Bjorn Borg tells strategy to beat Rafael Nadal – Tennis News
One of the best clay court players of all times, Bjorn Borg, has said about Rafael Nadal that the Spaniard has a unique style compared to the current crop of players and the only option to beat him is to play like Nadal himself.
Borg stated that almost all the tennis players in this new era try to hit the ball as hard as they can. Whereas, Nadal’s style is different, as he tries to send back all the attacking shots bombarded on him.
The Swedish legend said, “Tennis is very different now to when I was playing it, as the guys hit the ball so much harder now than they used to, but I think the best way to play Nadal is to play Nadal’s usual game, which to keep
getting the balls back into play and to keep on making your opponent play one more shot.”
What happens when those big hitting players face Nadal is that they try to hit winners with their every single shot but Nadal does not. They keep attacking the ball, smashing the ball so hard that it should be a winner against
any other player on the tour but Nadal manages to somehow return the ball. After hitting four to five potential winning shots during a single point, they get frustrated and cough a mistake.
Playing continuous points like these make Nadal’s opponents infuriated and the level of their game drops. At that moment, the Spaniard takes full advantage and starts playing aggressively.
The same thing happened during Nadal’s title match against reigning world number one, Novak Djokovic, at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. Djokovic kept smacking the ball and the Spaniard continued to retrieve. The Serbian
got so angry that he ended up breaking his racket and losing the contest.
Borg is also impresses by Nadal’s amazing record at the French Open. After winning six titles at Roland Garros, the Spaniard is tied only with Borg for the most crowns in Paris.
The Swede said, “Playing Nadal at the French Open is incredibly tiring, as you know he is not going to give you very much at all. You’re probably going to have to win most of the points yourself, and you’re going to have to do
that for five sets. He’s just a great champion.”
Nadal has lost only one match in his seven appearances at the French Open and that one came when he was suffering with severe knee injuries in 2009.
The Spaniard has got the title of 'the King of Clay' after his incredible performances on his favourite surface. The left-hander is expected to break Borg’s record at the end of this year’s Roland Garros.
Nadal has remained unbeaten on the red clay so far in this season. The 10-time Grand Slam winner captured titles at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Internazionali BNL d’Italia. The 25-year-old’s
only loss on clay this year came at the controversial blue courts of Mutua Madrid Open.
Nadal’s succeeds in winning his lucky seven crown at the French Open or not, he will surely be regarded as one of the best players ever to have picked up a tennis racket.
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