Rafael Nadal has never won the Rolex Paris Masters. As the only member of the Big 3 playing in 2020, this may be the year to do it.
With Novak Djokovic resting up for the Nitto ATP Finals following his Vienna loss to Lorenzo Sonego, Nadal is the No. 1 seed this coming week in Paris. Roger Federer is out for the season due to knee injuries, so the Spaniard’s challengers include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, and Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal’s draw appears to be a friendly once, as the other top-eight seed in his quarter is a struggling David Goffin. The Belgian recently had COVID-19 and did not look good upon his return in Antwerp. An opening test against Filip Krajinovic, however, may not be a walk in the park for the world No. 2.
Seeking his first-ever title at this Masters 1000 event, Nadal is on a collision course for the semifinals with a red-hot Andrey Rublev. The Russian has captured recent titles in Hamburg and St. Petersburg to go along with quarterfinal performances at the U.S. Open and French Open. He currently finds himself in the Vienna championship match against Sonego on Sunday. Rublev awaits either Hubert Hurkacz or a qualifier in his Paris opener has to be favored in a section of the bracket that also includes Zverev.
At the bottom of the draw, Tsitsipas is the second seed thanks to the absences of Djokovic, Federer, and Dominic Thiem. The fifth-ranked Greek does not have an easy road through Paris, as he could open against Antwerp champion Ugo Humbert before possibly running into nemesis Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The Medvedev-Schwartzman quarter could go in any number of directions, as well. Their section is also home to Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Kevin Anderson, and Richard Gasquet.
WWW?
I don’t see anyone stopping Rafa. He is my bracket winner. If he loses – no big deal. But he probably would like this title. So, Vamos Rafa!
Glad Novak is nowhere to be seen and I wish he would stay that way until AO 2021.
Something is not right with his, whatever it is. I just can’t get the image out of my head.
Djoko probably has shoulder issues, it reflects in the way he serves. He’s not getting in many first serves I believe.
I doubt he tanked the QF match, it’s just not his day, maybe he’s running out of energy or simply having shoulder issue so not going to press hard to win the match. I guess he reckoned winning that 90 points was enough for him to secure the YE no.1 ranking, even if Rafa is to win at both Paris Masters and WTF (without losing a match) and he himself not winning any match at WTF (unless Rafa chooses to play at Sophia).
Yes. I agree with you about shoulder issues. I see he only can manage for short periods. Whether it is one rotator cuff or both and nerve damage down the arm(s) from letting it all go on so long. I don’t know. But I imagine that is what it is. Thanks for being kind, Luckystar.
We’ll only know the truth in time.
If Rublev wins Vienna, he’ll be into the NITTO finals. My hope is that he does win tomorrow and he skips Paris. But life is hard. A very lively Italian stands in the way in Vienna.
I cant see the point of having an indoor Masters so close to the YEC indoors on same surface. Skipping one just to appear in the other! The calendar doesnt even have one grass Masters .
But isn’t this schedule due to Covid? It’s all messed up. Of course, if the pandemic gets worse, something like this could be the new normal: big gaps and challenges to maintain safety for everyone as much as possible.
Yeah, this year we’re lucky to have any tennis at all. I was talking about previous years schedules ,maybe they’ll revise that. Covid isn’t going away.
No, it’s not going away, contrary to what masses of people think. A proper vaccine would help but that still isn’t something to count on. I am happy to watch tennis without the crowds. At least it’s something. I was so relieved to have tennis back. And I miss the WTA year-end finals.
Elizabeth,
At least you are living in reality, as opposed to our delusional President who keeps saying that we have turned the corner, it’s no big deal, you will all recover, the vaccine will be here anytime. I think the man has gone insane. Meanwhile, he is putting people at risk with his super spreader rallies. The sad thing is that sll he wants is his them to vote for him and then they can drop dead from the virus! In Europe I see that they are locking down again. Here we have a maniac who is talking utter nonsense and abs who seems intent on killing as many people as possible. I have never seen anything like it in my life.
Fauci said that it will be at least a year until things may let up, even with a vaccine. This is not going away anytime soon and to have this sick lunatic spreading lies is just unbelievable.
Nny,
Thanks for your kind words. Know that we agree on everything that matters and I wish I was there to hold your hand for the next three days. But I can’t talk about it here. And I get sick thinking of Florida and where I live. Every day a truck rally for Trump is moving through main st. to the state capitol. I’m very sick of hearing the slogans and seeing the signs.
Only want this over and like COVID itself I fear it will get worse before better. Take Care sweet, Nny. Stay safe. That’s all for now. Vamos Rafa – him winning would put a smile on our faces no matter what happens Tuesday and next week. Just typing bout this makes my stomach hurt. And I need something to distract and calm down.
Thanks for your kind words also, Jalep. You are about the nicest person on here . Good luck on Tuesday.
Has djoko confirmed he has shoulder issue ? I never read anyyhing like that
No, he has not Sanju. But I trust him. I trust that he will keep what is wrong with him physically silent. I do not believe he is even near 100%. But there’s nothing he will do about it but drink green vegetable smoothies or whatever it is he does.
*
There is a good off season coming Jalep, so he can recuperate if anything troubling him
How do we see fed making a return post a long layoff in 21?
https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/tennis/has-tanking-become-habit-novak-djokovic-authorities-something-it?article-trending