20 games lost in four matches. 5 per match, 1.6 per set. Nadal edges closer to a possible semifinal clash with Djokovic
PARIS – Nadal’s current form is certainly scaring the competition at this year’s French Open. After celebrating his 31st birthday on Saturday, the nine time Roland Garros champion cruised to the quarterfinals with a convincing 6-1,6-2,6-2 win over No. 18 ranked Bautista Agut. So far in the tournament Nadal has won all his matches in straight sets, conceding only 20 games to his opponents: An average of 5 games per match and 1.6 games per set. Only in 2012 Rafa did better dropping only 19 games on his way to the quarters. His overall most dominant year was 2008 with only 41 games lost in the entire tournament.
These stats mean very little nonetheless, as they also depend on the quality of the opposition that the Mallorca native has had to face so far: No. 45 ranked Paire, No. 46 Haase, No. 63 Basilashvili and No. 18 Bautista Agut. There is no doubt that Rafa is now playing at his best level again and deserves to be the overwhelming favorite for his “Decima” at Roland Garros after dominating in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid. Nadal only lost one clay court match this year against Dominic Thiem in Rome. The Austrian has enjoyed some smooth sailing of his own in Paris so far, dropping only 30 games on his brilliant path to the quarters, where he will find none other than Novak Djokovic. The Serb advanced to the second week with an encouraging 7-6,6-1,6-3 over Monte-Carlo finalist Ramos Vinolas of Spain.
In the quarters Rafa will play another fellow Spaniard, Carreno Busta, who defeated Milos Raonic 8-6 in the fifth after three consecutive losses to the Canadian. No. 5 seed Raonic squandered a set point to go up 2 sets to love which opened the door for Carreno Busta.
Carreno Busta is on paper an easier opponent for Nadal; it would have been riskier to face a great server like Raonic, while Carreno Busta’s game is very similar to the playing style of Bautista Agut. We are headed towards the much-anticipated blockbuster semi-final clash between Djokovic and Nadal, even if the Serb must first overcome the challenge presented by Thiem.
Besides counting on the unconditional support from his uncle Toni, Nadal has credited his other coach Carlos Moya for his brilliant first half of the year. After suffering from multiple knee and wrist injuries, Rafa mentioned how being injury-free has been a key factor to his good form: “Too many times in my career I didn’t have the chance to work as hard as I wanted because of several physical problems. This year I feel good. In 2009, I lost an opportunity (with Soderling). Last year I was forced to retire because of my wrist. In 2015, I faced an opponent that was simply too strong (Djokovic in the quarterfinals).”
Among the women, defending champion Garbine Muguruza was sent home by Kiki Mladenovic, while Venus Williams lost to Timea Bacsinszky. This means that Roland Garros will have a new ladies Grand Slam champion this year.
(Article translation provided by T&L Global – Translation & Language Solutions – www.t-lglobal.com )
