Grass Rarely Grows on French Champion

PARIS — Perhaps it was coincidence, but Rafael Nadal completed his French Open victory Sunday on his way to the net, driving a forehand volley into the clay to finally subdue Roger Federer after 3 hours and 2 minutes.

Bring on the grass.

The transition from clay to grass is that swift in tennis. With Nadal still basking in the glow of his trophy and a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory during a news conference, a reporter noted: "You actually serve-and-volleyed twice, I think, maybe three times."

Nadal, recognizing the British accent and knowing the thread of questioning, said: "I am thinking."

Yes, of playing on grass.

Nadal's grass-court resume is so slight that to expect him to be a force this year is wildly premature. After winning the French Open last year, he traveled to Halle, Germany, and lost in the first round to Alexander Waske. But he did win a round at Wimbledon before losing to Gilles Muller, and in 2003, Nadal defeated Mario Ancic in the first round and went out in the third.

Contrast this to the likes of former French Open champions Thomas Muster, who never won a round at Wimbledon, and Nadal's Spanish countryman Sergi Bruguera, who for many years never even made the trip to Wimbledon and had a career record of 4-4 there.

Nadal cheerfully acknowledged his singles debut at Queen's Club in London this week could be a short one.

"I know the normal thing is I'm going to lose in Queen's first round because it's very difficult," Nadal said. "It is very difficult to adapt in two days. But this year I want to play with concentration, with a good chance to play good match because that's important for the confidence for Wimbledon, no?"

Two-time French Open finalist Alex Corretja, now a commentator for the Spanish network TVE and one of Nadal's many mentors, was asked how Nadal's game could adapt on grass. Corretja expressed "doubt" that Nadal would play at Queen's, though other Spanish journalists thought he would be there.

"How are you going to change your game in two weeks?" Corretja said. "That's almost impossible. It would be good if there were one more week in between. It's too close. He needs to recover from that effort to win Monte Carlo, Rome and Paris."

Nadal has two calling cards to help him on grass -- his left-handed spin and speed. Also, his serve has improved from last year. Footwork is another story.