The defending champion, aiming for an astonishing 13th open French title, he wasn’t whining. He simply underlined the challenge before him.
“The toughest conditions for me,” said the 34-year-old, seeded two.
At the other end of the men’s singles draw is world No. 1. Novak Djokovic. The 33-year-old, seeded to face the Spaniard in the title round, is not a gambling man, but said yes. Roland Garros It’s that tournament, so I’d bet on Nadal.
The Serbian, whose game revolves around an electric meter, pointed to the relentless Diego schwartzman, Nadal’s conqueror in Rome last week. The 28-year-old Argentine proved that the 12-time champion can be beaten on clay. Djokovic enters the tournament with a nearly flawless 31-1 win-loss record for the season, having suffered his only loss in 2020 due to his own temper, which saw him expelled from the US Open.
The Serb’s record-breaking 36th ATP Masters title in Rome could have worked like a stain remover then, erasing a tough memory, presenting him as the man to beat in the fashion capital of the world.
“He likes the high bounce, hot, fast conditions where he can use his spin a lot.”
Djokovic said of Nadal. “I think there are players who can beat him.”
Nadal shrugged.
“I’ve always been beatable on clay,” he said, before adding, “At the same time, it’s true that I was very successful on this surface.” The 34-year-old man wielding a Babolat Pure Aero stick, not satisfied with the tournament ball change, passing Wilson from Babolat. Nadal practiced with the new balls at home in Mallorca, finding it slow even in relatively warmer climates. He argued that the balls, which would become heavy in wet conditions, could be dangerous and lead to shoulder and elbow injuries.
Dominic Thiem, the US Open champion, said old balls were his favorites on the Tour. “They were really perfect for topspin,” said the third-seeded Austrian. “They’re fast and they take the spin incredibly well. The new ball is good, it’s a little slower.”
Djokovic wondered if the ball was heavier, or if it just caused that feeling given that the French Open is played in September, almost October. Four months is a considerable time step on a tennis calendar. Colors change with the seasons.
Russian Daniil Medvedev, the fourth seed, seeking his first victory at Roland Garros, having lost his first matches on his first three visits, is enjoying the conditions.
“Maybe you can help me. It’s a little colder, the balls don’t fly as much, they don’t spin that much. Maybe I can play a little tennis,” he said. “Tennis is an interesting sport, when one player does not like something, the second will like it.”
Nadal, who has enjoyed so much success on the coral-colored grainy surface, doesn’t need any tutoring to adjust to the conditions. “I’m here to fight to play as intensely as possible,” he said. “I know this place very well. It’s about being patient, being positive.”
The French Open, as of Sunday, has six Grand slam champions in the men’s singles, including three Roland Garros winners in Djokovic, Nadal and Wawrinka.
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