If you’d asked me this question a few years ago (even last year for that matter) I would have scoffed. To any tennis fan, this question would be akin to asking, “Will the sun set today”?
Everyone knew that only one man could win at French Open, the man who had made French Open his personal property. The man who had won the “Coupe des Mousquetaires” 8 times! The man who had lost only one match on the red clay of Roland Garros. The answer was simple, the answer was Rafael Nadal. No matter what his form, no matter how tired he was, no matter what injuries and niggles he carried, once you faced him in French Open, you were bound to lose. Nobody could defeat him. In fact, you’d rather play against a wall than play against him; you’d have a better chance defeating the wall!
But today, things stand a little different. Today, doubts are swirling about whether Nadal can really continue his majestic run at French Open. Here’s why.
In the two months preceding French Open (which is generally held in the last week of May) there are numerous clay court tournaments held across the world. The top men’s players generally play four important tournaments in this stretch – Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. In previous years, Nadal has dominated this part of the year. He has won Barcelona 8 times, Rome 7 times and Monte Carlo 8 times. The secret to Nadal’s domination of French Open is that he has kept winning the tournaments preceding it. These tournaments serve two purposes, one they help him acclimatize to the clay courts two they fire up the self belief and self confidence in him. But this year the unexpected happened.
Nadal lost in Monte Carlo to David Ferrer. I repeat, David Ferrer.
And then, he lost in Barcelona for the first time in ten years! Worse still, he lost to Nicolas Almagro, a man who has never lost to before? Clearly, trouble is brewing for Nadal.
So if not Nadal then who?
Everyone knew that only one man could win at French Open, the man who had made French Open his personal property. The man who had won the “Coupe des Mousquetaires” 8 times! The man who had lost only one match on the red clay of Roland Garros. The answer was simple, the answer was Rafael Nadal. No matter what his form, no matter how tired he was, no matter what injuries and niggles he carried, once you faced him in French Open, you were bound to lose. Nobody could defeat him. In fact, you’d rather play against a wall than play against him; you’d have a better chance defeating the wall!
But today, things stand a little different. Today, doubts are swirling about whether Nadal can really continue his majestic run at French Open. Here’s why.
In the two months preceding French Open (which is generally held in the last week of May) there are numerous clay court tournaments held across the world. The top men’s players generally play four important tournaments in this stretch – Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. In previous years, Nadal has dominated this part of the year. He has won Barcelona 8 times, Rome 7 times and Monte Carlo 8 times. The secret to Nadal’s domination of French Open is that he has kept winning the tournaments preceding it. These tournaments serve two purposes, one they help him acclimatize to the clay courts two they fire up the self belief and self confidence in him. But this year the unexpected happened.
Nadal lost in Monte Carlo to David Ferrer. I repeat, David Ferrer.
And then, he lost in Barcelona for the first time in ten years! Worse still, he lost to Nicolas Almagro, a man who has never lost to before? Clearly, trouble is brewing for Nadal.
So if not Nadal then who?
The first man that comes to mind is Novak Djokovic. He is the only person on the ATP Tour who has seriously troubled Nadal. In fact, Djkokovic was all set to defeat Nadal in the 2012 Final, however, the gods had mercy on Nadal and there was a rain interruption. Many believe that had it not been for the rain intervention, Nadal stood no chance against Djokovic. And so, it wouldn’t be unrealistic to believe that Djokvoic stands the best chance. But here’s the problem. He is currently struggling to cope with a wrist injury. In fact he pulled out of Madrid Open recently due to his wrist woes.
Will he regain full fitness before Roland Garros?
Will he regain full fitness before Roland Garros?
And now about Andy Murray. Out of the “Big Four”, Andy Murray has been perhaps the most inconsistent. After a sizzling 2012 – 2013, he has fizzled out. In fact to my mind, Murray does not stand a chance at the French Open.
There are many players with remarkable talent in the ATP World Tour. Thomas Berdych, Jo Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro, John Isner, Keil Nishikori etc all have exceptional talent. But their copious amount of talent has not been enough to counter the magic of the “Big Four”. Furthermore, all of these players have play styles that suit hard courts. Their chances of winning French Open remain slim.
There are many players with remarkable talent in the ATP World Tour. Thomas Berdych, Jo Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro, John Isner, Keil Nishikori etc all have exceptional talent. But their copious amount of talent has not been enough to counter the magic of the “Big Four”. Furthermore, all of these players have play styles that suit hard courts. Their chances of winning French Open remain slim.
However, there is one player who seems to have the best chance of dethroning Nadal – Stanislas Wawrinka. For long Wawrinka has played the second fiddle to his more famous countryman Roger Federer. But he has made 2014 his own. After winning the Australian Open in January – which nobody expected him - he has become another player altogether. In fact he has defeated Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in a span of a few months! With a gifted single hand backhand and a fierce self belief, Wawarinka stands the best chance to win French Open this year.
But just because he stands the best chance, doesn’t mean he will. Nadal has faced doubts about his career many a times. But he has managed to come out of each of those phases stronger than ever before. Can Rafa continue to come out of these phases for much longer? Only time will tell.
-Tejas Mehta
But just because he stands the best chance, doesn’t mean he will. Nadal has faced doubts about his career many a times. But he has managed to come out of each of those phases stronger than ever before. Can Rafa continue to come out of these phases for much longer? Only time will tell.
-Tejas Mehta