The Balearic left just six games in his debut against Australian Thompson and failed to notice the foot injury
Rafael Nadal had the coveted debut at Roland Garros. A quiet game, leaving just six games on the road, two in each set, and helping him land on the Paris clay court without any setbacks and no memories of the foot injury that tormented him in Madrid and Rome.
The thirteen-time tournament winner defeated Jordan Thompson out of clay for a triple 6-2 to lay the foundation stone for the Roland Garros, which looks set to be the toughest of them all. Because of the rivals, a Novak Djokovic and a Carlos Alcaraz who have shown a better level on clay, and because the chronic injury to his foot jeopardized his preparation for this tournament.
But at least that problem did not arise with the debut in Paris. Nadal got rid of a Thompson who barely won a game on the clay tour this year and who won just 11 games on this surface in his entire career and at ATP level. Very bad baggage to try and emulate the king of brick dust. As much as Nadal isn’t at his best, the feel of Paris is unlike any other tournament, which is why he’s won here more than anywhere else.
Just seeing himself in the Philippe Chatrier is argument enough for him to trust his chances, whoever is out front. Despite touching and at 36, Nadal’s superiority in the French capital is admirable and this time the one to suffer was a Thompson who clung to the fact that the rain that threatened the day would give him a chance in colder conditions. But not even with that, Nadal scratched at a high level, moving in percentages with the serve above 70%, though he gave up once, leaving barely two games per set.
The man from Manacor’s chances of adding the Grand Slam number 22 come from not getting caught up in the early rounds and this Monday was a demonstration that he is very clear on that path. In addition, the debut at Roland Garros is a fortress. In the first 18 rounds he played here, he has dropped just three sets since 2005. Two against John Isner in 2011 and one against Daniel Brands in 2013. The rest were big wins, like the one against Thompson, which he sent away with 27 winners and seven service breaks.
“I am aware that there is a large margin for improvement,” Nadal said at the foot of the track. “I’m very happy that I passed in three sets. Now I have to try to look forward, train better and better and continue to have opportunities to compete. For me it is a gift to be here and compete for Roland Garros I’m going to do everything possible for it,” added the Balearics.
Nadal’s next matchup is Corentin Moutet, number 139 in the world, who defeated Stan Wawrinka in four sets in the first round. It will be the first confrontation between the Spaniards and the French.
Source: La Verdad
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