Birthday Presence – By Cheryl Jones

Written by: Staff on 3rd June 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Birthday Presence - By Cheryl Jones

epa03729467 Rafael Nadal of Spain receives a cake and a present for his 27th birthday after winning his fourth round match against Kei Nishikori of Japan at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 03 June 2013. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Rarely is anyone allowed to celebrate their birthday with an appearance on Court Philippe-Chatrier competing at Roland Garros, unless their name is Rafael Nadal. Today, the Spaniard continued his tradition of observing his special day with a victory. This is birthday number 27 for the man who has taken home a record seven titles in Paris since his first appearance in 2005. His only loss at Roland Garros was in the round of 16, at the hands of Robin Soderling in 2009, when Soderling was runner-up to Roger Federer. (It awarded the Swiss superstar his only title on the terre battue of Paris.)

Nadal was across the net from Kei Nishikori, the Japanese phenomenon who has set a new standard for Japanese players. He has climbed higher than any other Japanese male player in the modern era, with an ATP ranking of 15, which must be a surprise even to Nishikori. His original goal was to reach at least 45. That number wasn’t chosen randomly. It is one better than the highest level of any Japanese man since the ATP World Tour Rankings began in 1973.

It was 1992 when Shuzo Matsuoka reached the rank of 46. (Matsuoka may be remembered because of a horrific scene that occurred in New York at the US Open. It was 1995 and he was left writhing in pain on the court after having severe cramps. Rules were in place at the time, forbidding medical attention for cramps. He was left to suffer on the court, until he was defaulted for delaying the match. The incident led to changes in the rules, allowing medical treatment for cramps during matches.)

Nishikori was born in Japan, but moved to the United States as a 14-year-old and now lives in Florida and trains at the Bollettieri Academy. He’s only 23, so it is likely that he can look forward to having his ranking move yet higher and his professional career should be even more impressive. Today, however, he ran into a roadblock that others have encountered at Roland Garros – Nadal. The match went in the birthday boy’s favor 6-4, 6-1, 6-3. Nishikori said after the match that he should have been more aggressive and then he noted that the wind was blowing too hard for him to control the ball. Perhaps, but Nadal paid him a huge compliment when he was asked to expound on Nishikori’s quick-style game. He said, “So he’s doing better and better every year, no? I think he’s a candidate to be top 10 without any doubt.”

Rafa nearly always appears shy when he speaks about his own play. It was no exception today, but he was taken aback when he was presented with a huge birthday cake, complete with plastic tennis ball decorations and sparklers – not candles. Fortunately, there weren’t twenty-seven of them or the fire chief might have had to be in on the surprise. The crowd sang Happy Birthday to the blushing champion and gave him a well-deserved standing ovation, appropriately impressed by the young man’s superb record on clay, as well as his consistent wins at Roland Garros.

If he triumphs this year, and if Federer loses before the semifinals, he will be the winningest competitor in Roland Garros’ history. He has a streak that now stands at 55 with just one loss. Federer and Guillermo Vilas have each won 58. After knee issues several times in the past, Rafa is moving a little slower – after all, he is 27 and no longer a teen as he was when he collected his first title. He still has it. His style of play hasn’t changed much. He moves up to the net slightly more often, but still hangs from behind the baseline, hitting balls toward his opponents, seeking their vulnerable areas.

Rafa said he felt good about his performance. He recalled his previous matches and said, “If you told me two days ago you will play like this, I will say, give me the paper and I will sign because I’m happy the way I improved my game today.” He wasn’t exaggerating. He did play well. No?

Nadal has 41 clay court titles. He needs five more to catch up with Guillermo Vilas. Each match at 2013’s Roland Garros has been better than the last. Wednesday, his opponent will be a Swiss player, but it won’t be Federer. It will be Stanislas Wawrinka. Since Federer has already been assured of a spot in the quarterfinals, it will be the first time two Swiss players have ever been members of the last eight.

Wawrinka has done well on clay this year, with only Nadal ahead of him on the win column. He’s won 22 and Nadal 34 – not really close, but now Wawrinka will be close enough to shake hands over the net no matter the outcome. It’s a not to be missed event. DVR’s should be at the ready.

Topics: Cheryl Jones, Happy Birthday Rafael, Kei Nishikori, Philippe-Chatrier, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Shuzo Matsuoka, Stan Wawrinka, Tennis News