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Paris, May 24
Rafael Nadal said today that he “doesn’t care” if he is the red-hot favourite to win a record-extending 12th French Open title at Roland Garros, insisting that there are a host of players in contention for the trophy. The world No. 2 holds an incredible French Open win-loss record of 86-2, and hit top form by winning his ninth Italian Open last week with a final victory over old rival Novak Djokovic. Nadal could move to within two titles of Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record of 20 Major trophies if he lifts the Coupe des Mousquetaires on June 9.
“I don’t care if I’m the favourite,” he said. “I care about feeling well and playing well. I appreciate that you (the media) see me like that, but (Dominic) Thiem, Novak (Djokovic), Federer... all those that are the best in the world will be favourites. The only thing that worries me is being well and being competitive.”
Before his triumph in Rome, it had been far from a trademark clay-court season for Nadal. The Spaniard failed in his bids for 12th titles in both Monte Carlo and Barcelona, where he lost in the semifinals to Fabio Fognini and Thiem, respectively.
Another last-four exit followed on home soil in Madrid against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal admits it took him time to rediscover his top form after a one-month absence with the right knee injury. “When you’re recovering from an injury it’s also difficult to recover mentally... You have to have the humility to value small improvements. One positive thing was that before Rome it was not a disaster — I’d made three semifinals,” Nadal said. — AFP
‘French Open sucks’: Kyrgios pulls out
Paris: Firebrand Nick Kyrgios pulled out of Roland Garros today, just days after saying the French Open “sucks”. The 24-year-old was due to have faced Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the first round. Last week, Kyrgios was disqualified from the Italian Open and headed straight to London to practise with Andy Murray at Wimbledon. “I think this is the best tournament in the world, look at this perfect green surface,” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him sitting on the grass courts. “Get rid of the clay, man. Who likes the clay, it is so bad. The French Open sucks compared to this place. Sucks. Absolute sucks.” Kyrgios also withdrew from the French Open last year. AFP
Stepping into the unknown: Federer
Paris: Having won 20 Grand Slam titles, one might think that Roger Federer has seen it all. Yet the 37-year-old Swiss admits he is stepping into the unknown as he returns to the French Open after a three-year hiatus. The former world No. 1 won his only Roland Garros title back in 2009, and he wanted to give it another go after skipping the last three editions. “A bit of a question mark for me. Some ways I feel similar to maybe the Australian Open in 2017. A bit of the unknown,” Federer said referring to his comeback to the season’s first Major in 2017 after being out of action for six months. Reuters
‘Happy’ Halep feeling less pressure
Paris: Reigning champion Simona Halep said that the pressure was off ahead of the start of her French Open title defence after ending her long wait for a Grand Slam trophy 12 months ago. The Romanian beat Sloane Stephens in Paris last year to clinch her maiden Major crown in her fourth final, and is the third seed for the 2019 edition. “(It’s) much better and much easier, because I have the title already,” said Halep, who is the bookmakers’ favourite to win a second straight title. “(It) doesn’t matter anymore what is going to happen. Everything (that) comes now comes as a bonus.” AFP
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