Rafael Nadal: Long live the king of hearts and pain

No matter what happens now: No one will be able to challenge Mallorcan Rafael Nadal’s title of clay court king of Paris in the late autumn of his tennis career. You don’t have to be a prophet to see that. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has raised the “Coupe des Mousquetaires”, the silver trophy of the French Open, 14 times and more often than anyone else in Grand Slam history: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022. On Sunday (11 a.m.) the 123rd edition of the classic, which has prize money of 53.48 million euros this year, will kick off and be shown live on Eurosport and Servus TV.

Whether Nadal will be able to win his 15th title in what will probably be his penultimate appearance at Roland Garros – the final chord will then be held there at the Summer Olympics (26 July to 11 August) – is more than questionable, not only because of his advanced age, but above all because of ongoing injury problems.

Zverev’s unpleasant memory

The bookmakers favor Carlos Alcaraz (Esp) with odds of 2.75:1. He is followed by defending champion Novak Djokovic (Srb/3.75:1), Jannik Sinner (Ita/5:1) and Alexander Zverev (D/7:1). Nadal (13:1) is seventh in the betting rankings, but was not favored in the draw.

As number 276 in the world, even a 22-time major winner can face any imaginable hurdle in the first round – in this case Zverev (No. 4), who has also arrived in top form as the Rome champion. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old from Hamburg, against whom a trial begins next Friday in Berlin on charges of assault (Zverev is said to have physically abused a woman during an argument), does not have the best memories of his most recent duel with Nadal.

It was 2022, also in Paris, back then in the semifinals. Zverev had to give up with the score at 6:7 and 6:6 after an incredible 3 hours and 7 minutes – supported by crutches – because he had just twisted his ankle badly and suffered serious ligament injuries.

Now there is a chance for revenge. With the opposite sign. Nadal is an outsider – but one of the dangerous kind. “I will fight for the things I have fought for over the past 15 years, even if it seems impossible now,” said the “Bull from Manacor”, who has only played in three tournaments since mid-January due to a thigh injury. Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Rome – Nadal never made it past the round of 16. Despite this, he does not seem nervous; the family man (wife Xisca, son Rafael junior/19 months) patiently fulfills the numerous requests for autographs on the pretty grounds in the 16th arrondissement on the southern edge of the Bois de Boulogne. Hearts fly to him.

“His rivals are afraid”

Nadal’s aura and appeal go far beyond the bare numbers, even if they are impressive: 92 titles, long-term number 1, almost 135 million US dollars in prize money, 1075 victories on the tour and a French Open record that is unparalleled with 112:3 match wins in singles since 2005. “Rafa’s era in Paris is one of the greatest achievements in sport,” Roger Federer once said.

The only ones who could bring Nadal to his knees at Roland Garros were the Swede Robin Söderling (in the round of 16 in 2009) and the world number one Djokovic (in the quarter-finals in 2015 and in the semi-finals in 2021). It is clear that such a CV inspires great respect among the competition – regardless of how fit Nadal is. “When Rafa steps onto a clay court, all his rivals are afraid,” gushed Daniil Medvedev (Rus). For Djokovic, Nadal remains the industry leader in Paris: “After everything he has achieved here, it is normal to see him as the biggest favorite,” emphasized the 37-year-old.

Sinner (22) is reticent to speak. If he lets his actions speak for themselves, the South Tyrolean could be number 1 in the world after Paris.