By Daily Sports on July 8, 2018

Rafael Nadal admits he would ‘prefer’ not to face eight-time champion Roger Federer if he reaches the 2018

Wimbledon final.

Nadal, a two-time champion at the All England Club, booked his place in the fourth round with a straight-sets victory over Alex de Minaur on Saturday.

It is the eighth time Nadal, 32, has advanced to the second week of Wimbledon and on five of those occasions he went on to make the final.

In the other half of the draw, 18-time Grand Slam champion Federer has made a fine start to his title defence, failing to drop a set in his opening three matches.

Both look set for productive runs in SW19 and Nadal admits it would make his job a lot easier if Federer was to crash out before next Sunday’s final.

‘If I am in the final, I prefer to face an easier opponent,’ Nadal said following his impressive victory over Australian teenager De Minaur.

‘I am not stupid! But if I am in the final, it will be great news. Any opponent will be difficult, of course.’

Nadal’s win on Centre Court means he is guaranteed to be world number one when the new rankings are published the day after the final.

A third-round defeat for Nadal and a Federer triumph would have seen the Swiss legend reclaim top spot.

‘Of course, I prefer to be No. 1 than No. 2, no doubt about this,’ Nadal added.

‘But I really don’t came here to hold No. 1. I just came here to try to do the best tournament possible.

‘Of course, it’s very positive to already been in the second week, winning three matches. That’s it. Just happy the way that I played during the first week.

‘Three matches, every match have been more and more positive. I am playing well. Good start. Second match I played so well. Today, again, I played a good match.

‘Very happy for that and looking forward to keep playing well.’

Nadal, who won his 11th French Open earlier in the year, will face Czech star Jiri Vesely in the fourth round on Monday. (Mirror)

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 8, 2018

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