And the day of the final dreamed arrived. The one that faces the two best on the planet of this time. Against the pandemic and all the circumstances that crossed his path, Roland Garros today defines the king of Paris. And it will be a title with implications also in history.
The Spanish Rafa Nadal repeats today a final in the French Grand Slam in search of his 13th title in Paris. It is against Serbian Novak Djokovic, the number 1 in the world. Both contenders for the throne also look to Roger Federer, the biggest winner in the history of the “greats” (20).
The future may always hold deeds and sports legends, but it will undoubtedly take a long time for there to be a player in tennis that leaves behind the ‘Big Three’, three players who have had two decades of success in their rivalry.
The race to be recognized as the best in history is overwhelming but real. And in this Sunday’s final on the Philippe-Chatrier court, a large part of that future may be at stake. Nadal defeated Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the semifinals, with the lesson learned from his defeat in Rome. ‘Nole’ had to suffer more, who needed five sets to beat Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals.
In one way or another, the French Open achieved its dream final, with numbers that scare between the two best tennis players in the world. For Nadal there are no qualifiers: 99 wins and 2 losses in the tournament, with 12 titles. And that the Manacor did not have them all with him this year marked by the coronavirus.
After six months of standing, the Iberian fell in Rome in the quarterfinals as the only rehearsal before Paris precisely against Schwartzman. In addition, the autumn weather due to the change in the calendar and the new, slower and heavier balls, opened new questions. The challenge, however, remained defeating Nadal in what is his home, where he reached a new final 15 years after his first.
In addition to defending his dominance, Nadal can match Federer for the first time, in the Swiss’s record of 20 ‘greats’ since he won Australia in 2018. For the Basel, at 40 years old next year, the brand seems very difficult to improve. It is the ceiling they are looking at. Nadal has it to shot but Djokovic, with 17, aspires to cut with both in an even better rhythm than that of the Spanish.
The Serbian is not uncomfortable talking about the subject and does not hide his plan to be considered the best in history. His goal of the record of weeks at number one, also Federer (310), or Grand Slam titles is in the public domain and his progression and hunger for jackal keep him in a position to achieve it.
Amid the ravages of the pandemic, in New York, Djokovic wasted a US Open without his greatest rivals. The Serbian also did it in a striking way when he was disqualified in the round of 16 for hitting a linesman. However, ‘Nole’ turned the page, won in Rome and is now 37-1 in 2020 ahead of his appointment with Nadal, whom he has dominated lately with 14 wins in the last 18 duels.
The greatest rivalry in tennis will live its 56th chapter and, although they do not stop meeting, the significance of their duels increases due to the option that is closer and closer to being the last great installment of the saga. They haven’t been seen at Rolando Garros since 2015, when ‘Nole’ was the second and last player capable of beating the Spaniard in 101 games, although the following year would be his only Musketeers Cup. From 10 o’clock, Paris defines its king. Broadcast ESPN.
The original text of this article was published on 10/11/2020 in our print edition.
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