NY Giant-killer

Collins said he believes increased expectations will fuel Nadal.

"When he lost before, he didn't lose any stature," Collins said. "He could lose and just go home. Now he's there to prove he deserves to be the No. 1 player in the world."

Gilbert said he believes Nadal will stay No. 1, that Federer's miraculous run is over. Once thought to be a shoo-in to break Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slams, Federer is stuck on 12, Slam-less in 2008. Worse, he's lost early in tournaments to run-of-the-mill foes such as Ivo Karlovic, and was booted out of the Olympics by James Blake, who had never come close to beating him.

"I don't think Federer has slipped, just that Nadal is at the perfect age," Gilbert said. "The dominant ages are from 22 to 26. Federer just had that. Nadal is in there."

Federer turned 27 earlier this month. The Wall Street Journal recently named him the fifth-best athlete in the world, but he's not even the best athlete in tennis. With shoulders and arms like a linebacker, Nadal's success could change the physique of the young tennis player.

"Nadal plays as strong as he looks," said Andre Agassi's longtime trainer Gil Reyes, who now works with Adidas' tennis prodigies. "You know that 14-, 15-, 16-year-old players are hitting the weight rooms."

Collins said he believes Federer will retrieve the magic. "He's going through a crisis. For five years, he beat everyone. Now he can't win a match, losing even to ordinary players. I don't think he's finished. All the great ones have gone through these patches."

Nadal became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to post a clay-grass exacta, winning the French and Wimbledon. But could Nadal be like Borg and never win an Open, which most tennis experts agree is the toughest slam to win because its surface is less forgiving than grass and clay?

Despite his upper body, Nadal's legs are vulnerable. His penchant for playing an extended clay-court season where all matches are marathons has taken its toll.

marc.berman@nypost.com

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