TENNIS in DEPTH.

When Rafael Nadal describes the All England Club as the venue of the “nicest tennis tournament in the world”, it sums up why the top players down the generations regard the Wimbledon Championships as the pinnacle of the calender.

Nadal was not renowned for his grass-court prowess until two years ago, when he won the London warm-up event at Queen’s Club and then disposed of Roger Federer in a memorable Centre Court final.

If he was not in love with the most famous arena in the game before that epic, five-set triumph in near darkness, he is now.

“This tournament is very special,” Nadal said. “This is true for everybody because it is the nicest tournament in the world.

“For me it was always a special ambition to play well here. I did that for three years and finally won. So to be here brings back very nice memories.

“It is always a pleasure to be at this very beautiful club.”

Wimbledon, despite being perceived as a stickler for tradition, has had a happy knack over the years of winning over its more sceptical visitors. While Nadal, clearly more at home in his formative years on the red clay of European courts, was a relatively easy convert,

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