Nadal reclaims Wimbledon crown

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

A year after knee problems prevented him from defending the title, Rafael Nadal has the Wimbledon trophy back in his hands.

The top-ranked Spaniard swept 12th-seeded Tomas Ber-dych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 yesterday to reclaim the championship at the All England Club, winning his second Wimbledon title and eighth Grand Slam crown.

Nadal broke the Czech four times and never lost serve in 15 service games, winning in two hours, 13 minutes. He extended his record to 5-0 in his last five major finals and reinforced his current status as the No. 1 player in the game.

Nadal "retained" the title he first won here in 2008, when he beat Roger Federer in an epic five-set final after losing to the Swiss star in the previous two finals.

Last year, hobbled by tendinitis in both knees, Nadal stayed at home and watched on television as Federer took advantage of the Spaniard's absence to win his sixth Wimbledon.

But Nadal came back strongly this year and has now won 14 straight matches at Wimbledon.

"It was probably one of the toughest moments in my career," Nadal said, after accepting the winner's trophy yesterday from the Duke of Kent.

'Amazing'

"After not an easy year for me, to be back at my favourite tournament of the world and to play well another time and not only play well (but) to finish with the trophy, is amazing for me," he said.

After ripping a cross-court forehand passing shot on match point, Nadal collapsed on his back on the turf at the baseline and covered his face with his hands. After congratulating Berdych, Nadal leapt out of his chair and did a front somersault on the grass, rising to his feet with both fists clenched.

It is the second time Nadal has won the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back, making the tough transition from clay to grass. Until he and Federer accomplished the feat for the last three years, the last man to do it was Bjorn Borg in 1980.

With eight Grand Slam titles, Nadal joins a list of greats that includes Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall. He also has five French Open championships and one Australian Open title.

Career grand slam

All that's missing for a career Grand Slam is the US Open title.

"For sure the US Open is going to be one of my goals for the rest of my career," Nadal said. "But right now (my goal) is to enjoy the beach, fishing, golf, friends, party and Mallorca."

Berdych was playing in his first Grand Slam final and was the first Czech to reach the Wimbledon final since Ivan Lendl in 1987. He had beaten top-seeded Federer and No. 3 Novak Djokovic en route to the final, but could not find a way to take out the second-seeded Nadal as well.

"He was strong," Berdych said. "I think the biggest difference between us was that when he got a chance, he just took it. He gave me one (break point) in the second set, one in the third set and none of them I can bring to my side and just make a break. That just shows how strong he is."

'It was probably one of the toughest moments in my career.'