Rafael Nadal of Spain returns during his second round tennis match against Alexander Waske from Germany at the ATP Gerry Weber Open on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 in Halle, Germany. (AP)

French Open champion Rafael Nadal's 24-match winning streak was snapped Wednesday when he lost in three sets to Alexander Waske on grass at the Gerry Weber Open.

In his first match since winning the French title on clay Sunday, the third-seeded Spaniard was beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 by the 147th-ranked German wild card.

Nadal's streak came entirely on clay, and his serve wasn't as powerful on the faster surface of grass.

``I'm tired,'' said Nadal, who played through a strained thigh and a blistered finger. ``I need two or three days off. My fitness is not the best. When I go to the net, I am too slow. My fitness is a big part of my game.''

Waske received a standing ovation after his volley to close out the match in this key tuneup for Wimbledon, which starts June 20.

The match turned in Waske's favor late in the second set when Nadal netted two drop shots and lost his serve.

``I played a horrible game -- I played very bad all the time,'' Nadal said. ``I started well, but it is hard to concentrate after so many matches at the French.''

Earlier, Australian Open champion Marat Safin saved a match point before advancing when Fabrice Santoro retired with a left thigh injury in the third set. The second-seeded Russian led 3-6, 7-6 (7), 3-2.

Safin, who had lost seven of his previous eight matches against Santoro, erased the match point with Santoro up 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker.

Safin, who has been fighting a knee injury, won only his second match on grass in three years.

``It's very painful,'' he said of the knee. ``On some serves I can't jump. But I will play Wimbledon and then take a month off.''

(Agencies)