Roland Garros/French Open 2019 Men's Singles Champion:
Rafael Nadal
Photo courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr Page - Rafael Nadal: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/5756335239
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
There were questions over the past two years about whether or not Dominic Thiem was going to be ready to seriously challenge Rafael Nadal's dominance for the distinction as the best clay court men's player. The assumption, of course, is whether or not he could beat Nadal on the terre battue of Rolland Garros in Paris.
In short, the answer, just like last year, is no.
Take nothing away from Dominic Thiem. He is a great player, and especially on clay. He has reached the French Open final two consecutive times. He has won nine career clay court titles himself dating back to 2015, and had reached a point where he is regarded as the heir apparent to Nadal in terms of clay court dominance. No man appears to be so ready to succeed Nadal as the king of clay like Thiem.
The only problem is that Nadal seems so unwilling to relinquish the title.
Earlier this afternoon in Paris, Nadal and Thiem met for the fourth time here on the terre battue of Rolland Garros. Nadal had won all three of the previous meetings, without so much as dropping a single set heading into this meeting. The questions regarding Thiem's chances were there, much as they were last year. Yet, with Thiem's lack of success against Nadal, specifically, in previous years, and with him having battled to narrowly beat out Djokovic in the marathon semi-final that stretched out over two days and five long sets, which just ended yesterday, less than 24 hours earlier, many felt that Nadal's seemingly clear advantage was even more apparent heading into this one.
Nadal had won his semifinal against the great Roger Federer rather easily and quickly, in straight sets, to reach this final. Thiem had been forced to endure both very difficult circumstances and the tough play of world number one, and former French Open champion in his own right, Novak Djokovic. It was a match that stretched out over five long sets, and two days, after all of the rain delays. That meant that he was spent by the time he actually qualified for this men's final, and he had ,little time to rest before having to take on Nadal on the terre battue of Rolland Garros.
Not good, right?
Indeed not. Predictably, Nadal took the first set, and Thiem did not look ready as he might otherwise have been. Thiem managed to bounce back and win the second set, 7-5.
So, Thiem finally managed to win a set at Rolland Garros against Nadal. But that was it. Perhaps it was the long two weeks, and especially that semifinal marathon against Djokovic in such difficult weather conditions. Perhaps it was lasting through these two weeks, and enduring a very tough match against Djokovic, only to then have the King of Clay waiting, as fresh as could be. But it all unraveled for Thiem after that.
Then, it was all Nadal, once again. He won both of the remaining sets by only giving up one game apiece to Thiem, and had yet one more opportunity to stand before the crowd in Paris and lift the Coupe des Mousquatiers for an unbelievable 12th time.
After the match, legend John McEnroe interviewed Nadal. And he made a point that is difficult to ignore, suggesting that he had run out of questions to ask Nadal, given that this was his 12th time winning this particular Grand Slam tournament. Indeed, it becomes difficult to have much new to say about Nadal's incredible achievements overall, but particularly his unprecedented level of dominance on the terre battue in Paris.
Throughout an incredible career, Nadal has earned a stunning 93-2 overall record at Rolland Garros. 12 French Open titles, plus all of those other 37 clay court titles this man has earned in an obviously storied career. He now has won 18 career Grand Slam titles in all, just two shy of the great Roger Federer.
We saw Nadal first winning here back in 2005, when he was only 19 years. He looked like a kid, and indeed, achieved the rare feat of winning a Grand Slam title as a teenager. Now, he is a grown man, having just turned 33 days ago, but he was still as dominant as ever in winning yet another French Open, and seeking another time as the world's number one ranked man.
Consider this rather astonishing fact: only one still active player. Novak Djokovic, has actually managed to defeat Nadal on the terre battue of Rolland Garros, even though three still active men outside of Nadal has won the French Open. The shadow of Nadal's clay court dominance has been long ever since he emerged as the best men's clay court player following his first time winning the French Open back in 2005. That is nearly a decade and a half with Nadal being considered the best men's clay court player. That is better than any other player has been on any surface, period!
Nadal already has secured his place in tennis history as one of the greatest ever. That much is beyond dispute. The question is whether he will also be considered the greatest tennis player of all time. Whether that happens remains to be seen. But what is not at all in question is that Nadal is the greatest clay court player of all time, and probably the most dominant player on clay than anyone has ever been on any surface.
Incroyable!
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