“Let’s curl the curl,” Carlos Moyà joked before the final step. Raphael Nadal He is seeking his 14th championship and 22nd Grand Slam at Roland Garros. The coach and friend of the 13-time champion of the tournament said this after the grueling semi-final against Alexander Zverev the previous day. He admitted that he had bad times, as he had several times. “I’m always positive but this time it wasn’t all with me. Rafa had a physical setback and we suffered because we saw him suffer”.
The former world number 1 spoke to the Spanish press shortly after Nadal finished training on court 7. rain will force the roof of Philippe Chatrier to close again.
On the field, Dr. Under the supervision of Ángel Ruiz Cotorro and physical recovery expert Rafael Maymó, Moyà himself, Francis Roig and Marc López met with Nadal. Just like the nearly 3,800 people who fill the enchanting court and furiously applaud any hit by their idol, he awaits all of the tennis player’s moves.
Zverev, torn ligaments
24 hours before returning to Philippe Chatrier (3:00 pm, DTT Discovery Max, free and Eurosport), nadal he moved well. He seemed to have relieved the tiredness of the last few days. Not just in the semi-finals Zverev (3 hours 5 minutes), but from previous tough matches with Novak Djokovic (4 hours 11 minutes) and Felix Auger – Aliassime (4 hours 23 minutes), in just seven days.
“Playing the final against Rafa at Roland Garros is definitely the biggest challenge in this sport. He’s already won 13 times, it seems absolutely impossible to beat him, but I’ll try like the other 13 before I try.”
moya announced nadal He suffered a “physical setback” and said the sensations were “rare” in the match. Zverev. “He’s a bit of an erratic opponent, but when he’s good it’s hard because he doesn’t let you do a lot of things. Rafa had to be epic in the first set and then it happened,” he explained.
The German tennis player, who went to Monte Carlo on Saturday on a private plane chartered by Roland Garros, announced on social networks that he tore the ligaments in his right ankle. An injury that will keep him off the pitch, at least until Wimbledon. Zverev sent a message to Nadal on Instagram congratulating him on his victory. “His fourteenth final is incredible for Rafa. I hope he can finish the road and continue to make more history,” he said.
“Nadal, Nadal and this is Roland Garros”, valued Moya when analyzing the finale. “Every game he saves is like turning into a new player. Injury aside, the fact that he’s come through and playing gives us confidence that he can handle the challenges and that he’s ready for it.”
Ruud’s biggest challenge
Have Casper Ruud Philippe knew what awaited them at Chatrier. “Playing in the final against Rafa at Roland Garros is definitely the biggest challenge in this sport. He’s already won 13 times, it seems absolutely impossible to beat him, but I’ll try before I try the other 13 before me,” he said. Norwegian tennis player number 8, who will play his first Grand Slam final. “I have nothing to lose” he insisted after defeat Marine Cilic in the semi-finals.
“Ruud He is the most worldly player on the circuit. I’m afraid of her self-confidence”, said discreetly moya. The development of the 23-year-old Norwegian tennis player has been great for a little over three years.
Pride of Toni Nadal
He came to Manacor when he was 140-150 years old and is today one of the best in the world. He and his father have done an outstanding job and we are proud to be collaborating with them.” Tony NadalIt is gratifying that a player from the academy has made it to the final.
Nadal’s uncle, of course, did not hide his feelings. “If you have to lose with someone, it’s better to lose with Casper, and if Casper has to lose, it’s better with Rafa because he said back then that Rafael was his idol as a kid.”