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Defending champion Rafael Nadal estimates conditions at the French Tennis Open on Sunday to be the most difficult for him yet.
He had to play his best game to claim his thirteenth Roland Garros title, the Spaniard said at a press conference in Paris on Friday. To make matters worse, Nadal sees that the weather will be cooler than usual for this major, and that the balls will also cause slower play than usual in Paris.
“You need energy to accept every detail, and I will,” said Nadal, ready to accept the new challenges. “Maintaining a positive attitude knowing that the conditions are not perfect for me, but perhaps not for others.” For the 34-year-old, it’s about winning his 20th Grand Slam title, which would set the record for Roger Federer of Switzerland.
Surprising ending in Rome
In his first appearance on the ATP circuit since late February, Nadal was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome last week, and subsequent tournament winner Novak Djokovic recorded Nadal’s defeat on clay. “I was always beatable in the arena,” Nadal said. “But I was also very successful on this surface.” His preparation might have been less than usual, but he was ready to fight.
If Nadal and US Open winner Dominic Thiem reach the semifinals, they would meet in a new edition of the finals of the last two years.
Thiem: “The draw couldn’t have been worse”
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Image: GEPA
