50 Foxtel MAY
TENNIS
50 Foxtel MAY
T
op-level tennis returns to Foxtel
in May when Roland Garros lights
up, with FOX SPORTS delivering
a comprehensive broadcast of
the year’s second Grand Slam – from
opening day to the singles finals – live
from Paris. Can ‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal
claim a history-making 12th French Open
title? Will Roger Federer rebound from his
Australian Open disappointment? Here,
we look at the men’s form guide.
RAFAEL NADAL
The brilliant Spaniard was the talk of the
town when he unveiled a new game plan
at the Australian Open, encouraged by
coach Carlos Moyá to attack more and
reduce the length of his rallies. Where
Nadal had previously prospered from
grinding down his opponents, he looked
for winners immediately from the return
of serve. Having rebounded from injury,
which curbed his 2018 campaign, he
vaulted into the Melbourne Park final, only
to be crunched by Novak Djokovic. He
now returns to a venue that he has made
his own, where his ability to dictate the
play and efficiently construct points
remains one of his biggest strengths.
Remember, it’s on clay
that Nadal, 32, holds
the longest winning
streak on a single
surface – 81 straight
victories between
2005 and 2007.
With a 12th
Grand Slam
crown on the
red dirt in his
sights, and the
18th overall of his
career, victory
would ensure
Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles
remains within reach.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
While Nadal is the King of Clay, a reborn
Djokovic has the momentum to inflict more
pain on his opponents. Success at Roland
Garros would mean a second Career Grand
Slam for the 32-year-old – achieving all four
titles over multiple years. The world number
one conquered Nadal in the Australian
Open final, putting him in pole position to
replicate a feat he enjoyed in 2016. “I lost
several finals in a row and then managed
to win it in 2016,” says Djokovic. “Winning
the French Open in 2016 was the biggest
relief I have ever felt in my entire life, so the
approach... this year will, obviously, be quite
different. I think I’m just more experienced
with this kind of situation.” The quirky Serb
has the power, touch and Inspector Gadget
reach to handle the clay, where he has
prevailed once – over Andy Murray three
years ago – from four finals.
ROGER FEDERER
Could this be au revoir for the Swiss
great? A surprise fourth-round exit at the
Australian Open
was followed by
another surprise
- Federer is
returning to Roland
Garros for the first
time in four years.
“It’s a bit of a desire.
I’m in a phase where
I want to have fun and I’ve
missed not doing it,” he
told reporters in Melbourne.
The French, no doubt, have also
missed having him in town. Federer
was injured in 2016, then opted to bypass
the tournament the next two years to
remain fresh for Wimbledon. But in the
twilight of his grand career, he wants
a shot at a title he has won only once,
back in 2009, when he thumped Sweden’s
Robin Söderling. And with Djokovic and
Nadal closing in on his record 20 Grand
Slam triumphs, he has another reason
to chase victory. Federer claimed his
100th ATP tournament win in Dubai in
March but, at 37, it’s questionable whether
he has the stamina required to deal with
Paris’s punishing slow surface.
OUTSIDERS
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
At 20, Tsitsipas is the youngest player
ranked in the top 10. The rising Greek star,
complete with long hair and headband,
announced himself to the world when he
defeated Federer at the Australian Open
and advanced to a semifinal. The first Greek
player ever to win an ATP event, the former
world junior number one has the big game
required to wear down opponents on clay.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV
The emerging German talent spent most
of 2018 inside the top five and claimed
the season-ending ATP Finals, but has yet
to better a quarterfinal at a Grand Slam
- which he achieved at last year’s French
Open. Zverev has employed eight-time
Grand Slam winner Ivan Lendl as coach
and, at 22, is ready to make his mark.
DOMINIC THIEM
The 25-year-old Austrian has been in
great touch on the Paris clay in recent
years, enjoying successive semifinals
before losing to Nadal in straight sets in last
year’s final. He had an early exit from the
Australian Open, but is tipped by Djokovic
to be a serious contender this month.
CLAY
FEAT OF
All eyes will be on Roland Garros as the world’s best tennis players converge on the French capital
ROLAND GARROS LIVE from Sunday May 26 at 7pm on FOX SPORTS MORE [507] available in the SPORTS pack
Roger
Federer