Rafael Nadal is still favourite to capture French Open title – Tennis Special
It was for the first time in many years that Nadal was unable to reach the last eight at a clay court tournament, when he lost to his fellow compatriot, Fernando Verdasco, in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 5-7 in the third round at the Mutua
Madrid Open last week.
However, the King of Clay still remains the favourite to grab the crown at this year’s French Open. There are not many people who doubt Nadal’s capabilities at the red clay of Roland Garros.
The new blue courts at the La Caja Majica in Madrid did not suit the Spaniard and he had to face an embarrassing loss at the hands of Verdasco, who had failed to beat the former world number one in their 13 previous meetings. Though,
almost all of the tennis experts, fans and players believe that Nadal will become unbeatable again when he plays on his favourite red dirt.
Reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic, is not an exception and he thinks that despite the Spaniards surprise early loss at the Mutua Madrid Open, he will be the hot favourite to retain his title in Paris. The Serbian said,
"It is a grand slam where Nadal is always the top favourite.”
Djokovic made these remarks despite the fact that he defeated the Spaniard in both of their clay court meetings last year. The Serbian downed Nadal in straight sets in the Mutua Madrid Open and Internazionali
BNL d’Italia final.
However, the clay courts of Roland Garros are Nadal’s territory and challenging the Spaniard there is almost possible. Djokovic went into last year’s French Open on the back of those two wins over Nadal
but he could not reach even the title match, losing to Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, in the semi-finals. Two days later, the same Federer who had crushed Djokovic was toyed by Nadal in the final.
The Spaniard’s record is unbelievable at French Open, as he has won six titles there in seven appearances. The 10-time Grand Slam winner has a 45-1 win/loss record at the Roland Garros, where his only
loss came when he was suffering from severe knee injury.
Nadal has dropped to second position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings and if he does not improve to the second spot in this week, he will surely have to beat both Federer and Djokovic to win
the French Open, as he will be the third seed. However, if wins Internazionali BNL d’Italia this week, he can regain the second position.
The Spaniard, however, shared that he is not worried with this situation. He said, “My goal will be the same, number two, three or number 10. To win you have to beat the best players in the world. The only change is in the semi-finals
but it doesn't make any difference. I will try my best to play my best and if I am able to do that I will have my chances to have a good result.”
Nadal has won the Rome Crown five times in his career so far and he is favourite to grab the title this time too.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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