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By Barry Newcombe

Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic
Played-Nadal leads 8-3

The last final in the Artois Championships brings together the colossal talent which drives both Rafael Nadal of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Since 1979 these championships have provided a platform for most of the best grass court players and today continues the theme.

Go back through the years at the Artois and you will find names like John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Michael Stich, Pete Sampras, and Lleyton Hewitt, all Wimbledon champions, on the list of winners and either Nadal or Djokovic has every right to join them. This final presents two players who are both humble and intensely ambitious at the same time. Neither of them would want to lose to the other today, or any time.

The greater significance of this match lies in the fact that neither player has won a grass court title and with Wimbledon a week away this is a marvelous opportunity to state a case on the surface, no matter what Roger Federer is doing elsewhere. Nadal plays here today one week after destroying Federer in the French Open final. "He is just so match sharp right now," observed Andy Roddick, the defending champion, who Nadal beat in the semi-finals yesterday.

Nadal makes a strong case for his cause after making his best transition yet from French clay to grass and says: "It's going to be a very tough final. I try my best for a win. But if I lose I go home very happy about my tournament here."

Djokovic has made the journey to this stage almost as convincingly. He started the year by winning the Australian Open, his first Grand Slam title. Along with Ana Ivanovic, champion of France, he has fuelled unprecedented interest in tennis in Serbia. Hitting form on grass simply adds to the speculation even if he did lose to Nadal in the French semi-final nine days ago.

He played Nadal at Wimbledon last year and retired in the semi-final, a piece of history which may matter no longer. Perhaps Nadal will punch his weight more today, perhaps Djokovic will use his astounding footwork to real effect. Either way, impact beckons in the last showdown for the Artois title and both players will do it justice.

Verdict-Rafael Nadal to win


Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa v Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic
Played-never previously met

Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa, the young Brazilian pairing who have already demonstrated their skills as a doubles team, will be challenging hard for the Artois doubles title when they take on the left-handed Daniel Nestor, the Belgrade born Canadian, who has won the Artois twice before in partnership with Mark Knowles, and is now with a new team mate Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

Nestor's knowledge of the courts here is considerable and with Zimonjic, Nestor Is chasing a third title here. The form book says they have a strong chance of winning from their base of third-fourth place in the doubles rankings. They came together after the US Open last year and reached the French Open final last Sunday. Nestor can look back on a major career in doubles because he has won 48 titles. Zimonjic has twice been runner-up in doubles at Wimbledon. Zimonjic was a proficient doubles player with Fabrice Santoro of France and with him was runner-up at Wimbledon two years ago,

Melo and Sa won through to the final last evening when they defeated Britain's Jamie Murray and his partner from Belarus Max Mirnyi. The Brazilians teamed up last year and were impressive on grass at Wimbledon when they triumphed in three five set matches and reached the semi-finals. But in this year's Artois championships they gained a classic victory over the top seeded American twins Bob and Mike Bryan in the quarter-finals and if anything should fill them with confidence as they aim for the title, it is that special win.

Verdict-Nestor and Zimonjic to triumph

Junior Championship final

Henrique Cunha (BRA) v Marcus Willis (GBR)

Henrique Cunha of Brazil, ranked eighth in the world, takes on Britain's Marcus Willis in the junior final which precedes the Artois Championship final. The left-handed Cunha, 18, has risen into the top ten with his adventurous game and the impact of his double handed backhand. Willis, 17, loves playing on grass and lives close to Queen's Club so has every reason to set out to enjoy himself today.