Nadal, Alcaraz and the double thorn of Bercy

What's two months in the middle of a 21-year career?

A world or the blink of an eye, depending on how you look at it.

In any case, the last two have given a lot to Rafael Nadal: so beautiful, so hard, so strange.

From his last official appearance (September 6, in New York) to this reappearance in Paris-Bercy (this afternoon against Tommy Paul, not before 7:30 p.m.; Movistar), the champion of 22 majors has experienced both poles: a goodbye , that of his partner Roger Federer on that tearful night at the O2 in London, and a welcome, that of little Rafael, the first offspring.

For the first time, the 36-year-old Balearic will jump on the track as a father, after his wife gave birth on October 8.

"Is different.

It's always been hard to leave home, but it's funny how after only three weeks you can miss it so much, isn't it?

A new experience.

All change is complicated in this life, so you need to adapt;

In any case, now we are lucky because we can make video calls whenever you want, and that always helps.

But it is difficult to interact with a baby…”, Nadal pointed out this Tuesday, as happy to compete again as he was cautious before another litmus test, since he does not know how his body will react after two tense months and a season dotted with shocks, from the foot to the abdominal, going through the rib that was hurt in Indian Wells.

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Aliassime, the scourge of Carlos Alcaraz

“I don't know, let's see how he behaves.

With old bodies like mine and after being out of the competition for a while, it's hard to know if she's going to respond or not, how you're going to play, ”he conceded to journalists in English;

“It is true that in terms of results it has been an incredible year, but at the same time it has been tough due to injuries.

I'm here to give my best, let's see.

I hope he is ready ”, expanded the one from Manacor, who was reminded that back in 2007 he played the final of the tournament against his friend David Nalbandian and that now, three decades later, he continues to aspire to number one.

The option, which is still very appetizing, is to overwhelm Carlos Alcaraz between now and the final closing of the course, with Bercy and the Masters Cup (from November 13 to 20, in Turin) as a battlefield.

However, the throne has long ceased to be something essential for Nadal, who above all seeks to put the finishing touch with good feelings and without any further mishap.

“I don't know how many tournaments I've played, like ten, and I've been able to finish eight;

It's difficult to be number one like this, but I'm happy to be in this position because it says that when I've played I've done well”, appreciates the left-hander, who in 2022 has triumphed in Melbourne, the Australian Open, Acapulco and Roland Garros, with only five defeats on the record.

The rogue night against Gaston

Now he faces a high-flying challenge in Bercy, where for one reason or another, usually physical mishaps, he has never managed to lift the trophy.

Last year he could not attend and in the previous tracks, when he was able to compete, he had four semifinals and three access to the quarterfinals.

Under the roof of Paris, whatever it may be, everything goes wrong for him, who this Wednesday has a duel with the American Paul (31st in the world; executioner of Roberto Bautista double 6-4) and who is ahead of Alcaraz in 920 points.

The 19-year-old from Murcia, who became the youngest circuit governor in history in September, is due (around 2:30 p.m., Movistar) for a premiere with the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka.

Two days ago he received the trophy that distinguishes him as a leader, in a moody carantoña after Felix-Augger Aliassime surrendered to him without discussion on Friday in the Basel semifinals.

The Canadian is launched – titles in Antwerp, Florence and the Swiss event – ​​and riding a sequence of 13 victories under the indoor format, also dominated by Novak Djokovic.

The Serbian, effective against Maxime Cressy in his first intervention (7-6 (1) and 6-4) and defender of the title, wants to continue sharpening himself after recent successes in Tel Aviv and Astana.

Alcaraz poses with the number one trophy, on Monday in Paris-Bercy. YOAN VALAT (EFE)

Favorites aside, Alcaraz wants to get rid of last year's thorn, when he lived one of his most bitter days in his short professional journey.

Then, the French stands wrapped up the local Hugo Gaston and brazenly celebrated every mistake made by the Spaniard, who seems to have overcome some knee problems and dreams of finishing the year on top;

a position to which, in addition to him and Nadal, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (at 1,650 points in the

) and the Norwegian Casper Ruud (at 1,710) also aspire.

The upstart of 2021 now appears at the head of the bunch, with a big one in the list of winners and four more prizes: Rio, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid, before hitting the ball at the US Open.

"I don't feel the pressure, I set myself this goal," says Alcaraz, who after the last two dates on the calendar will also participate in the Davis Cup Finals, from November 22 to 27 in Malaga.

“It was a pretty complicated game, really;

probably one of the hardest I've played in my life, but at the same time it served me well.

Thanks to that match, I know what it feels like when not everyone is with you, and that's what I learned”, decides the man from El Palmar, who could run into Aliassime again towards the final.

Meanwhile, Nadal is exposed to a hypothetical pulse with Djokovic.

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