From the slack in Rome to the toughest triumph in Paris, the Balearic Islands does another impossible
Carlos Moyá, Rafael Nadal’s companion of a thousand battles, noted that winning this Roland Garros would be the “hardest” of them all. Why? The explanation must be sought on May 12, the day the Spaniard lost to Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16 of the Masters 1,000 in Rome. A worrying loss, not only because it was the first time in his life that he would arrive in Paris without a clay-court title, but also because he limped off the field, ostensibly from that chronic foot injury he had suffered since 2004.
The chance of full recovery for Roland Garros was slim. It was a race against time and against his own body. “A title is fine, but what I want is to be happy,” Nadal acknowledged. “I would trade winning the final for a new foot,” were the most painful words of the Spaniard, who has never been heard as sad and dejected as in recent weeks.
Leaving Rome and thinking of winning the Fourteenth was a utopia. The photo and the draw also made him chuckle more. Same path as Novak Djokovic and the best player of the tour, Carlos Alcaraz. They can compete against the Serb in the quarterfinals and the Murcian in the semifinals. Entering Rome, thinking of the fourteenth was a utopia, landing in Paris, it was little more than madness.
It was a dramatic story written in Nadal’s biography. A twist on a fantastic year so far. The foot changed everything. He had had the best start to the season of his career, with 20 wins in a row and three titles -Melbourne, Australia and Acapulco- before retiring. Especially when he told Djokovic before the quarterfinals that you never know when his last meeting could be in Paris. The fear of defeat and of never seeing Nadal on the Paris clay again increased. And there, when confidence in the Balearic Islands was low, the miracle began.
Triumph against Djokovic, revenge for the defeat in 2021 and blessing of the Serb. “I am not surprised by Nadal’s recovery. It has happened many times before,” qualified the man from Belgrade, having lost the number one and the certainty that that defeat in the quarter-finals would cost him something to give the man from Manacor something. see you go further afield in the battle for the best in history.
That early final was won when Alexander Zverev was tragically injured in the semi-final, tore ligaments in his ankle, and when Casper Ruud failed to deliver in the final. It wasn’t his fault, for him thirteen other brave men conceded the same attempt.
Nadal lifted the fourteenth with many voices pointing to an upcoming retreat. Even in the hours before the game, it was rumored in the French media that he would hold a press conference on Monday to announce something important. His press officer denied that at the time. Roger Federer was also not seen for Philippe Chatrier, despite the fact that it was fantasized that the Swiss would hand the title to Nadal at the presentation of the trophy. Finally, it was Billie Jean King, winner of twelve Grand Slams and promoter of equality in tennis, who presented him with the Musketeers Cup, which he won fourteen times.
“I’m going to fight to get back here for as many years as possible,” he assured with the track at his feet. Just turning 36 two days ago, Nadal arrives at Wimbledon with the two Grand Slams under his belt, something unprecedented in his career.
Only he knows his end. It will not be sudden, as many thought. It won’t be instant. It’s time to stop, refresh, dose. Apart from more important tournaments to keep options in the Grand Slams and especially in Paris, the fetish of his career.
The place he always returns to is happy. Because since making his debut against German Lars Burgsmuller on May 24, 2005, Nadal has left Roland Garros sad only four times. Three for loss and one for wrist injury. If there is one place in the world that is more associated with Nadal for happiness, along with his native Manacor, it is Paris. And may this last forever.
Source: La Verdad
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