Since Rafael Nadal’s comprehensive loss to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the French Open this year, his detractors have been swift to denounce his chances of ever rediscovering his best form.
The Spaniard went into Roland Garros without a season clay court title to his name for the first time in his career. But such had been his dominance in Paris – just one defeat ever and nine titles from his 10 previous visits – that many assumed order would be restored and Nadal would be at the centre of the men’s singles trophy ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier again.
His quarter-final meeting with Djokovic, the undisputed world number one, was hungrily expected and anticipated by tennis fans globally.
But when the waiting was over, Djokovic broke the Nadal serve twice straight away, sprinting into a 4-0 lead at the start of the opening set. Nadal hit back, showcasing glimpses of the player he can be, but was ultimately overpowered by the Serb, who brought Nadal’s run of 39 straight wins in the French capital to a crashing end in a dominant straight sets victory.
It was the first time Nadal had been beaten at the French Open since his surprise defeat to Robin Soderling in 2009.
So comfortable was Djokovic that questions were beginning to be seriously asked of Nadal; his lack of a clay court title earlier in the year now an even starker statistic.
Seven weeks later he was beaten at Wimbledon in four sets by Dustin Brown, ranked outside the top 100. Nadal was clearly not fit and not in form. Given his injury problems it was widely suggested that his days of winning grand slams were over.
But if there’s one thing that Nadal prides himself on it’s his mental strength. He is a true champion, has a career grand slam and was the victor in what many believe was the greatest ever tennis match – the Wimbledon men’s final 2008. There is still such an elegance to him when he’s on court, a look of steely determination as he glances over the net before every serve. His legendary forehand is still one of the best shots in tennis today.
Djokovic has won three of the four grand slams in 2015, and was the runner-up in the other. His number one status is unarguable.
Roger Federer, himself written off on numerous occasions as a champion of the past, is playing some of the best tennis of his career and is the Serb’s closest threat. Andy Murray has not yet been able to add to his two grand slam titles, but has played at a level this year that earns him the right to be mentioned in the same conversation as his more decorated counterparts.
The consistent top quality of these three has certainly set them apart in 2015, but watching Nadal now there is a sense that it is premature to write off the Spaniard.
Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka are both more recent grand slam winners than Nadal, whose last success at a major came at the 2014 French Open, but there is still an undoubted aura to him, and a sense of unfinished business.
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