Roland Garros 2020: Will Rafael Nadal finally tie it up with Roger Federer?
The 2020 clay court season brings us another bout between the best of the ATP men’s singles. With Federer out, can Nadal finally reach his 20th Grand Slam?
With the French Open now underway, and another Grand Slam at stake, excitement is in the air as tennis fans and experts speculate who will claim the title this year. Rafael Nadal, the 12-time Roland Garros champion and winner of the last 3 consecutive French Open tournaments certainly comes to mind with his astonishing record on clay.
Not many can boast such an incredible Grand Slam record as Nadal in men’s tennis, with the exception of the other members of the Top 3 GOAT players, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Even so, no one has dominated a specific Grand Slam the same way Rafael Nadal has dominated the French Open, making him the prowess of clay among the Top 3 and hence, the entire ATP.
Rafael Nadal is currently in good physical condition to dish out a solid performance at the Roland Garros, showing no signs of injury or other health problems. This, coupled with his unbelievable track record on clay, particularly at the French Open, would surely make him the number one contender for the Slam once again.
Looking at Nadal’s Grand Slam stats, it’s no surprise that this year’s French Open is turning many heads and drawing tons of media attention. Should Rafa secure the championship, we will be looking at a 13th French Open title for the Spaniard as well as a highly anticipated 20th Grand Slam equalizer with the great Roger Federer.
A 20-20 Grand Slam split between Federer and Nadal occurring in the year 2020 would be a fairy tale moment for fans of the Fedal rivalry and would be a great way to end a difficult year of tennis for fans all around the world. It’s as though the stars are aligned and the stage has been set for this to happen, only time will tell now.
Despite Rafa’s awesome records at the Roland Garros, nothing is set in stone, and there are still large obstacles to be overcome, with Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem also on the hunt for the title. In addition to this, Nadal’s loss at Rome may suggest an issue with his form, though it may well be a result of a mere ‘rusty return’ back to professional tennis.
In addition to this, Rafael Nadal will not only have his opponents to worry about this year but must also contend with the unfavorable weather conditions in Paris this year, as a result of the tournament being pushed back due to COVID-19 concerns. As such, the court is now more damp than usual, and in the words of Nadal himself, “the weather is so, so cold”.
If matters weren’t bad enough for the Spaniard, the change of tennis balls for this year’s Roland Garros from the lighter Babolat ones to the heavy Wilson balls means opponents will be able to counter Nadal’s spin more effectively. With slower, heavier balls and a slower, dampened surface, this may well be Rafa’s most difficult French Open in terms of environmental factors.
Next. 13, 24, and more: The biggest headlines heading into Roland Garros. dark
A dark cherry on top of Rafael Nadal’s series of misfortune is the absence of the crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions. A fan-favorite for the people of Paris, Nadal will surely miss the uplifting cheers of his most dear fans, who can now only support him from a distance. Nevertheless, French Open 2020 will be one for the history books.