Rafael Nadal coasted to a record 10th French Open title after a gap of three years. It was injury that caused him to pull out in the third round of the French open in 2016 – putting his quest for a tenth crown at Roland Garros, on hold. But Nadal soon returned to his unique brand of relentless, perpetual-motion tennis to handily beat the 2015 Champion Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 and lift the French open 2017.
Given his long-established supremacy on the red clay courts of Paris, Nadal has suffered only two losses in his over a decade long career at the French Open. The first one was a shock defeat to the big hitting Swede Robin Soderling in 2009 and the second was to Novak Djokovic in 2015. Besides that, he has been unbeatable on his beloved surface. According to former tennis great Mats Wilander, the time spent away from courts after finishing last year’s season early has allowed the Spaniard to work on his lower body and core to return to his physical peak. Nadal hadn’t won a slam in years. But this title has resumed his campaign. Wilander also credited Nadal’s resurgence to former world number one Carlos Moya joining his team. The Spaniard has since reached the Australian Open 2017 final and is also back at number two in the rankings. While commending long-time coach Toni Nadal, he said there have also been new ideas and a clear change since Moya stepped in.
Nadal will now take his formidable form and confidence into Wimbledon. He is considered a potential favourite there along with Roger Federer. Nadal has won Wimbledon twice but not since 2010 when he beat Tomas Berdych. Injury problems to his knees and wrist have kept him out of the game and has thereon stalled his collection of Grand Slam titles which now stands at 15 — second on the all-time list behind Federer’s 18. Having turned 31 and with an increasingly recalcitrant body, the King of Clay is now in a race against time to add to the tally of titles.
– Varun Kumar | SpreadSports
