Rafael Nadal Looks To Reclaim French Open Title from Roger Federer
Everyone anticipates how the “The King of Clay,” Rafael Nadal, who remains to be undefeated this season (12-0) will beat his opponents at the French Open.
Being on top is never new to Nadal for he was World’s No. 1 from August 18, 2008 to July 5, 2009 but fell behind Swiss tennis player Roger Federer soon after. Since after becoming one of the top 50 players as a 17 year old, Nadal had been riveting the courts taking 31 consecutive match wins in the French Open from 2005 to 2009 and Grand Slams on clay in the Australian Open tying up with Roger Federer. He has the most Masters singles titles in the Monte Carlo Masters and won for 4 consecutive times in the French Open, sharing the record with Swedish tennis player Björn Borg. His impressive record does not stop there. He has the longest single-surface winning streak in clay, having 81 matches from April 2005 to May 20 2007. Plus, he has tied up with another pro Andre Agassi for winning most ATP Masters 1000 titles.
But this 23 year old Spaniard didn’t take his road to the top uninjured. On several occasions he had left his fans disappointed and worried after suffering from some few injuries causing him to temporarily leave the clay courts or lose his matches. Rafa withdrew from the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai in 2005 and did not play until mid-February of 2006 due to a left foot injury. In August 2007, a left arm cramp forced him to retire in the 2nd round of the ATP Master’s Series versus Monaco. The following year, with a tendinitis in the left knee, he once again withdrew in the 3rd round at AMS Paris and receded from Tennis Masters Cup and Davis Cup final. He missed another two months because of his knee problem in 2009 but still made it to No.1 on the first half of the ATP World Tour Masters. Yet he really could not avoid letting down his avid spectators since not too long after, in January this year he backed off at the quarter final of the Australian Open because of the right knee injury leaving him inactive until the Indian Wells last March.
As World’s No.3 ranked last May 3, 2010, there is really so much to expect from this left-handed Mallorca native pro who presented show downed along with toppers Roger Federer and Andy Murray at the quarter-finals of the Mutua Madrileni Madrid Open. He stayed on track unbeaten on clay this season towards the Madrid Open final for the second time as he defeated John Isner 7-5, 6-4 who can blame all his defeat to himself, missing his first serves giving the chance for Rafa to close out a one set lead and eventually take a 2-1 lead, winning in 87 minutes. Soon after, he defeated 12th seeded French Gael Monfils at 5-1 career mark in two hours and ten minutes. Nadal also headed this year’s ATP World Tour with 28 wins, 4 loses and 2 titles second best to David Ferrer. He too is off this week to dominate the Open Era record 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shield after equaling former record holder Andre Agassi two weeks ago in Rome.
This man from Mallorca certainly has got what it takes to be on top having 26 wins and only 4 loses mostly in major clay tournaments. As one of those sought after athletes in clay court this French Open and Grand Slam singles champ has to be in so much pressure doing something about his injury problems, especially his “Achilles knee.”
Tags: