Nadal arrives in Halle

HALLE, Germany — Fresh from his record seventh claycourt French Open victory, Rafael Nadal arrived at the pre-Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Halle, as Swiss star Roger Federer warmed up for his bid for a sixth title on the grass here.

"I'm delighted to be playing again in Halle," said Nadal, who has not played here since his first round elimination in 2005, favouring London's Queen's club to north-western Germany, ahead of his bid for a third Wimbledon title.

The world No 2 two will take to the courts today in doubles with fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers, before opening his singles campaign against Slovak Lukas Lacko, who beat Russian qualifier Konstantin Kravchuk 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in their first round tie yesterday. Nadal has won his three previous meetings with the 58th-ranked Slovak but the Spaniard nevertheless dropped the second set of their clash in Doha last year 6-0.

Federer is bidding for his sixth Halle title with his first opponent Germany's Florian Mayer tomorrow.

Home hope Tommy Haas advanced to the second round yesterday after Australian Bernard Tomic withdrew citing illness while trailing the German 5-2 in the first set.

The 34-year-old Haas, the 2009 winner here, on Monday received a wild-card to play his 13th Wimbledon, and next faces Spanish sixth seed Marcel Granollers who eliminated German qualifier Misha Zverev 6-4, 6-2.