Nadal withdrawal hands Federer his golden chance

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Lady Luck appears to be siding with Roger Federer and he will never have a better chance of a record 15th grand slam title than at this year's Wimbledon after Rafael Nadal was removed from the equation on Friday.
Earlier this month Swede Robin Soderling snapped Nadal's 31-match winning streak at the French Open, paving the way for Federer to claim the only major title missing from his collection.
Now, a year after his hopes of a sixth consecutive Wimbledon title were shredded by Nadal in a breathtaking five-set final, the Swiss has again been spared the task of toppling his nemesis by virtue of the Spaniard's battered knees.
Once the shockwaves have receded and the draw re-jigged, world number two Federer will surely believe the cards are falling in his favor.
Federer was ashen-faced 12 months ago when Nadal beat him in near-darkness and hysterical after another defeat by the Spaniard at the Australian Open.
Sport, like the British summer, is notoriously unpredictable though, and the Swiss maestro will breeze through the All England Club gates on Monday as the man to beat once again.
After finally claiming the French crown and completing his career grand slam, Federer said he could now play without pressure.
"Now, going into the grasscourt season, and Wimbledon, and being on top of the world, it's a fantastic feeling," said the Swiss, newly-married and with a baby on the way.
It was all different last year when Nadal, having humiliated Federer in the final at Roland Garros, swept to the Queen's Club grasscourt title and then pole-axed the Swiss in the place he calls his own backyard.
A month later, Nadal took Federer's world number one ranking and, although the Swiss hit back to win the U.S. Open, it seemed that a seismic shift had occurred in the sport.
ACHING KNEES
Nadal looked set to dominate men's tennis when he won this year's Australian Open but the Mallorcan powerhouse cannot function without his explosive movement around the court.
His aching knees forced him out of the Queen's Club warm-up event and after two defeats at the Hurlingham exhibition tournament this week, he made the painful decision to withdraw.
"Not to play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions in my career but the decision was made easier because I don't feel ready to compete at 100 percent for two weeks," said Nadal.
While weather and sporting fortunes are fickle, one thing is nailed on this year -- Murray-Mania. Continued...
Source: Reuters