The immense void that Nadal leaves in Paris after 18 years: this is Roland Garros without its myth
Who else and who least stops in front of the effigy of the 14-time champion, unsheaths the mobile and immortalizes his image with him. Since Sunday it is already played at Roland Garros. This Monday Paris had the pleasant surprise of seeing one of their own win against a seeded player, but Benoit Paire surrendered his weapons in the fifth set against the unwavering Cameron Norrie.
Life goes on without Rafael Nadal, absent from the tournament for the first time in the last 18 years. “I have seen him win all his titles, since he was a kid, in 2005, with his long hair and pirate pants,” recalls Alberte, a middle-aged economist who walks around the venue, without hiding a look of melancholy. .
Alexia, a girl who has not left her adolescence for too long, also does not miss the opportunity to add her silhouette to the replica of the idol, photographed by her partner. I don't lose hope of seeing you again.. I loved Federer for his natural elegance, but little by little I was conquered by Rafa's strength, his admirable combativeness.
«In all sports there are records, some of them of extraordinary value, but they can always be broken. there is none inaccessible. I would say that Rafa's is. Its 14 titles are impossible to beat,” Ubaldo Scanagatta, journalist responsible for the Ubittenis.com website, which has covered 167 Grand Slam tournaments, told this newspaper.
The figure of Nadal floats around a tournament that is difficult to understand without his presence. One way or another, mostly baring his teeth on the clay tour, the lefty has turned up in Paris with the well-earned tag of top favorite.. This was also the case last year, when, despite playing undercover in all the games due to his chronic foot injury, he won the cup again. «Nadal has won more than twice as many titles as the man next to him [Bjorn Borg won six]. It admits of no comparison,” says Philippe Bouin, a historic journalist for L'Équipe. «The relationship between a champion and a great tournament has two phases. At the beginning, when the player is young, he feeds his own glory with the triumphs. Each Roland Garros helps you build your reputation. Over time, it is the tournament that is also nourished by their victories, in a feedback process.
Novak Djokovic, who this Monday easily got rid of Aleksandar Kovacevic in his debut in this edition of the tournament, has remained the only representative of the Big Three, after the withdrawal of Roger Federer last September and the temporary absence of the Spaniard, who has the intention of returning to say goodbye next year. «Winning a Grand Slam 14 times means winning seven matches in the same tournament every year. You cannot think that his absence will not have an effect, “continues Scanagatta.
The relationship with the public
«The French public has not always had an affectionate relationship with Nadal. I used to expect the surprise. Among other things, he supported Federer because the favorite was Nadal, something that was somewhat reversed at Wimbledon.. I think the two times the Spaniard won there are much more valuable than the sum of some of his great victories at Roland Garros.”
Paris was slow to admit the hegemony of a player who perpetuated the Spanish tradition on these tracks. Nadal, a contemporary of Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils, in whom the French fans had great hopes, was soon in charge of pointing out distances that were acquiring an abysmal character.. «Beyond the French tennis players, the sentimental favorite of most people was Federer, always defeated by Nadal. Over the years, his attitude, his respect towards his rivals and towards the fans and his talent returned to the Spanish the reward of the affection of the public, “says Bouin.
“Rafa arrived and generated disappointment”
«When they started, Richard, Gael, an enthusiastic atmosphere was created in France. Being very different, both one and the other seemed to meet the conditions to make us dream. Then Rafa arrived and generated disappointment. I admire him for everything he has done, but I think the tournament wins in excitement and competitiveness. I want to see young people, like Alcaraz, Sinner or Rune, although in my country we still don't have a candidate for the title, “Bertrand tells me, after leaving Suzanne Lenglen after Paire's defeat.
«France has not had a champion since Yannick Noah won in 1983 and has to support foreign tennis players. The one they liked the most was Gustavo Kuerten [three times champion]. Everyone remembers when he drew a heart on the sand of the Central. Bjorn Borg played the tournament eight times and won it six times. In 1973 and 1976 he was beaten by Adriano Panatta,” Scanagatta recalls. “Nadal’s rivalry with Djokovic or Federer is something unique. We will need at least ten years to find something similar, although it will be at a lower level. It could be Alcaraz-Rune or even Alcaraz-Sinner, although I think the Dane is more complete than my compatriot,” envisions the veteran transalpine journalist.
Without being a definitive farewell, one does breathe at Roland Garros an aroma of an end of an era. “The Grand Slam tournaments made Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, but the fact that these three champions shared the titles for 20 years has made the majors even more prestigious: the homes of the gods,” concludes Bouin.