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Bold predictions for the ATP’s return to play in 2020

By Brandon Daniels

Austria's Dominic Thiem reacts after winning a set against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 2, 2020. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Austria's Dominic Thiem reacts after winning a set against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 2, 2020. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) /
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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 9: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria in the men’s final during day 15 of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros stadium on June 9, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 9: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria in the men’s final during day 15 of the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros stadium on June 9, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images) /

2. Djokovic gets closer than he ever has in Paris but Nadal reigns supreme to win his 13th Roland Garros title

Novak Djokovic has gone public with his plans to play in Rome, Madrid, and most importantly, Roland Garros.

"“I’m not sure I’ll play the US Open,” Djokovic told Sportski Zurnal. “I plan to play Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros in September.”"

Djokovic’s one real blemish in his otherwise flawless career record in Grand Slams is his record in Paris. He’s been consistently compared to Federer and Nadal as one of the greatest men’s tennis players ever. The one part of his extensive success is his lack of on clay, specifically against his biggest rival.

Overall, Nadal is 17-7 on clay and 7-1 at Roland Garros. Djokovic’s only win over Nadal in Paris came in 2015 when he took down the 5-time defending champion in the quarterfinals. The only caveat there was Nadal’s health status. The King of Clay was at the worst point of his career injury-wise and slipped to 10th in the world after his loss to Djokovic without advancing further than the quarterfinals in any of the four majors.

Djokovic’s French Open title has an invisible asterisk for that reason, much like Federer’s 2009 win. Neither of them had to go through Nadal to win the event. While that isn’t a rule in Paris, it holds much more weight as a whole if the champion took down the greatest clay-courter in the process.

Djokovic has that in the back of his mind. That, coupled with his extensive practice on clay throughout the season shutdown (at the Adria Tour, etc), gives him the drive and confidence that this is his best year to win his second French Open title and defeat Nadal in the process.

The question is: Can he do it?

My answer is no. Based on my predictions, Thiem will be skipping Paris in favor of a US Open title. This will certainly aid Djokovic in getting through to the finals but when all is said and done, Nadal will be rested and prepared to defend his title for the 3rd time in a row.

Djokovic is possibly the greatest clutch player of his generation but it won’t be enough. While it will be an incredible match (and will be my prediction for best match of 2020), Nadal will win his 13th French Open title, spoiling Djokovic’s hopes to finally take down the giant sitting on the throne.

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