IF HE was given the choice, Rafael Nadal said he would prefer to capture a fourth consecutive French Open title rather than a first Wimbledon crown.
The Spaniard, runner-up to Roger Federer the past two years at the All England Club, had previously said a Wimbledon triumph would be the greatest achievement of his career.
But after beating his fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 on Sunda
y to become the first man to win four successive Barcelona Opens, the world number two indicated another Roland Garros would be his choice, for now at least.
"Obviously I would love to win them both," Nadal said after he followed up his Monte Carlo Masters triumph with the title in Barcelona. "But if I had to sign for one now, I suppose I would say Roland Garros because I have won there before and want to keep that going."
Nadal has been critical of the crowded nature of the calendar this year, the result of the need to accommodate the Olympic Games. The Spaniard now heads straight to Rome to defend his title. The tournament in Italy is the second of three Masters Series events to be staged in the space of four weeks.
Having also won in Barcelona, Nadal has warned that playing at one's top level for all four weeks is "totally impossible".
"I know I have been complaining about it, but there is nothing we can do for this year," he said.
"I am very happy to have won the first two tournaments, but it is going to be very difficult for the others."
The full article contains 275 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
