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Is Roland Garros trying to push out Rafa Nadal?
24 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
In what has to be one of the most illogical decisions of the year, eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal was scheduled to play on the second stadium court for his first round match, and not on Chatrier Stadium.
While Nadal was taking care of business against wildcard Robby Ginepri on the secondary court, Alize Cornet and Stan Wawrinka were in the main stadium.
If that wasn’t a slap in the face of the greatest clay court champion in the history of the sport, I don’t know what is.
It’s a slight subtle veiled disrespect of a great champion, but a disrespect nonetheless.
There’s absolutely no sense in snubbing Nadal this way and now you have to wonder how will this affect his mindset?
Though Nadal or his camp will never publicly complain about it, you can be pretty sure Rafa will use this as ammunition to fuel his fury, fire, intensity and rage for the rest of the tournament.
If anything can tip the balance of psychological edges back into Nadal’s favor, and away from the new sentimental favorite Novak Djokovic, this seemingly meaningless scheduling quirk could just do it.
We seldom see Nadal in an angry state of mind, but when he’s annoyed, such as against his mocking imitator Robin Soderling at Wimbledon, opponents better watch out. Even Novak Djokovic.
They say ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’ But a ticked off Rafa might give the scorned woman a run for her money.
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Hans Landa · May 28, 2014 at 2:10 pm
that’s a french slap in my book! i wonder what they are thinking by doing this?
Andrew Miller · May 28, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Might b why wawa lost. No worries for nadal – more than anyone a player that handles everything that comes at him.
JG · May 28, 2014 at 7:25 pm
They said Nadal was complaining about the tarps which had water on them on the back of the court, he had a good point, if water got on the balls that could change everything, also because he is so far back on clay , it could be dangerous.
The com mentors said he asked them to move the tarps but they didn’t in case of a quick rainstorm.
Scoop Malinowski · May 28, 2014 at 7:31 pm
They just don’t adore Rafa in Paris. Never really did. They love Federer. I think they want to see Djokovic finally do it this year. He’s paid his dues, he’s suffered enough. There’s no other explanation for this slight of Rafa. You could understand if it’s a scheduling conflict with maybe Federer but not Cornet or Stan.
Scoop Malinowski · May 28, 2014 at 7:50 pm
JG, the king of clay can surely handle a bit of water on the balls, no? The king of clay can handle anything related to clay courts, no? Except of course when Djokovic beat him eight games in a row in the drizzle and Rafa bulled the chair umpire to stop the match.
Andrew Miller · May 28, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Scoop it is paris and federer speaks french. It is better being swiss than spanish at roland garros!
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 12:14 am
Taylor townsend – nice win over Cornet. Didnt know belluci has a 2nd rounder. Lefties still in it!
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 7:51 am
Andrew, and the FTF and fans have to be tired of seeing so many Spanish players rule their tournament, so often at the expense at the French players who have accomplished nothing at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah. Why success is so lopsided in favor of Spain over France has to be a major source of frustration for all French tennis supporters and officials.
Harold · May 29, 2014 at 9:22 am
When the French players learn its more about heart and grit, than style points, maybe, things will change in Paris.
gustarhymes · May 29, 2014 at 9:57 am
It is well known the french don’t like the Spanish in general and even outside of tennis. Rafa has been slighted every year, since he has never started off playing roland Garros. the French intentionally give him poor scheduling to try and thwart him. In spite of that Rafa rules!
Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2014 at 9:59 am
First time seeing Thiem and he is impressive. I don’t know if he’s a future No. 1. Seems to me Dimitrov is a better player than Thiem and their games are cut from the same cloth. Thought Thiem was smaller, he’s definitely not a very solid guy yet, but when he got to net, he seemed to be as tall as Rafa. Really liked his forehand, but his backhand didn’t seem so penetrating.
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 11:45 am
If france hates the lack of a champ they should send their kids to mallorca or somewhere where they will be less french. That way they will get the desire to win to accompany the natural flair fot playiing the crowd. If you are french you want to impress people at roland garros. But to win big they need the drive to not , only compete for the heart of the crowd but also compete out of sheer desire to be the last person standing. French havent had that for a while and french players like mauresmo did better outside francd. They could do worse than send their kids to australia.
Gaurang · May 29, 2014 at 11:46 am
Wow Donald Young defeats Lopez in straight sets in the second round, and thats no mean feat. Whats happened to Donald? 🙂
He thrashed Dudi Sela in the first round. Does he play particularly well on clay — or that he has just upped his game for the tournament…
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 11:47 am
Of course there is mary pierce. But lets be real: pierce is a champ made by her family outside france and then backed into french citizenship. She only proves that france has ttpuble prpducing champs from within.
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 11:48 am
Nice! Two yanks in rd 3. Dy likes playing lopez .
Gaurang · May 29, 2014 at 11:54 am
Yes Isner and Donald in the 3rd! And we are guaranteed one more — looks like Sock is winning over Johnson, so probably Sock!
Lets see who they’ll play in Round 3:
1. Sock vs Lajovic (83rd ranked Serbian) — I see a chance for Sock here.
2. Donald vs Garcia Lopez — can Donald beat another Lopez? With the form that Garcia Lopez is in, I doubt it.
3. Isner vs Robredo — I expect Isner to win this one, but probably going to be a tough fight with Robredo being a clay-court specialist, and a quarter-finalist last here at RG.
Andrew Miller · May 29, 2014 at 11:57 am
Sock two.sets up on steve jo. Nice win by safarova kvitova and sloane stephens. Shaping up.to be nice tournament for u.s. up and coming women townsend and stephens. Karlovoc through. Anderson through. Giorgi out!
My hunch is holding up that the story of the tournament is the new guard on the womens tour. Maybe the old guard on wta will win it but sadly i am not real big on azarenka. Loveher grit but not so much her game! Seems like capriati with less fun.
Gaurang · May 29, 2014 at 11:58 am
Interesting Robredo has been a quarter finalist in RG 5 times!!! 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013
But looks like he only picks odd years, so not this year 😉
Isner’s chances have just risen in my mind! 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Agree Andrew, I think it’s a changing of the guard for WTA, I think Sharapova will go down next.
Hans Landa · May 29, 2014 at 2:10 pm
how about that guarang! but i like robredo to come through with a grind and couple of breakers.
Scoop Malinowski · May 29, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Robredo has had a remarkable career. No really big shots or weapons but still contending for big titles after all these years. Ten career titles and almost 450 career singles victories. Actually made #5 in the world in 2006.
Dan Markowitz · May 29, 2014 at 3:08 pm
I like Robredo to be too much for Izzie, but liked to see the big Southerner win.
Hans Landa · May 30, 2014 at 9:10 am
great BHs for both tommy’s…too bad as haas is lookng to bite the dust.
Bryan · June 1, 2014 at 2:56 pm
I was surprised at how much chatter Rafa’s first round court assignment prompted. Too much really, considering the debate was over which top seed is going to demolish some overmatched punching bag.
A bigger issue is how often Tennis Channel chooses to show the weaker match. Yesterday they showed Rafa’s full boring match and totally panned Monfils epic 5 setter with the French crowd going crazy, which was the obv match of the day. Almost like they’re trying to force us to buy their new App by televising matches we don’t want.