Roland Garros/French Open
Image courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr page - Roland Garros 2008: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/2548469251/in/photolist-4Tcz82-6tZnxV-87P6sX-ey7ZS4-4Th8wE-eiptGP-6uaRCZ-87vLZp-86G6Ka-ey9ecr-c7XVQu-nCzATg-eBzLQm-nCAVGe-nWRDSg-nT31do-dGmT28-nCzje4-nCzR2q-nT2Xd5-nV4Xqn-nT2ASf-eZKnLF-6urJ2w-nUM8dD-nCzJ2p-nUWDeU-caonqS-nCzGrQ-nUWRpA-nCzE6t-ewJaxS-ekA48R-nWRBFT-nULZA4-nCAKKF-nUWLLs-9T16gt-nT2zmu-nCALjX-ezweD2-9T15Lr-nULZgB-ewEXSc-nUMjfi-ewJ9fS-6qwFaz-ezzoMd-9LRAp8-ewJ9S1
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It's time for an update on the French Open now. This is the home stretch, as will be down soon to just four players left. The semifinals will already feature a huge showdown between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, while Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem will be in action tomorrow, and are both favored to win to set up a decisive showdown between one another in the other semifinal. But let's see what happens tomorrow, first. Nothing is a given, after all.
Despite a slow start to a normally dominant clay court season, the greatest men's clay court player in history, Rafael Nadal of Spain, has looked dominant once again in recent weeks. He had not won a clay court tournament earlier in the year, raising some concerns. But then he won the Italian Open, defeating rival Novak Djokovic in the final, and followed that up with an incredible run here in Paris at the French Open, resembling the dominant player he has always been on the terre battue.
Switzerland's grand maestro of tennis, Roger Federer, is looking solid out there again. He won the French Open ten years ago, although that was in the notable absence of Rafa Nadal, who lost earlier in a shocking upset, and went down with an injury. Federer has struggled against Nadal, but nowhere is this more apparent than at Roland Garros, where he has never defeated Nadal in a match. Federer has had a disappointing time since winning the Australian Open in 2018, and then returning to the world number one ranking later in the year. He is trying to get back to his elite form, but that window might be closing, as he is not getting any younger.
Novak Djkokovic did manage the considerable feat of beating Nadal at the French Open in 2015, although he would have to wait yet one more year before winning it all. He did win in Paris in 2016, becoming the first man in roughly half a century to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously. That was followed by some difficulties, as Djokovic then struggled for several years. But he returned back to prime form from injuries last year, winning the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles, then ending the year ranked number one. He followed that up with another Australian Open title this year, surpassing Pete Sampras to rank third among all men in history for the most Grand Slam titles with 15, behind Nadal with 17, and Federer, with 20. However, clay still traditionally has been the surface that he struggled most in, and the questions remain as to whether or not he could beat either Thiem and/or especially Nadal. That would go double if he has to survive both in he same tournament, a tall order by any stretch.
Switzerland's grand maestro of tennis, Roger Federer, is looking solid out there again. He won the French Open ten years ago, although that was in the notable absence of Rafa Nadal, who lost earlier in a shocking upset, and went down with an injury. Federer has struggled against Nadal, but nowhere is this more apparent than at Roland Garros, where he has never defeated Nadal in a match. Federer has had a disappointing time since winning the Australian Open in 2018, and then returning to the world number one ranking later in the year. He is trying to get back to his elite form, but that window might be closing, as he is not getting any younger.
Novak Djkokovic did manage the considerable feat of beating Nadal at the French Open in 2015, although he would have to wait yet one more year before winning it all. He did win in Paris in 2016, becoming the first man in roughly half a century to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously. That was followed by some difficulties, as Djokovic then struggled for several years. But he returned back to prime form from injuries last year, winning the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles, then ending the year ranked number one. He followed that up with another Australian Open title this year, surpassing Pete Sampras to rank third among all men in history for the most Grand Slam titles with 15, behind Nadal with 17, and Federer, with 20. However, clay still traditionally has been the surface that he struggled most in, and the questions remain as to whether or not he could beat either Thiem and/or especially Nadal. That would go double if he has to survive both in he same tournament, a tall order by any stretch.
Austria's Dominic Thiem is also one of the key players to watch, as many consider him to be the heir apparent to Nadal on the clay courts. However, he has yet to win any Grand Slam, although he did make it to the French Open Final last year, ultimately losing to Nadal, who took his record 11th French Open men's singles championship. Many have been anticipating Thiem to enjoy a breakout tournament, and he has looked good. His toughest challenges are yet to come, especially if he meets number one ranked, and former French Open champion himself, Novak Djokovic.
Maybe Thiem will indeed dominate the clay courts after Nadal, although he still has to win the final first. Like Federer and Djokovic before him, he already had to wait his turn and take his lumps at Nadal's hands before rising to the top here at Roland Garros. Maybe this year will be the one for him to finally hoist La Coupe des Mousquetaires, although he still has some giants to get past. That may - perhaps even probably, will include the master himself - Rafa Nadal.
I am not exactly going out on a limb here when making the prediction that Nadal should take the French Open title again, which would make it an astonishing 12 on the clay courts of Paris.
Maybe Thiem will indeed dominate the clay courts after Nadal, although he still has to win the final first. Like Federer and Djokovic before him, he already had to wait his turn and take his lumps at Nadal's hands before rising to the top here at Roland Garros. Maybe this year will be the one for him to finally hoist La Coupe des Mousquetaires, although he still has some giants to get past. That may - perhaps even probably, will include the master himself - Rafa Nadal.
I am not exactly going out on a limb here when making the prediction that Nadal should take the French Open title again, which would make it an astonishing 12 on the clay courts of Paris.
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