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Why Madrid Success Is Vital For Rafael Nadal

By Steve Nicholls

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Why Madrid Success Is Vital For Rafael Nadal

In recent years there have been growing whispers surrounding the form of Rafael Nadal going into the French Open – a tournament that the Spaniard has practically owned in the last decade.

The nine-times winner has been far short of his best in the last two or three years in the lead-up to, and early parts of, Roland Garros. This has encouraged some brave pundits and punters to speculate on his ability to lift the trophy, so far though without real conviction.

As such Nadal has always been the favourite to emerge victorious in Paris, a city where his name has become synonymous with regular and unparalleled levels of success. Some may have cast doubts on his form, but you get the sense they never really believed he wouldn’t end the competition without another clay-court title to add to the staggering legacy he has built up on the dirt.

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This year the vibes are stronger, though. With the second major of the year fast approaching, the naysayers are more vocal than ever, and the mood of the players in the dressing room seems to be one of a distinct lack of fear when facing Nadal on his favourite surface.

Nadal has not always emerged victorious at Madrid, losing to Federer, Djokovic and Verdasco in the not-so-distant past. But the upcoming Masters 1000 tournament this week feels somewhat like a must-win for the 14-time Grand Slam champion if another Roland Garros title is to follow.

As previously mentioned, Nadal had not always needed to hit top form by the time the French Open came round in order to win it. But so far short of his usual best is he at present that this weeks competition in the Spanish capital feels like a massive chance for him to gain some much-needed momentum ahead of Roland Garros.

It is not often you can say this about the great man, a model athlete of his sport and one of the best competitors ever witnessed, but Nadal seems mentally fragile at present. Any positive run of form he can muster will be of huge help to him. However, should he suffer another set-back on the clay this week, one would be tempted to question his mindset going into the French Open.

A big reason for the importance I am attaching to the Madrid tournament is the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic due to fatigue. With the Serb, Nadal’s nemesis in recent years, out of the way, it’s a massive chance for the Spaniard to finally put together a sustained run of form and claim a big title for the first time since last year’s Roland Garros.

Were Djokovic to be present in Spain, there is no doubt who would be favourite for the tournament, even in the mind of Nadal you sense, such is the form and mental advantage in Masters 1000 events that Djokovic has over his long-time rival at this moment in time.

However with Djokovic absent, Nadal will surely think himself favourite to lift the trophy in his hometown, even though he may not vocalise these beliefs to the press.

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Roger Federer is the number one seed, but he is struggling to find his A-game so far in the clay-court season, and such is the mental stranglehold that Nadal holds over the Swiss maestro on this surface, that I can see only one outcome if they were to meet in the last four.

Andy Murray has always had the tools to take down Nadal, and also has the big-game mentality required. But it is there for everyone to see that the 2013 Wimbledon champion simply does not play his best tennis on clay. The man from Dunblane has never won a tournament on the red dirt and you would back an out-of-form Nadal to see off Murray in Madrid.

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Stanislas Wawrinka and Grigor Dimitrov are the two players in Nadal’s quarter of the draw who may pose some threat, but they both have styles of play that will serve as welcome accommodation to his current struggles. One handed backhands and a consistent stream of erratic moments during matches should play into Nadal’s hands beautifully while he cautiously attempts to build momentum and form ahead of his favoured Grand Slam.

So although Nadal may look particularly vulnerable at present, with Djokovic out of the picture I believe that he is the favourite to claim the trophy in Madrid come May 10th.

If that should not happen however, and he is to exit another clay-court competition with nothing to show for his efforts, especially after a brace of defeats to Fabio Fognini in Rio and Barcelona recently, then anyone facing the nine-times Roland Garros winner in Paris will be more than aware that Nadal is there for the taking.

Strange as it may sound, the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid next week has the feel of a must-win competition if we are to see Rafael Nadal crowned French Open champion for a tenth time in Paris in just over a month.

Next: What can Rafael Nadal achieve on the clay?

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