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TThere are probably worse cities here than Paris to end a love affair, but if Rafael Nadal and Roland Garros begin divorce proceedings over the next fortnight, it will be a painful conclusion to the longest-lasting relationship in sport.
The Spaniard is angry with his hosts, there is no doubt. Your hosts seem indifferent. And Nadal’s spiel on Friday about the cold, the heavy balls and the slowness of the courts in the same place where he has lost twice in 95 games has persuaded some respected observers to favor Novak Djokovic to wrest the Coupe des Mousquetaires after 12 astonishing wins dating back to 2005.
While these older rivals will likely be the last of the 128 contenders left on the court Philippe Chatrier two Sundays from now, the trip may cost 34-year-old Nadal more than 33-year-old Djokovic. Certainly the betting sentiment is with the Serb since Diego Schwartzman beat Nadal in the quarterfinals in Rome last week. And nearly half of online bettors this weekend back Djokovic, with only a third sticking with the defending champion.
Nadal wasn’t the only one wondering why the tournament switched from the lighter, more “spinning” Babolat ball, which suits his brutal right hand, to the heavier Wilson, which doesn’t. “This is the first time we’ve used Wilson balls on clay,” Djokovic said. “I agree that balls are heavy. But it is also probably because we are almost in October and it is very cold. Clay is also heavy and wet.
“Is it difficult to tell if the ball is heavy in general or is it because we are playing in these slow and heavy conditions? We have to accept it. That is why we all came a little earlier to try to get used to the new balls and conditions that are quite different from what we are used to at Roland Garros ”.
If Nadal fires under-seeded Egor Gerasimov on Monday and beats Dan Evans, among others (Britain’s No. 1 plays Kei Nishikori on Sunday) to reach the quarterfinals, where US Open runner-up Alexander Zverev is your likely opponent may be sufficient to effect a reconciliation with the tournament.
On the other hand, the accountants of the Fédération Française de Tennis will be delighted with whoever wins, since the successful bid for the championship ball was almost certainly much higher than that of the holder, and the tournament without insurance, loaded with a bill of 160 million euro renovation for center court, desperately needs cash.
Plus, the site will be a ghost town for two weeks instead of the regular market, which could explain why Guy Forget, the good-natured tournament director in four years of costly changes to the venue, held out until the last minute before the local authorities will force it. him to reduce the crowd from 5,000 paying customers per day to 1,000, in line with restrictions in the capital and the country due to the worrisome rise in coronavirus infections.
As the king embraces fear and doubt, Dominic Thiem, a serious suitor, could hardly be happier in the upper half of the Nadal box. “I want to do my best in every tournament I play, especially here at Roland Garros,” said the new US Open champion as he prepared for his first round match against Marin Cilic. “I had four crazy years with two semifinals, two finals [against Nadal]. I love the conditions here. I love the whole tournament ”.
If Nadal, who has played twice in six months, is vulnerable on his beloved clay, Djokovic looks solid, as he won four titles (including his 18th slam) and lost one of 32 matches in 2020, and that via disqualification at New. York. two weeks ago.
The world’s number one has been turning emotionally red near the end of the most difficult season in recent sport history, and he says he will do his best not to explode again, but he has not lost sight of the award at hand: overtake Roger. Federer’s record of 20 slam titles. The Swiss, resting his healthy knees, can only see from a distance how Nadal seeks to draw alongside him, if he can keep Djokovic and his younger opponents at bay.
Mats Wilander, who won three of his seven majors in Paris and comments for Eurosport, says: “The temperatures in Paris now and for the next two weeks are going to be colder than normal, which is not good for someone who spins the ball, like Nadal. Novak doesn’t really care if it’s hot or cold. I think he is the favorite, ahead of Nadal and Thiem ”.
As for Andy Murray, his French adventure could be finished before the sun goes down on Sunday if Stan Wawrinka’s knees are in better shape than the Scotsman’s hips. Both are closer to retirement than to a fourth hit, but will bring Chatrier’s best left in the final match on day one.
Murray says of the 35-year-old Swiss: “We’ve always gotten along well, we really didn’t have any problems. The last few years we have probably been closer. I text him, he messages me after matches and tournaments, which would not have been the case six or seven years ago.
“We have both been through various injury problems at the same time. There is mutual respect. I’m glad he managed to get back to playing tennis after a rather nasty knee problem. He’s a great, great player and a good guy ”.
The former world number one added: “What I would love is six months of constant practice, tournaments, rest, so that the calendar is fluid. What is difficult is that where I am classified now, for example [111]I can feel good this week and then I’ll draw Stan in the first round, or Djokovic. In Cincinnati [last month] i beat [Alexander] Zverev, who was seeded three.
“You are playing against the best players at the beginning of the tournaments and with the two-year ranking system it is much more difficult to improve your ranking. Nobody loses points every week. To reach 50 in the world, the points you will need will be significantly more than they usually are. Players are adding points to their account, while I [am not].
“Apart from Antwerp and the points at the end of the year, I hardly have any points on the computer. That’s what will be challenging: making sure you are present at tournaments, ready to play and win against the best players early in events. You trust the giveaways a bit and hopefully you get some breaks along the way.
“I am aware that it will be very difficult to be there again, but I feel that if I can five, six months in which I will be able to compete in tournaments. I want. I will definitely win more tournaments and have more good victories. “
