Rafael Nadal will begin another bid for French Open title No. 14 when he takes the court on Monday for first-round action against Jordan Thompson. The winner will face either former champion Stan Wawrinka or Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
Jordan Thompson vs. (5) Rafael Nadal
The bad news for Nadal is that he did not win either Madrid or Rome and his recurring foot injury was a major problem at the latter. Of course, there is plenty of good news for him. Nadal is a 13-time champion of the French Open and is a ridiculous 105-3 lifetime in Paris. Perhaps even more important for his 2022 outlook is that by all accounts the 35-year-old Spaniard has looked good in pre-tournament practices, unbothered by the foot injury.
Nadal will get started on Monday, when the rest of a loaded top half of the draw is in action. A second meeting with Thompson will come after the Australian went down 6-1, 7-6(3) two years ago in Paris–at the indoor Masters 1000, not at Roland Garros. Thompson is not particularly adept on clay and his record on the red stuff this spring is a dreadful 1-3. Obviously the outcome of this match and Nadal’s tournament as a whole depends on the status of his foot, but if he is close to 100 percent this should be a beatdown.
Pick: Nadal in 3
(PR) Stan Wawrinka vs. (WC) Corentin Moutet
After missing the French Open in 2021–and almost all of last season–Wawrinka is back from a foot injury. The 2015 champion warmed up for Roland Garros with a trio of clay-court tournaments, the most encouraging of which saw him advance to the Rome third round (beat Reilly Opelka and Laslo Djere before losing to Novak Djokovic).
Up first for Wawrinka on Monday is Moutet, who won their only previous encounter 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the 2020 Doha event. Moutet is also struggling at the moment, having fallen to No. 139 in the rankings. The 23-year-old Frenchman has won five main-tour matches in 2022 but his clay-court swing has consisted of nothing more than two Challenger tournaments. Neither player inspires much confidence right now, but in what will likely be a close match it’s hard to see Wawrinka being physically fit enough to withstand five sets.
Pick: Moutet in 5
WWW?
Hopefully Rafa in 3 simply bcoz don’t want him abusing his foot more than necessary! Vamos, Rafa!!
Ok folks, r u watching? Don’t leave me here on my own! NNY, Amy, Nadline?!!
Based on his first game, so far movement looks good, just needs to polish first serves a bit. I like the way he’s spreading the points on the court and he’s playing deep which is what I like. Granted it’s his first game but he’s playing aggressive too. Good going, Rafa!! He gets the break! Vamos!!
Mona,
I am here. But I missed the first set because I overslept. From what I have seen in the second set, Rafa seems to be moving well. This guy doesn’t seem to have the game to bother Rafa. He had a brain cramp and lost his serve but was able to break back. His serve has not been great since he came back from the rib injury.
At least Rafa is getting rallies that will help him get the rhythm and t8mi g on his shots. He is coming in with less preparation. This match can help him get the feeling of his shots.
Rafa breaks in the third set! Nice volley!
I am here! Gosh Rafa was making me cross after an excellent first set
Eurosport is driving me insane!
That’s why I haven’t been commenting…
Thompson’s shorts are quite something..
The man knows he can’t afford to be pushed in his early rounds. I expect him to play very aggressive and not put that foot under too much stress.
Hard to say how he’s going to hold up but level of tennis certainly seems to be there. He’ll keep improving and get to a strong level by the QF. Easier to play him in QF’s but I guess Novak also not necessarily at his best in QF’s.
Has anyone read Goran’s comments on Rafa? U-turn from his 2020 comments haah.
No didn’t read Goran”s comments but what did he say? Lol! Rafa always teaches them about speaking out of turn 😃
Goran said Raga would win. 😉😉
He said for him Rafa is always the fave here🤔 which is kind of odd given what he said in 2020. I think it’s just mind games…He made a fool of himself in 2020 and is doubling down on putting all the pressure on Rafa.
I don’t believe a word of it.
I posted Goran’s comments on the Tournament Predictions thread.
Hey my ppl!! Good to have you on here!! 😄
Yes our Rafa did his thing. Movement seems fine and yes NNY, ure assessment was spot on. Hope he improves from there especially his serves. Rafa still has moments of blimps when he got broken but the score line says it all! Vamos!
Amy, I’m not even wasting my time with tv, we have US cable and they focus on their players. I watch the matches on live streaming but I understand that in some countries streaming is blocked.
I thought it was a very positive start for Rafa.
We all know his forehand is the index of his self- confidence and it was fantastic in the first set and very good overall.
Serve needs to improve as does backhand.
His movement was excellent with no sign of the injury.
Can he win? Absolutely!!!
ps his dips in the second set are getting a bit tedious… But still a very strong start. We have seen him start way worse and win the whole thing.
Mona, I can’t watch Eurosport on tv I have to stream it live and it’s difficult to watch…
😠😠
PS amy and the real amy are both me…!! 😀😀
Am starting to suffer from schizophrenia…
😂😂🤣🤣 @ Amy!
Yes Rafa looked good and the stadium was packed! It’s a real pleasure to watch him play!
It was sad to c Stan bow out today! I think it’s an issue with his fitness but I hope things get better for him soon. Stan the man is one of my favorites.
It seems like they decided to put everyone in Rafa”s side of the draw. Fognini and Rafa may meet!!! What’s going on here?!! Sigh!
Gosh I really really hope he doesn’t have to play megapest Foggy!
Who is Foggy playing next?
Van de Zandschlup 🤪
Rafa really has his work cut out for him this yr!
Yes, Rafa missed a routine ball and couldn’t believe it so he threw the racket in the air and caught it. Ppl started clapping and the commies were like “never seen Rafa do that before” lol!!!
Great start! Very enjoyable match. One down, six to go. Rafa looked like he was having fun out there, which is great to see. “Throwing” his racket? LOL!
Since when does Rafa throw his racquet?!😀
At least it was a catch and throw….
It was quite remote from racquet abuse!!
Good to see the Rafans here! This was just what Rafa needed. I am glad that Thompson played better in the second set. Rafa had a chance to get into rallies. The serve needs work and the backhand. But he looked free of pain and that warmed my heart!
You go Rafa!