AT THE TOP, FOR MANY, NADAL IS STILL THE FAVORITE TO WIN PARIS

Written by: Staff on 1st May 2015

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

AT THE TOP, FOR MANY, NADAL IS STILL THE FAVORITE TO WIN PARIS

epa04245102 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's final of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2014. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT |

With the start of the French Open still more than three weeks away, the gamesmanship and psychological maneuvering may have already begun at the top of the men’s game, with both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic coach Boris Becker tipping the slumping Rafael Nadal to win a tenth Roland Garros title.

Federer, playing in the inaugural ATP 250 in Turkey, said that despite the Spaniard’s notable swoon this reason, his game looks a threat to hit all the right notes on the Paris clay. “At the French Open, Rafa for me is still the favorite alongside Djokovic who has been playing so well,” said the Swiss, world No. 2 behind Djokovic, a player who has yet to lift the top clay title.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s final of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 08 June 2014. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

“Even though Nadal’s form is not as good as in previous years, I still believe when the French Open rolls around he is going to be very difficult to beat.” And as for his own chances of duplicating the Roland Garros trophy he won in 2009: “It’s all about getting used to the sliding, deciding how aggressive I want to play.”

“I have been on hard courts for seven-eight months so it needs some adjustments. My game is going to get better and better as we move along.”

Becker, who works with Team Djokovic, is similarly wary of Nadal’s inherent clay power no matter what the state of his game on any other surface.

Djokovic has already pocketed four big titles in 2015, including a fifth Australian Open and the first three Masters 1000 tournaments of the season, another record in the game,

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after beating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 19 April 2015. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

But Becker says his man can’t be tipped as the title favorite in Paris. “It is true that Novak is living a great period of form. Nowadays he wins almost every single tournament he enters. Nadal on the other hand, looked quite dull and not at his best in the tournaments we saw him participating in. He didn’t play the way we expected.

“But Rafael has lost only once in ten years in Paris and has collected nine titles. He beat Novak in the final last year. That’s why I think Nadal is still the favorite to win the French Open, even this year”.

Story via Bob Larson news service.

Topics: djokovic, Federer, French Open, nadal, Paris, Rafa, Roland Garros, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

May 1, 2015 at 11:49 am

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