As expected, Rafael Nadal appears to be good to go for the clay-court swing.
Nadal returned to the practice courts at home in Spain–on clay, of course–more than a week ago, not long after withdrawing from a schedule Indian Wells Masters semifinal showdown against Roger Federer because of a knee injury. The world No. 2 is on track to go for a 12th Monte-Carlo Masters title next week prior to possible appearances in Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome in advance of the French Open. Nadal won eight consecutive Monte-Carlo titles from 2005 and 2012. Following a three-year drought, he restored order to the proceedings in the principality with victories in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
“What I’m going to do is go back home and try to do a smooth transition to clay, try to be 100 percent for the first event,” the 32-year-old said upon his Indian Wells departure. “That’s going to be Monte-Carlo for me.”
Nadal sounded confident, and two weeks of practice leading up to the season’s third Masters tournament will do nothing to dampen lofty expectations.
Speaking of confidence, Monte-Carlo tournament director Zeljko Franulovic recently heaped plenty of praise on the best player in his event’s history.
“There will be not a Nadal’s heir as a player or character,” Franulovic commented. “It’s impossible to find a new Nadal on clay. There are less clay-courts specialists [compared to] what you could see in the past with Spaniards or Italians. The current tour makes you flexible.”
Few people have been good enough to beat Nadal on clay over the years–especially at the French Open. Only Robin Soderling (2009) and Novak Djokovic (2015) have accomplished the feat. The King of Clay has triumphed at Roland Garros 11 times and he is the two-time defending champion heading into this year. Betting India sites have Nadal as overwhelming favorite to get the job done once again in Paris, followed by Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, and Alexander Zverev.
Can one of those contenders seriously challenge Nadal this spring?
Djokovic is the world No. 1 by a mile right now, holding all three Grand Slam titles other than the French Open. Thiem finished runner-up to Nadal last year at Roland Garros and recently lifted the Indian Wells trophy even though he is far more accomplished on clay than on hard courts. Zverev is a two-time Masters 1000 winner on clay. And don’t discount Federer, who is returning to the red stuff for the first time since 2016.
over/under 0.5 combined losses for Nadal in MC, Barca, Rome, and the French?
Over, of course. He won’t win them all, not this year.
Vamos!
Nadal is still the best on the clay and he is the favorite to win the French Open this year too. I am, however, excited about Roger to play on the clay …… Here’s an unrelated article on Nadal and Roger http://www.138mph.com/rafael-nadal-and-john-isner-drunk-on-roger-federer-kool-aid/
The chances of a Nadal versus Djokovic final seem good and the only spoiler there is Thiem. He could take down Djokovic in the semis … http://www.138mph.com/tennis-can-anyone-stop-a-rafael-nadal-versus-novak-djokovic-final-in-monte-carlo/
Nadal versus Djokovic final here is a real possibility. Only Thiem could spoil that party …. http://www.138mph.com/tennis-can-anyone-stop-a-rafael-nadal-versus-novak-djokovic-final-in-monte-carlo/