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Nadal's premiere, Lendl's nerves: French Open digs up classics

Actually, the first peloton in Paris should have started this Sunday (May 24) - as we know, things turned out differently . Roland Garros is inventive and presents classics in re-live.

by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 24, 2020, 12:48 pm

It was almost 15 years ago that Rafael Nadal's first appearance in Paris. On May 23, 2005 it was when Nadal (with only 18 years) started his mission "Paris Dominance". The seasons 2003 and 2004, although he was already listed in the top 100 in the world at that time, had to do without Paris due to injury.

2005 marks the beginning of the "Rafa Years", the first opponent for the then number 5 (!) In the world was the German Lars Burgsmüller. Nadal had already won the tournaments in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome in advance, in Paris Burgmüller, Xavier Malisse, Richard Gasquet, Sebastien Grosjean, David Ferrer, Roger Federer and in the final Mariano Puerta remained largely without chance (only Grosjean, Federer and Puerta got a set).

Nadal's record in Paris: 93 wins, 2 losses

That Nadal should celebrate 12 (!) Tournament victories to date and only suffered 2 losses (struck in 2009 against Robin Söderling, in 2015 far from top form against Novak Djokovic, in 2016 he had to cancel his third round game injured) speaks volumes ...

If you want to enjoy Nadal's first appearance in your living room again, you now have the opportunity to do so: in Roland Garros, you want to make tennis less enjoyable for all tennis fans and dig up Paris classics. Two matches a day for the right tournament round - one with French participation and one international match.