Rafael Nadal: Loss in Germany Won't Keep Rafa from Winning Wimbledon

There is one reason and one reason only why Rafael Nadal will lose the 2012 Wimbledon: He's won 11 Grand Slam singles titles, and only two of them have come at the All England Club.

Nadal, despite showing over the years that he can win on grass, is still best on clay, winning seven of the last eight French Opens.

Nonetheless, he's been incredibly impressive this year, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic hasn't been as dominant as in 2011.

Even after his loss in the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open on June 15, Nadal ranks in the top 10 in a number of categories on the ATP Tour this season: points won returning first serve (1), points won returning second serve (3), break points converted (3), return games won (1), break points saved (3) and service games won (4).

But you didn't need me to rattle off those stats to know what you've seen from Nadal this season. He's been electric, with a 41-5 overall record and four singles titles. He's 24-2 since arriving in Monte Carlo in April and he's 3-0 against Djokovic since then.

It may be Roger Federer who figures to be Nadal's biggest threat at Wimbledon. Not only has Federer compiled a 39-6 record this year with four singles titles, he looks at Wimbledon's grass courts much like Nadal looks at the French Open's clay courts. Federer has won six career Grand Slam singles titles in London.

Nadal has gone 18-10 against Federer for his career. On the other hand, it's worth noting that Federer beat Nadal in their most recent clash at Indian Wells. Of course, Nadal has won four of their last six matches, including a win at this year's Australian Open.

Federer, 30, knows that time is running out for him. He's still undoubtedly the No. 3 player in the world, but he also has two beasts in Nadal and Djokovic ahead of him now. If he is going to beat Nadal in a major these days, it's going to have to be at Wimbledon.

Unfortunately for Federer, Nadal is just too good overall in 2012. The loss at the Gerry Weber Open was a hiccup, but I expect Rafa to get back to his winning ways at the All England Club, utilizing his all-around game and fitness to blast through the competition.

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