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Nadal takes the plaudits
Rafael Nadal says he will have to be at the very top of his game if he is to stand a chance of beating Roger Federer on Sunday.
Nadal, who prepared for his semi-final with Rainer Schuettler by practising with three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe at the All England Club, duly set up another final with Federer with a 6-1 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 win on Friday.
He will now bid to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to back up his French Open success by emerging triumphant in SW19.
However, as always, Nadal was paying Federer the greatest respect as he looked ahead to another showdown with his arch rival.
"I'm very happy to be in the final another time, Wimbledon is a very good tournament for me," Nadal said.
"I will try to play my best tennis on Sunday.
"Today maybe wasn't my best match here this year but I won in three sets which is very important for me. I'm in the final with very good confidence.
"I know the best player in the world is on the other side of the net in Roger. I feel I have to play very well to have a chance to win. Anything can happen, I know he is playing well but I am playing well too.
"Every year and every match is different, it depends how you get to the final, how you are feeling in that moment. Last year was very close, I hope on Sunday to have the same performance, maybe a little better, to have the chance to win and I hope to win this time.
"If I win here it's probably going to be one of the most important wins in my career but I have to play my best tennis if I want chances to win this title."
Nadal pushed Federer all the way in last year's five-set final but many have been placing more significance on his French Open victory at Roland Garros, where Federer won just four games in three amazingly one-sided sets.
History
But the player himself - like Federer - insists that will have no bearing on Sunday's showdown, the pair creating history by meeting in three successive finals at two different slams.
"It's a totally different court, different surface, everything is different," Nadal added.
"I think it doesn't matter, it won't be important for Sunday.
"Always it's tough to play against Roger, we've played a lot in a lot of tough matches. I've lost the last two times here and I'm going to try my best to win.
"I think I am a better player in general, but not on grass because I don't practise on it."
Despite a poor start, Schuettler eventually made a decent fight of the semi-final ad he could well have levelled at a set all.
However, he failed to serve out the set at 5-4 and paid the price.
The German 32-year-old said: "I was a little disappointed about the start of the match.
"He started so well and I was not on court for the first 10-15 minutes."
He added: "I don't know if he missed one ball in the first set."
"Otherwise it was a close match. I had a chance to win the second set but that's why he's number two in the world.
"It's OK, I had an unbelievable tournament. My quarter-final influenced today a little (Schuettler came through a five-hour epic) but I'm fit. After I woke up my legs were a little tired and I didn't sleep so much but it was a great experience to go on Centre Court and play Rafa."
