LONDON (AFP) - Heavy rain frustrated Rafael Nadal on Sunday when the Spaniard was within touching distance of dethroning five-time champion Roger Federer as Wimbledon champion.

When the players were sent scurrying off Centre Court, Nadal was 6-4, 6-4, 4-5 ahead in his attempt to win a first All England Club title to add to his four French Opens.

The 22-year-old Nadal was bidding to become only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season and the first Spanish men's champion since Manolo Santana in 1966.

Federer was attempting to become the first man since the 19th century to win six in a row.

Nadal shrugged off a rain-enforced 35-minute delay to the start to break to lead 2-1 on his way to taking the first set.

It was the first set Federer had dropped in the 2008 tournament.

But the 26-year-old Swiss star shook off his inhibitions to sneak to a 2-0 lead in the second set which rapidly became 3-0.

Nadal retrieved the break in the seventh game and pulled level in a thrilling eighth game where Federer squandered a break point with a wild, running forehand.

The Spaniard's heavy artillery was overwhelming Federer and he broke again to lead 5-4.

Nadal then overcame a time violation in the 10th game to save another break point before opening up a two-set lead when Federer again netted a simple-looking backhand.

The Spanaird saved a break point in the fourth game and four more in the sixth as the London skies and Federer's mood darkened.

The top seed saved three break points to lead 4-3 and was 5-4 ahead when heavy rain sent the players off court.

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