Nadal's calendar Slam bid faces Djokovic challenge on grass

Rafa Nadal's hopes of winning Wimbledon for the first time in over a decade and staying on track for the calendar year Grand Slam will meet a familiar adversary in Novak Djokovic who is bidding to extend his domination at the grasscourt major.

For the first time in his career, the Spaniard has won the Australian and the French Open back-to-back and has the chance to become the first man to win all four majors in the same year since Rod Laver achieved the feat in 1969.

Serbian Djokovic finished one match short of accomplishing it last season when he won the first three Grand Slams but lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final.

When Djokovic won Wimbledon for the sixth time and the third in a row in 2021, it was his 20th major title - putting him in a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Nadal in the race for the most Grand Slam titles among men.

The 35-year-old Djokovic has not won a major since while Federer has not played since last year's Wimbledon.

Djokovic's fans argue that Nadal's job was relatively easier at Melbourne Park this year as he did not have to beat the Serb who was not allowed to defend his Australian Open title due to his unvaccinated status against COVID-19.

The 36-year-old Nadal, who has not played Wimbledon since his 2019 semi-final loss to Federer, beat Djokovic in the Roland Garros quarter-finals this month before going on to lift a record-extending 14th French Open title and 22nd major.

Nadal's chronic foot problem will again be in focus but his task at Wimbledon, where he won in 2008 and 2010, is expected to be more challenging with Djokovic unbeaten there for 21 matches.

With world number one Medvedev banned from taking part and second-ranked Alexander Zverev missing due to injury,