With momentum to Paris
“It may not always have been the most beautiful tennis,” he said, “but I did my job.” That is the most important thing. Without losing a set, Zverev, champion of 2017, reached the semifinals, his third at the third clay court masters of the season. But that’s not enough for him. Only the first title of the year would give Zverev additional momentum for Paris.
Because for that he has to defeat the greats of his guild, stronger opponents than the clay court diggers Sebastian Baez and Garin or the agile Australian Alex de Minaur. In the semifinals, as in Monte Carlo (defeat) and Madrid (win), the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas is waiting. Also in the race on Friday was the reinvigorated world number one Novak Djokovic from Serbia.
Doubts about Nadal
Only one is missing, who is never missing when things get serious on sand: Rafael Nadal, ten-time winner in Rome, 13-time champion in Roland Garros, Grand Slam record winner. Not only was the Spaniard knocked out of the tournament late Thursday night, but his foot injury, which saw him hobble across the pitch against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, raises questions.
“I’m not injured, I’m a player living with an injury,” said Nadal defiantly. Sometimes he doesn’t notice anything, but sometimes his foot hurts “like crazy”. The pain had brought Nadal to the second half of the past season, he almost sensationally won his 21st major title after his comeback in Australia, but his foot remains his problem area.
“I dont know”
Can he defend his empire at Stade Roland Garros against young, carefree attackers like Zverev, Tsitsipas or his spectacular compatriot Carlos Alcaraz? Can he stop Djokovic from catching up to him in the all-time Grand Slam ranking? “What will be in the next few days? I don’t know,” said Nadal in Rome. And in a week? “I really can’t tell!”
Source: dpa