Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer at the French Open, 2007, one of his nine titles at Roland-Garros. Can he make it 10 as his suffers what appears to be a crise de conscience?
These are not the best of times for us Nadalistas. Our beloved Rafa has lost five times this season on his best surface, clay, most recently in the quarterfinals against Stan Wawrinka at the Italian Open in Rome.
In the past, Rafa could count on clay to rev up the old engine when he flamed out at Wimbledon or was returning from an injury. Not anymore.
The question is, Has his intense playing style taken too much of a toll on his body and thus affected his mind, or is he having a crisis of conscience that is affecting his style of play?
It’s hard to say. With a top athlete, the mind-body connection is so complex that it may be a bit of both.
Nadal has said he will fight. But these days he has the look of a haunted man.
Though you count Rafa out at your own peril – particularly at Roland-Garros – what all this means is that the French Open is now Nole’s to lose. It’s not an enviable position for Novak Djokovic, who will play Roger Federer in the Italian Open final and wants a French Open title – the only Slam he doesn’t have – badly.
Rafanole could face off in the quarterfinals.
It’s going to be a nail-biter in Paris.