Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic to meet for 1-2 Wimbledon finish

Reporting from Wimbledon, England — For the first time since the 2009 Australian Open, the top two seeded players will meet in the final of a Grand Slam tournament Sunday when No. 1 Rafael Nadal, aiming for his 11th major title, plays No. 2 Novak Djokovic for the Wimbledon men’s title.

Whatever the outcome, the 24-year-old Djokovic will supplant Nadal, 25, as No. 1 in the world. Djokovic has marked himself as best in the world by forging a 47-1 record this season.

Nadal, who is the defending champion and who has a 20-match win streak at Wimbledon, said he does not begrudge losing the No. 1 spot in the computer ranking.

“One guy played unbelievable in the first half of the year, so he’s the new No. 1,” Nadal said. “We can just congratulate him because what he did this part of the season is something really impressive, really fantastic.”

Though Nadal holds a 16-11 career edge against Djokovic, the Serbian star has beaten the Spaniard all four times they have played this year -- in three sets for the title at Indian Wells; in three sets, including a final-set tiebreak, in the final at Miami; and in straight sets twice on clay, in Madrid and Rome, also in the finals.

“The four times I won against him this year can probably help me in some ways mentally,” Djokovic said.

The two also split the season’s first two majors. Djokovic won the Australian Open, Nadal the French Open. And though Nadal has lost to Djokovic four times this year, he has won all five meetings between the two in majors.

Djokovic pointed to one thing he needs to do well Sunday to beat Nadal: “Against Rafa, if I have any chances of winning,” he said, “I need to serve well and I need to be aggressive. That’s the game plan.”

If Nadal were to win his third Wimbledon title, it would be his 11th trophy in a Grand Slam event and he would be the second-youngest man (behind Bjorn Borg) to have gathered so many at such a young age. He also would be only five behind all-time leader Roger Federer (who has 16) though Nadal insists that Federer, who turns 30 next month, will win more.

“All I think about is the number 10,” Nadal said. “That’s what I have at home. That’s what I’m able to see when I go back home. I don’t have 11, don’t have 12, I don’t have 15 or 16 and 16 is very far.”

Djokovic doesn’t have to count so high. He has two so far, both Australian Opens. But the one he’s playing for Sunday is the one he wants most.

“It’s Wimbledon,” Djokovic said. “It’s just simply something I’ve dreamed of forever.”

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