Nadal ready to prove his title credentials

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-24  |     ONLINE EDITION

Rafael Nadal during practice at Wimbledon, Sunday, June 22, 2008. More in photo gallery

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WORLD number two Rafael Nadal will begin his bid to end Roger Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign today when he takes on Germany's Andreas Beck on Centre Court.

The 2006 and 2007 runner-up, who claimed his first grasscourt title at Queen's Club just over a week ago, faces the unseeded Beck for the first time and should face few problems.

Seventh seed Venus Williams starts her title defence in the first match of the day on Centre Court against Briton Naomi Cavaday, while third seed and 2004 champion Maria Sharapova of Russia faces France's Stephanie Foretz.

Elsewhere, Britain's main hope for success Andy Murray, seeded 12th, will hope his decision to pull out of Queen's with a sore thumb will leave him refreshed enough to defeat Fabrice Santoro of France.

Serbia's second seed Jelena Jankovic will hope for a straightforward victory over Ukraine's Olga Savchuk, as will Elena Dementieva of Russia when she faces Italy's Maria Elena Camerin.

American sixth seed Andy Roddick and ninth seed James Blake also begin their campaigns when they face Argentina's Eduardo Schwank and Belgium's Christophe Rochus respectively.