Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5) is fast approaching and Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have the opportunity, in Rome, to unlock their counter on clay in 2022. Above all, in the wake of Madrid, they have a great opportunity to confirm their rise to power.
Dropped by his body after a dream start to the season (twenty matches, twenty wins, four titles in four tournaments, including the Australian Open for a 21st Grand Slam coronation), the Mallorcan victim of a stress fracture a hill in the final of Indian Wells against Taylor Fritz, was upset in his preparation on his favorite surface, where he gleaned 62 of his 91 titles.
Constrained and forced, he put away the snowshoes for a month and resumed training only two weeks before the Madrid Masters 100.
He does
Never had the king of Roland-Garros (13 titles) launched his season on ocher so late.
"
It was a major setback, which fell very badly in the season
," he said before the Madrid tournament.
And unsurprisingly, he hasn't played at his best in the Spanish capital.
After having dominated Miomir Kecmanovic and David Goffin in three rounds, after dismissing four match points, he "
logically
" lost in the quarters against the phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz.
But the defending champion in Rome, already crowned 10 times at Foro Italico, was reassured.
However, the work remains important, according to him: "
Physically, I must improve my reaction speed, I am aware that I must be more dynamic, have a better understanding of the game, and that my legs follow (…) I must play deeper, have the ability to spin around my backhand more often and faster with my topspin forehand, recover speed.
It comes with time and matches.
“And matches he intends to play a few in Rome this week.
After a game that could be a trap against the giant John Isner, in the second round, the Majorcan could find Goffin on his way, and a certain Djokovic in the semi-finals...
Read alsoTennis: “In no way a disaster”, explains Nadal after his loss against Alcaraz
The Serb, defending champion at Roland-Garros, is also looking for landmarks in this spring on earth.
He too suffered the law of Alcaraz in Madrid during a sublime semi-final of 3:30 lost in the decisive game of the last round.
“
It was a fantastic match, but I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to take my chance in the second set.
I didn't know how to capitalize when it mattered
“, he regretted.
Less killer than usual, the Serb was less good on the important points than his young opponent.
An unusual lack of realism for the Djoker who nevertheless reassured himself on the physical level.
Victim of a strange disease (not covid 19 according to him), the unvaccinated number one in the world lost at the start of Monte-Carlo and fell in the final at home in Belgrade, victim of a stroke and without energy in the decisive set of the last round against Rublev.
Read alsoTennis: Djokovic sees Alcaraz as the "best player in the world" and a "favorite" for Roland-Garros
After a first quarter almost at a standstill marked by his incredible expulsion from Australia for lack of vaccination, Djokovic is gaining momentum, he who before the clay court season had only played 3 matches in 2022 (elimination in the quarter-finals of final in Dubai).
“
I played very good tennis, my best of the year.
Probably when the disappointment of having lost is over, I will take a lot of positives from this week
,” he said in Madrid.
Confirmation expected in Rome, a tournament where he has already won five times and has never lost before the quarters.
