Rafael Nadal’s long-term prospects have been regularly questioned in recent months. Debilitating injuries and off-court problems combined to produce a loss of form that some critics thought would end his career. Now the six-time Grand Slam winner has the ideal chance to prove he is nearing a full recovery.
Nadal would choose the French Open as the major to have a go at on returning to full fitness. He sees his fourth round defeat by Robin Soderling last year a blip on the chart of Roland Garros dominance and his clay court form this year makes him strong odds on favourite in the tennis betting.
He has won all three clay Masters events this season, losing just two sets in the process. Crucially, he beat Roger Federer in the Madrid final, a timely confidence boost ahead of a prospective showdown in the Paris final after a series of demoralising defeats against the other elite players.
The form and fitness of his rivals also helps make Nadal a strong favourite at Roland Garros. Federer’s effort at Madrid was the only time he reached a quarter-final at a Masters 100 event this season, and although it would be unwise to write the Swiss legend off, it would be a surprise if he repeated his Australian Open form over the next two weeks.
Andy Murray is struggling even more. He has taken time to recover from his own Melbourne exertions and a tricky draw and low confidence make him something of an outsider. Novak Djokovic will not concern Nadal on clay, while Juan Martin del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko are out injured.
Nadal is highly motivated, fresh and hitting the ball superbly. Nadal’s tennis odds indicate a fifth French Open title is inevitable. If he wins, his problems of the last year will start to fade away.