Rafael Nadal is 97-2 lifetime at Roland Garros. Jannik Sinner had never played a match there prior to this fortnight.
It will be mismatch in terms of both resumes and playing styles when Nadal and Sinner collide in the French Open quarterfinals on Tuesday. Given that the Italian has only been on the main tour for a little more than year, it comes as no surprise that this marks their first-ever head-to-head matchup.
Unfortunately for Sinner, this is not exactly the setting at which he would choose to face Nadal. The second-ranked Spaniard’s record at Roland Garros includes 12 titles and a current winning streak of 26 matches in a row. Although Nadal returned from the coronavirus hiatus with a loss to Diego Schwartzman in the Rome quarterfinals, he has picked up the pace in Paris with straight-set routs of Egor Gerasimov, Mackenzie McDonald, Stefano Travaglia, and Sebastian Korda.
“Obviously I’m playing against Rafa here in Roland Garros; it’s not the easiest thing, for sure,” Sinner said. “I mean, I think the record he has here…I think nobody can beat that. He is super confident here. So, you know, it’s going to be a difficult match for sure.
“(The goal is to) always to go on court with the right attitude, trying to play your best tennis–which I have to do if I want to play at the same level as he plays.”
Sinner’s own level has been outstanding, as he has surrendered just one set while producing the best result of his career. The 19-year-old disposed of David Goffin, Benjamin Bonzi, and Federico Coria in straight sets before ousting Alexander Zverev in four on Sunday. Sinner, who upset Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the Rome third round last month, will break into the top 50 even if he loses on Tuesday.
“He’s improving every single week,” Nadal noted. “So he’s playing better and better and better. It will be a big challenge. It will be the first time playing against him on the tour. I practiced with him a couple of times; he has an amazing potential.”
Sinner has the kind of game that can give the second seed problems. He stands at 6’2”, hits big serves and even bigger forehands, and wields a rock-solid two-hander off the backhand side. And he also moves extremely well for his size. Of course, Korda has a similar style–and he won only four games! Sure, Sinner is much further along than Korda right now; but Nadal’s dominance so far this fortnight does not bode well for the youngster. Expect flashes of brilliance from Sinner, but little sustained success.
Pick: Nadal in 3 losing 11 games or fewer
God I am nervous. All day waiting makes things so much worse…!
Don’t worry, it will be a test but Rafa will prevail.
I hope so vr!
Do you think it will be a long match? I am really tired!
I don’t think it will be a long match, Amy. There is always a possibility but I personally don’t think it will be very long.
Hope so vr!
I am so worried that Rafa will have one of his nervous matches..
I know you are worried, amy. If you were here we would have somethings to calm us 🙂
Put you out of your pain anyway.
A bottle of whisky?!
Think Rafa looks more nervous than sinner but that could be projection..
We could do whisky. I like it!
Jannik Sinner is not at all like the Italian I just watched — Trevisan. But he has to feel some tension and nerves
If I was drinking whisky would be comatose in 5 minutes..!
Okay, truth be told, Rafa hasn’t made a strong start.
No! Playing short and tentative..not timing his forehand..
Giving Sinner confidence…
Rafa forehand nowhere as aggressive as it was in the earlier rounds. Signs of nerves perhaps
I.feared he would be nervous!
Rafa is playing horrible right now…
Give Rafa a break! This guy is NOT going to beat him, lol!! Seriously?!
Where is Nadline folks?
Wow Rafa giving so much air to his forehand DTL…
Rafa will just wear his ass down, that’s what he’s doing there, lol!
Terrible kit the teenager has to wear. Some of the men’s print shirts are clownish. Rafa has on a comfy pair of pajamas – much better than a wild shirt.The navy blue printed shirt Rublev wore the other day looked like one of my grandma’s “house dresses”
And the commentator has to bring soderling up saying sinner gives him sodeing vibes
I knr! I just put them on mute!!!! Sigh!!!
NO, Jannik is nothing like Soderling! They just stirring the pot bringing up Soderling.
Rafa but his forehand and backhand better that game..!
Come on Rafa relax!
Hit!
Not a single bp on the sinner serve.. which is so odd for rafa on clay.. hope it is a case of rafa still figuring out his serve.. great time to break nwo though
Rafa has made 10 UE’s so far. He hasn’t done much on Sinner’s serve. I hope that he is figuring it out in this first set.
They said the wind is wreaking havoc on both players.
Think.it’s nerves with Rafa
Rafa not playing like Rafa.
Impressive Sinner holds there.
Rafa playing so horrible..
Well I still enjoy watching Rafa and I don’t see him as horrible. I will be very surprised if Sinner holds time tho. Terrible shot selection by Sinner there.
Rafa’s play been surprising. So passive with his groundstrokes. He looks far more nervous than Sinner!!
Hope he breaks back somehow here.
It is nerves for sure!
Should have broken then!
Ok finally he hits his forehand well!
Rafas aura earns him that break up i guess