Will Rafael Nadal Remain the King of Clay at the 2014 French Open?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: May 30, 2014

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The nickname is more than an indication, it is a verification. The King of Clay is what they call Rafael Nadal, and we must walk gently.

The King. So few are bestowed with the label. Elvis, of course. Richard Petty. Arnold Palmer and the Pro Football Hall of Famer, Hugh McElhenny.

And on the surface used for numerous tennis courts in Europe, including the famous ones at Roland Garros, site of the French Open, Rafael Nadal.

Andre Agassi, who along with Nadal is one of seven men to win each of the four Grand Slams—Australia, French, Wimbledon, U.S. Open—isn’t that restrictive.

A few weeks ago in Singapore, Agassi told the Straits Times (via the Washington Post) that Nadal, not Roger Federer, should be considered the greatest tennis player ever.



Yet now a few days from his 28th birthday, the king seems vulnerable. Indeed, he cruised past a 20-year-old Austrian, Dominic Thiem, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, Thursday in the second round of French, as Nadal should have and is now a remarkable 61-1 in the tournament since he first entered it as a 19-year-old in 2005—and first triumphed.

Eight times in nine attempts heading into the 2014 French—or as the French themselves call it, Roland Garros, the World War I pilot for which the complex in Paris was named—Nadal has been the champion. Only in 2009 when he was defeated in the fourth round by Robin Soderling did Rafa not take a bite of the trophy, as is his style.

Nadal has had back problems, and he was hurting in the final of the Australian in January, which he lost stunningly to Stanislas Wawrinka, an upset of considerable proportion. To Rafa’s credit, he didn’t seek excuses. “That’s not the time to talk about it,” Nadal said in the post-match press conference at Melbourne, when asked about his back. “Stan deserved to win the title.”

Wawrin...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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