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Tomorrow Sunday, the main draw will start at the 2020 French Open. Two of the big favorites, Rafael Nadal Y Dominic ThiemThey are not entirely happy with the new Roland Garros balls.
by Jens Huiber
Last edit: September 26, 2020, 2:46 pm
© Getty Images
The media days at Grand Slam tournaments shouldn’t be too tight – players standing in front of microphones need to keep their bodies moving and train for the next big games. The dates given by the media department of the tournaments correspond more to a qualified estimate. Dominic Thiem, for example, appeared a little later than announced for Friday’s digital press date, the US Open champion returns to the clay season at Roland Garros, which for him personally interrupted with the final against Andrey Rublev in “Thiem’s 7”. had been.
For a few days he did nothing, says Thiem. But not too many. After all, it has often happened to him that he did not play his best tennis after winning great titles. Here’s what happened in 2019 after the final win against Roger Federer in Indian Wells: Thiem lost his next match in Miami to Hubert Hurkacz. Or after his success in Vienna, where he soon went against Grigor Dimitrov in Paris-Bercy.
Nadal and Thiem loved the “old” balls
What comes next is an advantage, Thiem explained. In Paris, love the circumstances, he noticed during the first training session. The big favorite is Rafael Nadal again. But there are some changes, like the balls. Both he and Nadal would have liked the old men better. Because they would have accepted the turn better, they would not have “opened” so quickly.
The twelve-time champion had already found clear words in his press conference in front of Thiem. “I trained with the balls in Mallorca before the comeback. In Mallorca, in warm conditions, the ball was very slow. This is not a good ball to play on clay. But I knew it before I came here. No problem. Just accept the challenge. ” But then add: The organizers would have to look very carefully at how the heavier balls would affect the players’ elbows and shoulders.
Only the best for Zverev, although not in this tournament
Dominic Thiem didn’t want to go that far, the new ball isn’t fundamentally bad either. But maybe it will make the circle of favorites a little bigger. After the Spanish grandmaster, he sees Novak Djokovic, then a group with Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and himself.
An advantage for Sascha Zverev is that he is in Paris with David Ferrer. He wouldn’t have been to New York, she’s really hungry for the new job. “I only wish him the best, but not for this tournament,” Thiem added with a smile. “Because we all know the draw.” In fact, Thiem and Zverev could meet in the semi-finals. When the German takes Rafael Nadal’s fence in the second round.
Here’s the individual draw at the 2020 French Open
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