Nadal Makes Dream Stella Artois Debut

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There were many who wondered how long it would take for French Open champion Rafael Nadal to adjust to life on grass having spent the last three months sweeping up on clay – including himself.

The answer came pretty quickly – a 7-6(1), 6-1 victory over Surbiton winner Mardy Fish in just an hour and 16 minutes provided ample evidence that the Spanish sensation means business.

“Sure, I am serious,” said Nadal after his win. “Was very important victory for me, no? Is very good surprise. I know Mardy Fish is a very difficult match on grass. He has a very good serve…Maybe I play a very good match. I just have two hours and a half before this match on grass. So that's very important and very difficult, no?”

Having arrived at The Queen’s Club straight after defeating World No. 1 Roger Federer to claim his second Roland Garros title on Sunday – and with it extend his record winning streak on clay to 60 – the transition from the dirt to grass would have proved the downfall of many before him.

Being the first French Open champion to play at The Queen’s Club since Ivan Lendl in 1984 shows just how serious Nadal is about conquering this surface, and having won ATP Masters Series titles on hard courts in Montreal and Madrid last year – as well as defeating Federer in the Dubai final earlier this year – he is far from a one-surface wonder.

Confidence certainly breeds success - his victory over Fish was his 25th consecutive win since his loss to Carlos Moya in Miami. Next up is another Spaniard, qualifier Fernando Verdasco, and Nadal is looking forward to the challenge.

“He's playing well, no? He pass the qualify. He win two matches here, so he have five victories now, five victories on grass. So he has a good experience now, a lot of matches, more than me. So maybe he's the favorite for that…Is always is different. But I gonna play my best, no? I gonna play my best. I want to play good, and I gonna try win this match.”

Rafa’s day was complete when he even managed to watch his beloved Spain win their opening World Cup game against the Ukraine – most of it anyway. “I saw the match until 3﷓0 when we had the third, and I go to the court. But maybe today I saw the best team now since beginning the World Cup. Maybe today I saw the best game, no? For me, not just for Spain. I saw a lot of matches. Sure, is Spain. But I saw the best team today. We play very fast and aggressive all the time.”

Fans at the Stella Artois Championship also saw its best player of the tournament today as well.

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