This will be the return of It’s Rafael Nadal Roland Garros, because in the 2023 edition he underwent surgery for a hip injury. Although he has not yet confirmed his participation, and he arrived on time, on Monday of last week.
The fourteen-time champion, a record in this sport, has won 112 games and lost only 3. He just gave in to the Swede Robin Soderling in 2009 and fell against Novak Djokovic in 2015 and 2021. He retired in the 2016 edition, due to a wrist problem, before taking court against the Marcel Granollers.
He entered the tournament list with his world ranking protected by a long decline (No. 9), but in the draw he commanded his current position of 276th. He can face anyone from the opening round, knowing that it’s not too late for a seed to come to him.
He is the ‘bogeyman’ of hype. And he came out in the second quarter, at the top of the table, in 34th place when he suddenly found out that he would face the Serbian again Novak Djokovic in the semifinal round, because ‘Nole’ is leading the table as world number one and first seed in the tournament.
But the surprise came after a few minutes, because Rafael Nadal will open the contest against one of the favorites, the German Alexander Zverev recent champion of Rome and world number 4.
Their 2022 semifinal, which ended abruptly with the German seriously injuring his ankle after a slip and fall, was unforgettable.
The survivor of Nadal-Zverev he will face the Belgian in the second round David Goffin or the French Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Inside the scary part of the painting. In third, Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. in the eighth, Holger Rune and in the quarterfinals the Russian will wait Daniel Medvedev.
It will be a bombshell if Nadal can overcome all these obstacles and reach a Novak Djokovic who started with Frenchman Pierrer-Hugues Herbert and repeat the last final that was in foursomes with the Norwegian. Casper Ruud.
Source: La Verdad
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