Thu, May 21, 2015 page18

• Nadal considered favorite for French Open despite form

  • AFP, ROME
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  For the past 10 years, Rafael Nadal has been virtually unbeatable at Roland Garros, but that could all change at this year’s French Open as the Spaniard’s woes continue on clay.

  Nadal, stunned in the final of the Madrid Open on May 10 by Britain’s Andy Murray, has won only one tournament — Buenos Aires — on his favorite surface this year.

  Having already lost twice this year to Italian Fabio Fognini, Serbian rival Novak Djokovic and Murray, the 14-time Grand Slam winner was eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia by Stanislas Wawrinka, who also beat Nadal to the Australian Open title last year.

  

  Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after losing his quarter-final match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Friday last week.

  Photo: AP

  If Nadal’s defeat to Murray was confirmation that things were not quite going to plan, his failure to reach the latter stages in Rome means he is likely to miss out on a top-four seeding for Roland Garros.

  Seedings for the second Grand Slam of the year, which begins on Sunday, are set to be announced by the French Open organizers shortly, and Nadal is unlikely to be given the luxury of a top-four seeding, meaning he could meet one of his main rivals as early as the quarter-finals.

  Barring 2009, when Sweden’s Robin Soderling upset him in Paris, Nadal has won the French Open every year since 2005, stretching his record to nine titles last year with victory over Djokovic.

  It goes without saying that Nadal’s struggles have not gone unnoticed.

  Djokovic overwhelmed Swiss Roger Federer to defend his Italian Open title on Sunday. Although neither have dismissed Nadal, they say his virtually barren run on clay has surprised them.

  “This year is quite different and it will be interesting to see how he bounces back for Roland Garros, the most successful tournament he has ever played in his career,” Djokovic said.

  Given Nadal’s record in Paris, few would write off the Spaniard — even if he has to meet a top seed like Djokovic as early as the quarter-finals.

  Meanwhile, Federer said Nadal has the ability to dispel doubts about his clay-court game and battle his way to a 10th title in the French capital.

  “You may be shocked to hear that at times we doubt ourselves, and anybody who says something else is lying to you,” Federer said. “That guy has only lost once in 10 years, there’s no way past that guy being the favorite for that tournament.”

  Following a defeat to Djokovic that has underlined the Serbian’s hot form heading into Paris, Federer refused to budge on the Nadal question.

  “It’s going to be the best of five sets, we know how tough Rafa is physically and mentally. He is the favorite still, at least to me... In the end, it’s the racket that’s going to do the talking,” he said.

  Given the huge expectations on Nadal, the Spaniard has reacted as champions only know how: defiantly.

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen [at the French Open], but I’m going to fight,” Nadal said.

  Djokovic, who has never beaten Nadal at Roland Garros, said that avoiding him at any stage would be a bonus.

  “I’ve never won against him at Roland Garros, so if I get the chance to play somebody else it would be better, honestly,” Djokovic said.
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