French Open: One against all - the Paris dozen for Rafael Nadal?
With his success at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome, Rafael Nadal positioned himself in time for his twelfth triumph at the French Open. The competition doesn't sleep, however.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: May 24, 2019, 03:18 pm
Paris. Boris Becker doesn't have to think long to put things in order. Paris, the French Open, the men's competition: "This is the realm of Rafael Nadal, " says Becker, "no one has mastered this tournament as he has." But, wait, Becker has to add that quickly: "Nobody has any Grand Slam tournament, a tennis discipline at all as mastered as he is. ”From Sunday Becker will also be there when Nadal makes the next attempt to triumph. Becker has been working as a Eurosport commentator for two weeks, he has a box seat on Center Court, from where he will watch Nadal perform. How he hits and wears down his opponents. And how he might win his twelfth title. "Of course he is the favorite, who else," says the six-time Grand Slam champion, "but billing is still taking place on the pitch."
It all started with Nadal fourteen years ago. With his triumphal march, with his dominance, with an attitude, to spread fear and awe and awe among his opponents in the sand. Lars Burgsmüller was Nadal's very first opponent in the first round of the French Open 2005. Burgsmüller is no longer in the caravan of professionals, he studied medicine after his career and in 2016 on the topic “Epidemiology of injuries in inline skating hockey and roller hockey ”Is doing his doctorate. The University of Duisberg-Essen even highlighted his work, acknowledging that Burgsmüller was an example of "that top-class sport and top-class medicine are not mutually exclusive." Nothing saved the smart professional against Nadal at the time, and the Spanish teenager appeared with “unbelievable force” at 1: 6, 6: 7, 1: 6, said Burgsmüller at the time. It was also his last game in Paris, the game against Nadal.
Almost unchecked single-handedly by Rafael Nadal
But neither he nor any expert could guess what would happen to and for Nadal after this first round victory. Namely, an almost unchecked solo attempt by the beefy Mallorcan to date, 86 wins and only two losses - in the round of 16 against Sweden's Robin Söderling in 2009 and against Novak Djokovic in the round of eight in 2015. Nadal, who turns 33 at the beginning of June, has tormented and abused his body, the signs of wear and tear are obvious, he cannot finish many tournaments throughout the year. But he was still ready for the French Open - with the exception of 2016 - and more than willing to take on the challenge. Under the now common motto: one against all.
# BETATHOMEFOWIN #
More than in other seasons, people had believed in recent weeks that Nadal's hegemony might be over. His preparation time was bumpy, he didn't win any titles at first, he doubted himself, more than usual, after all, Nadal likes to be a doubter, a brooder. But at the last big tournament before the French Open, the Dominator in Rome was suddenly back in full splendor as a winner, and it turned out that it was never worth writing it down. And certainly not before the best meet in the Roland Garros stadium. "I'm going to the French Open with a lot of tailwind," says Nadal himself.
Nadal expects a tough fight
However, it should not be forgotten that there is also the perspective of all the others, the entire field of pursuers. And it can already be said that the battle for the crown promises to be more open, exciting and entertaining. Djokovic, the Austrian Dominic Thiem, they are closer to Nadal than in previous years. Federer is added as an unknown figure, he was in good shape after two years abstaining from clay court. Whether it helps if it goes to Nadal in Paris is another matter. Last year Alexander Zverev was actually the toughest competitor for Nadal, he and Nadal were the most successful players before the French Open. But then the German wasted too much energy in the opening rounds of Paris, against Thiem, who would later take part in the final, he was overwhelmed in the quarterfinals. Now Zverev's clay court weeks were mediocre, he was gathering a bit of self-confidence at his last minute start in Geneva. But it would be a surprise if he stopped or even exceeded his previous year's result.