Borg tips Nadal to end Federer's Wimbledon reign

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By: Reuters

Five-times Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg is tipping Rafael Nadal to end Roger Federer's winning streak at Wimbledon next month.

The Swede, the last man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year, in 1980, said the Spaniard's improvement on grass and overall confidence meant he could win the title at the All England Club.

Last year, world number one Federer equalled Borg's record of five straight Wimbledon titles and he will be a big favourite to make it six this time.

However, Borg, speaking in Paris on the eve of the French Open final which, for the third year in succession, will be between Federer and Nadal, gave the Spaniard his support for Wimbledon.

"If he survives the first two or three rounds this year, then I pick Nadal to win Wimbledon," Borg told reporters on Saturday.

"I was the same. If I survived those matches, then I started to play good tennis. I think it's going to be the same for Nadal.

"He has a little bit more difficulty than Federer coming to Wimbledon but if he survives the first couple (of) rounds, he's going to be really dangerous at Wimbledon."

Borg said the mental and physical effort of winning the French Open was huge but the confidence gained from victory at Roland Garros meant that winning back-to-back in Paris and Wimbledon was possible.

"Of course you're mentally tired after this tournament," he said. "Paris is the toughest tournament mentally and physically to win so to say you're not tired, the players are lying.

"But the thing is that at Wimbledon, if you survive, then you start to play good tennis.

"Nadal's playing really good on the grass. He's feeling very comfortable. The way he played last year, it was an unbelievable final. He was very unfortunate not to win that particular match. He had chances.

"I'm sure after losing a match like that he wants to come back and try to win that championship."

The Wimbledon championships run from June 23 to July 6.


 

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