“Novak Djokovic is favourite in Paris” Mats Wilander explains why he believes the Serbian can beat Rafael Nadal for the 2022 French Open title
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Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Mats Wilander
With Rafael Nadal winning the 2022 Australian Open, he beat Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles. Novak and Roger were both not playing in the Slam and Nadal did not miss the opportunity like Federer (2019 Wimbledon) and Djokovic (2021 US Open) claiming his 21st major in the first opportunity that came for him.
With the 2022 French Open the next slam, the race was poised wonderfully. Novak was cleared to play in Roland Garros after France made a U-turn on its policy to allow unvaccinated foreigners. Djokovic is the defending champion in Paris and Nadal is a record 13-time champion. A win for Nadal would take him to 22 majors while Novak will move ahead of Federer and match Nadal on 21 majors.
There is however a twist in the tale. With Nadal developing a stress fracture in his ribs before the 2022 Indian Wells Masters finals, the Spaniard will be absent for the entire month of April and will have a shortened preparation for the French Open set to begin on 22nd May. In these new circumstances, former World No. 1 and 3-time French Open champion Mats Wilander had some interesting angles on who can win the Roland Garros this year.
“Novak will be incredibly hungry. He is rested in his head and in his heart. For fitness, he was able to compose his training program perfectly. Of course, he would have liked to play more matches, but if he now plays three more tournaments and maybe ten to fifteen matches, he will probably be the favourite in Paris. But he will need a bit of confidence before the French Open.
“Nadal will not have perfect preparation. Can he train hard? Can he spend enough hours on the court before Roland‐Garros? That’s the big question. In any case, it will be very, very tight for him to be ready,” said the 7-time Grand Slam champion from Sweden, as reported by Welovetennis.
“It will be the greatest tennis tournament” Mats Wilander hoping to see Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer play together once more
Wilander like many other tennis fans also expressed his desire to see the Big-3 play in one tournament once again. Federer is currently out till the 2022 Wimbledon unless he makes a miraculous recovery. Novak faces expulsion from countries for his non-vaccinated status against Covid-19 and Nadal has struggled with fitness and now with the stress fracture, expect a shortened season.
“Even if it’s only for one tournament: I would like to see all three of them play again at the same time. It will be the greatest tennis tournament of all time,” said Wilander speaking the hearts of the entire tennis fraternity to see the three champions of the sport competing once again in the same tournament.
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Sarthak Shitole
(3462 Articles Published)