Spanish star Rafael Nadal believes tennis is one of the most fairest sports in the world when it comes to dictating an athlete’s seeding in a tournament.
The 13-time French Open champion is ranked third in the tournament this year and has been drawn in the same half as both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The seeding’s are based on the ATP world rankings which is an approach followed by all Grand Slam’s from this year. Wimbledon had previously used a formula which took into account player’s previous performances on the grass.
Due to dominance on the clay, some have questioned if it is right for the Spaniard to be the third seed in the draw. Second seed Daniil Medvedev won his first ever match at the French Open yesterday and has only recorded 12 Tour wins on the surface in his career so far. Nevertheless, Nadal says he personally has no issues with his position in Roland Garros.
“That’s part of the game, no? That’s how the ranking works. There is not one sport that is more fair than tennis on that. The seeds are made with the ranking that you had during the last year, during a year. So that’s how it is,” he said following his first round win in Paris on Tuesday.
“You need to find a way to do it fair, and probably that’s a good way to avoid any discussion. I am the third, Medvedev is second and Novak is the first. (I have) No problem with that.“
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the current ATP rankings are being calculated with a slightly adjusted formula. The traditional 12-month ranking has gone to the Best of 22-month ranking with the goal of ‘preserving the principles of merit and fairness despite the disruption caused by COVID-19.’
“I am here to try my best, and when I am the third (seed), you know that you’re gonna have the chance to be in the same draw as the No. 1 or the No. 2,” Nadal continued.
“I just won my first match, something that I’m happy with and I’m focused on trying to go for the second one. The other stuff doesn’t worry me much.”
In the second round at Roland Garros Nadal will take on home favourite Richard Gasquet for the 17th time in his career. He has never lost to the Frenchman who he has already beaten twice in the tournament back in 2005 and 2018.
