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Analysis: Roland Garros 2014

Djokovic, Wawrinka, Federer challenge Nadal for Roland Garros king of clay

Is Nadal unbeatable as the French Open male supremo? Do Novak Djokovic, Stanislas Wawrinka or Roger Federer have what it takes to take his Roland Garros place?

Rafael Nadal with birthday cake at last year's Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal with birthday cake at last year's Roland Garros Reuters
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Rafael Nadal

Way back in the 1980s Boris Becker referred to Wimbledon as his “back garden”. It was an understandable quip because he dominated the lawns at that grand slam with efficient muscularity and power.

Rafel Nadal at Roland Garros last years
Rafel Nadal at Roland Garros last years Reuters/Philippe Wojazer

Indeed the bustling young German was the master of all he surveyed in that leafy enclave of London SW19.

A couple of decades later Rafael Nadal wouldn’t be deemed presumptuous if he referred to the array of clay courts in Auteuil in the same manner.

Roland Garros has been the kingdom that has defined him as one of the greatest players the game has seen. Eight of his 13 major crowns are from Paris.

Roger Federer may be considered the best player of all time courtesy of the 17 grand slam titles he’s won but Nadal is without a rival at the biggest clay court tournament of them all.

In 2014, he’s looking for title number nine and it could be a tad more precarious. Novak Djokovic will be his biggest threat. He appears to have the ability to wrankle Nadal in a way that Federer never could on the clay.

Nadal’s form in the prelude to the 2014 tournament has been far from impressive. Only the Madrid Masters to show for his efforts so far.

And worse still a morale-sapping loss to Djokovic in the final at the Italian Open, the last competition before Roland Garros.

Beating Nadal over three sets on clay is one thing. Nullifying him over five is another. Robin Soderling managed it back in 2009 but since then no-one has succeeded.

Nadal appears acclimatised to the pressure of playing with the cloak of invincibility here in Paris, few have seemed capable of removing his mantel.

Novak Djokovic

If anyone can dethrone Rafael Nadal as the king of Paris, Novak Djokovic appears best placed. The Serb is the world number two and keen to win in Paris.

Novak Djokovic beats Belgium's David Goffin in 2013
Novak Djokovic beats Belgium's David Goffin in 2013 Reuters

It’s the only grand slam missing from his trophy cabinet. And he knows he’s close.

Last year in the semi-finals he took Nadal to five sets.

This year he’s seeded to play Nadal in the final.

If they meet, Djokovic will be full of confidence. In their last meeting in the Italian Open final, he came from a set down to beat Nadal.

It wasn’t just the comeback, it was its manner. It was considered, powerful and remorseless. Nadal appeared a hapless extra in his own demise.

The Rome final was the 41st meeting between Djokovic and Nadal. Showdown number 42 may not be far off.

Stanislas Wawrinka

These are Wawrinka’s halcyon days.

Stanislas Wawrinka with the Monte Carlo Masters trophy this year
Stanislas Wawrinka with the Monte Carlo Masters trophy this year Reuters/Eric Gaillard

For so long in the shadow of his Swiss compatriot Roger Federer – understandably, given Federer’s brilliance – Wawrinka stunned the world of tennis back in January by beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on his way to the Australian Open title.

In April he added the Monte Carlo Masters to his trophy cabinet, overcoming Federer in the final.

Wawrinka probably has the best one-handed backhand in the world. It is a stroke of sumptuous beauty and venomous precision.

His forehand too generates immense power.

These aspects to his game were always present. The transformation has been his self-belief.

Coach Magnus Norman has implanted a killer instinct into the psyche of a player who perennially felt unworthy to walk with the likes Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Wawrinka now knows that he can beat them when he’s playing well and when they’re playing well, too. The former Roland Garros boys champion has the game and the mentality to be Stan, the man.

Roger Federer

Serial beaten finalist here in Paris, Federer finally claimed the crown in 2009 when Nadal was eliminated by Robin Soderling.

Roger Federer at the US Open
Roger Federer at the US Open RFI/Pierre René-Worms

At any other period Federer would have been a multiple winner in Paris. It was just his luck to be operating when Nadal was in town.

Faving been undone in the quarter finals in 2013 by Jo-Wilifried Tsonga, reaching the last eight wouldn’t be a bad result for the world number four who has other things on his mind.

Just before the Madrid Masters in May Federer announced the birth of twin sons. That’s four and counting at the Federer kindergarten.

And at nearly 33 he’s a daddy of the circuit. Experienced, smooth and elegant, he’s lost none of his on-court elegance but the silky assassin of yesterday has vanished. He labours when once he would have lacerated an opponent.

So many things would have to happen for him to win in Paris. Such a chain of events are otherworldy even for a player who took tennis onto another stratosphere.
 

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