Nadal in your bed (via CNN)

Fancy having Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal in your bed? Or perhaps you’d prefer Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova on your couch? Well, that could become a reality if you own a home around Wimbledon. … Jane Weldon, who will be renting her house for a seventh year, has played host to a number of famous faces. “There was one year when Rafa Nadal was thinking about renting it and I thought that would be really exciting, being able to say that Rafa Nadal has been in my bed,” she told CNN’s Open Court. “But he rented somewhere else, he didn’t come.”

PHOTOS:

• Rafael Nadal beats Robin Haase at The Boodles
• Rafael Nadal Practices With Andy Murray At Wimbledon

VIDEOS:

• Nadal Awaits (via Wimbledon)
• Rafael Nadal plays tennis with his cousins at The Boodles