Nadal Treading Uncertain Ground Heavy Conditions at Rescheduled French Open Could Derail Spaniard’S Bid to Tie Federer’S Grand Slam Record
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20 | Monday, September 28, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS TENNIS Nadal treading uncertain ground Heavy conditions at rescheduled French Open could derail Spaniard’s bid to tie Federer’s Grand Slam record he undisputed King of Clay, 34yearold is again the favorite to Rafael Nadal is one title lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires. away from matching Roger “The record that he has there, the TFederer’s alltime Grand history of his results, you just can’t Slam record, but 15 years on from put anybody in front of him,” said the Spaniard’s first French Open tri Djokovic, himself vying to add to his umph he appears more vulnerable lone 2016 triumph at Roland Garros. than ever at his beloved Roland “But, you know, definitely Diego Garros. showed that Nadal is beatable on Nadal owns an astounding 932 clay,” added the Serb. record in Paris dating back to his “The conditions that they played debut in 2005, when, still a teenager, on, obviously heavy clay, not much he became the first player to win the bounce, humid, night sessions, we French Open in his first attempt are going to have that as well in Par since Mats Wilander in 1982. is. I’m pretty sure that he does not Fastforward to the present day, prefer that to a high bounce. I know and his 19 Grand Slam crowns — a he likes the high bounce. record 12 of which have come at “He likes the hot and warm and Roland Garros — coupled with Fed fast conditions, where he can use his erer’s absence after knee surgery, spin a lot. Even though he’s the leave him on the brink of history at a favorite, I think there are players venue where he has won each of the that can win against him there.” past three years. Another championship run for Yet a multitude of factors, mostly Nadal, not accounting for potential beyond his control, have conspired walkovers, would take him to a cen against Nadal and offered hope to tury of wins at the French Open. his chief rivals — Novak Djokovic Only Federer, Serena Williams, Mar and recently crowned US Open tina Navratilova and Chris Evert champion Dominic Thiem. have hit triple digits in wins at a sin Boris Becker, a former coach of gle major in the Open era. world No 1 Djokovic, suggested the Schwartzman agreed that Nadal rescheduled tournament — pushed was still the favorite. back from its traditional spring bill “Rafa is the king. It’s his house. He ing due to the coronavirus pandem went to Roland Garros many years ic — will be tougher than usual for playing good, sometimes not play Nadal. ing his best and he won. The heavier conditions could suit “I think Rafa is always there, the hardcourt players more and negate Rafael Nadal savors his victory over Dominic Thiem in last year’s French Open final. ‘King of Clay’ Nadal will attempt to win his 13th title at guy who is going to win.” some of Nadal’s lethal top spin, pos Roland Garros, and 20th Grand Slam in total, over the next two weeks. AP Nadal is unbeaten in 21 matches sibly aiding Thiem who has finished at the French Open — his last defeat runnerup in Paris twice in there was back in 2016 when he was succession. that even your best tennis, even if a long time without competing, I forced to withdraw with a wrist inju “This year is going to be particu you play it over three, four hours, played two good matches,” Nadal, ry after reaching the fourth round. larly hard for Rafael Nadal. He’s my might not be enough,” said Thiem. who skipped the US Open citing So what makes him so dominant numberone favorite but the differ “I mean, if you do it, you maybe It’s not a moment for excuses. I’ve spent a COVID19 concerns, said following there? ence between him and the other have a little chance, but you have to the defeat. “He’s an unbelievably great tennis players is less big this year than usu go to your limit on every single rally, long time without competing, I played two “It’s a completely special and player. Probably on clay, a little bit al,” said Becker, a sixtime Grand every single point. That makes it not good matches. It’s a completely special and unpredictable year,” he added. “I did better than on the other surfaces,” Slam champion. easy to go into the match. And that’s my job here. I did a couple things Thiem said. “He’s lefthanded, “He’s not in his regular rhythm. He the mental part, I guess.” unpredictable year. I did my job here. I did a well and other things bad. At least I which makes it very uncomfortable. needs match practice. Normally, he Nadal will head into the French couple things well and other things bad.” played three matches.” And then his forehand, the top spin was coming to Roland Garros having Open without a clay title under his on the clay, it’s cruel to play.” often played four big clay tourna belt for the first time, having lost in Rafael Nadal, on his recent defeat in Rome ‘Beatable on clay’ Thiem takes notes and hopes to ments, which he had generally won.” straight sets to Diego Schwartzman Despite the sense this is the most emulate aspects of Nadal’s game. So Thiem knows very well what it in the quarterfinals at Rome — his understrength version of Nadal at do others. takes to beat Nadal. first tournament in six months. “It’s the French Open in recent times, “You go into the match knowing not a moment for excuses. I’ve spent Djokovic remains adamant the AGENCIES Djokovic vows no repeat of US error Novak Djokovic insisted on Saturday “That’s something that is staying in ahead of him. Victory in Paris would also take Djok the French capital. means that only 1,000 spectators will there will be no repeat of his sensation my mind after what happened in New “I really want to be my best version ovic to 18 career Grand Slams, one “I agree that the balls are heavy. But be allowed into the Roland Garros al US Open disqualification at Roland York. It’s going to stay there for a long as a player, as a human being on the behind Nadal and two off Federer’s also it’s probably because we are also grounds each day. Garros as the world No 1 promised: “I time. Of course, I will make sure I don’t court, and win a tennis match,” added record. almost in October, and it’s very cold,” In 2019, more than 500,000 people won’t make the same mistake twice”. make the same mistake twice.” Djokovic. Djokovic is seeded to face 12time said Djokovic, one of just two men to watched the twoweek tournament on Djokovic was defaulted in New York The aftermath of his New York brain “It is what it is. I don’t think signifi Roland Garros champion Nadal in this have beaten Nadal at Roland Garros in site. Organizers had hoped to welcome when a ball he swiped away in frustra fade hasn’t, however, slowed down the cantly it (the default) does impact me year’s final. 15 years. 20,000 fans a day but in the space of tion struck a line judge. Djokovic juggernaut. (or) that I’m unable now to show the On Friday, Nadal complained of the “The clay is also heavy and wet. Just just a few weeks, that figure was quickly As well as attracting wideranging He captured the Italian Open in fistpump or scream or something like new Wilson balls being used this year in overall conditions are also affecting the downsized to 11,500, then 5,000 before condemnation for his perceived petu Rome on Monday for a record 36th that. It has happened in Rome already Paris, claiming they are too heavy for a ball itself. the French government slashed it to lance, the incident also went down in Masters title, to break out of a tie with and everything is fine.” clay court. “It’s very hard to say whether the ball 1,000 maximum. the record books as a defeat — the Rafael Nadal and earn his fourth trophy Now the 33yearold takes aim at a The Spaniard also believes they is heavy in general or is it because we “Tens of millions of euros have gone Serbian’s only loss in 32 matches in in five events this year. second French Open title to add to his could cause shoulder and elbow prob are playing under these kind of slow up in smoke,” said French Tennis Feder 2020. Djokovic also took his total weeks 2016 victory, a triumph which made lems for players. and heavy conditions.” ation (FFT) marketing chief Stephane “Well, obviously I am going to be spent in the world No 1 ranking to 287, him just the third man in history after Djokovic sympathized with Nadal’s Morel as he mourned the loss of ticket extra careful of hitting a tennis ball passing Pete Sampras on the alltime Don Budge and Rod Laver to hold all fears but also pointed to the effect of Coronavirus concerns income. around the court,” said Djokovic. list and with just Roger Federer on 310 three Slams at the same time.