“A challenge tailored to you,” headlined Roland Garros’ ‘Le Quotidien’ on the cover. The free publication that spreads the event as the tournament’s daily campaign diary.
“The figures that defy reason,” he stressed in another section dedicated to the fourteen-time champion, Rafael Nadal who starred in ‘The Clash’ of the day against Alexander Zverev.
A Monday in the first week of Roland Garros produced an atmosphere more typical of the final Sunday. There wasn’t a small group conversation where the word ‘Rafa’ or ‘Nadal’ wasn’t heard a few times. The same name that was pronounced at the headquarters from his entry into Philippe Chatrier until he left him defeated by Alexander Zverevbut not before leaving everything he had behind.
The most historic thing is that he lifted the Musketeers Cup 14 times, a record in the world of tennis that specialists consider another dimension. Novak Djokovicfor example, has won the Australian Open ten times. Roger Federer He won Wimbledon eight times.
Rafael Nadal He has never failed in the final. He won them all, from his premiere in 2005 to 2022, which he played with his anesthetized left foot. The day after defeating the Norwegian Casper Ruud He had to walk with crutches; he could not wear his shoes because of the swelling.
Their success in matches played in the tournament has exceeded 97% till this edition. Out of 115, 112 won and only 3 lost. Behind him, the Swede Bjorn Borg with 96% based on a shorter journey of 51 matches, where he won 49 and lost 2. He suffered his fourth loss, against Alexander Zverev, the earliest in the first round.
And of his 112 victories, 90 were signed without giving up a set. A fact that cements his status as the historic king of clay. Of his 14 finals, 7 have been resolved by fast track, none of which have made it past the fifth round. In fact, only the American John Isner, the Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime They reached a fifth set with Nadal in Paris.
His best streak came between his losing matches Robin Soderling in 2009 and what he suffered against Novak Djokovic in 2015 (the other against the Serbian came in 2021), chaining a 39-game winning streak.
The fastest Rafa Nadal defeated the Georgian 6-0, 6-1 and 6-0 Nikoloz Basashvili in the third round of 2017.
Although the shortest time occurred in the first round of 2016: triple 6-1 in the Australian Sam Groth in 1h.20′. The longest, 4h.53′ of a four-set match against the Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in 2006.
Who did you beat the most? SA Djokovicon eight occasions (for two losses), Roger Federersix and Dominic Thiem 4.
He dropped out once, before competing in the 2016 third round against Marcel Granollers due to a wrist injury.
Source: La Verdad
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