Missed train delays Nadal's grass education

LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) A missed train disrupted Rafael Nadal's attempts to get better acquainted with grass.

The Spaniard, fresh from winning his second French Open title, was left stranded in a Paris station for two hours yesterday when he missed his connection to London.

After spending more time than he would have cared locked in the Gare de Nord's VIP lounge, Nadal dashed to London's Queen's Club to fit in a practice session as soon as he arrived in the English capital.

''We missed the train and, believe me guys, this is no good. We were there for hours waiting but what can you do? You just wait,'' Nadal said at the Stella Artois Championships today.

''We arrived here at five...and I come here for practice 45 minutes.

''I was hungry to play on grass. But it was not a normal practice (because) I was very tired. I couldn't find the feelings.'' Nadal and grass have never seemed compatible.

The traits that make the 20-year-old an incredible force on red dirt, his bludgeoning groundstrokes and ferocious defence, are not enough on the fast surface laid at Wimbledon.

He has won just one match on grass over the past 12 months but the world number two is keen to learn.

''I need to change a lot of things in my head,'' said the Spaniard, who will be playing singles and doubles this week.

''I need to change a lot of my game and my mentality too. So I gonna practise today.

''I need to play more aggressive. I need to serve with more assertion.'' Despite his eagerness to prove his worth on grass, Nadal was under no illusion about his ability to replicate his record claycourt feats on the sport's fastest surface.

''My expectation is to improve but I'm not gonna win 60 consecutive matches on grass,'' he smiled.

Reuters PDS GC2040