Wimbeldon, England ? Rafael Nadal talks a lot about how he hopes to contend for a Wimbledon title in three or four years, once he gets used to the odd bounces and tricky footing that come with playing on grass.

Could it happen much faster than he – or anyone else – thought?

Andre Agassi got a too-close-for-comfort view of Nadal from across the net at the All England Club, and he was duly impressed by the two-time French Open champion.

“Grass is a shot-making court. And if he’s making guys feel like they can’t hit winners out there on grass, that speaks to his presence out there,” Agassi said after losing to Nadal in straight sets in the third round, the last Wimbledon match of the American star’s career.

“You leave a lot of room for a champion’s heart and mind, and he can certainly be here with high expectations.”

Already into the fourth round for the first time at the All England Club, Nadal can reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal away from Paris by beating qualifier Irakli Labadze of Georgia today.

“I’m getting better day by day,” the No. 2-seeded Nadal said. “The good thing is I’m gaining confidence on this surface.”

Don’t forget: Nadal is 4-0 against No. 1 Roger Federer this year and has won a record 60 consecutive matches on clay. Nadal’s mental toughness is second to none on tour, as demonstrated by his second-round match, when he lost the first two sets and was within two points of defeat against American qualifier Robert Kendrick. Nadal somehow escaped that jam, then was downright dominant against Agassi.

“His movement,” Agassi said, “is just out of this world.”

After the middle Sunday’s traditional day of rest for everyone, Wimbledon’s second week starts with a unique treat in tennis: All 16 men’s and women’s fourth-round matches are on today’s schedule.