It’s that time of year again when the gaze of the world focuses on Roland Garros but, this time, there’s an added incentive to be glued to our screens. Aside from what has become a habitual volley at yet another French Open triumph, Rafa Nadal has the opportunity to become the all-time leader in Grand Slam tennis titles.
Currently tied on 20 with Roger Federer, who is currently still on the injury comeback trail, Rafa Nadal can win his 21st career Grand Slam if he conquers the clay at Roland Garros once more. Due to celebrate his 35th birthday in the midst of the tournament, the Spaniard is valued as 5/6 outright tennis odds favourite to reign supreme at the 2021 French Open.
The 2021 event will be the 125th edition of the French Open, with no player in the history of this tournament having enjoyed more success than Rafa Nadal. The man from Manacor in Mallorca has won the title at Roland Garros 13 times since the first in 2005, with the Parisian clay courts having become almost a second home for the tennis icon.
As the ‘big three’ superstars of tennis prepare for the 2021 French Open, it goes without saying, all the leading tennis tips and betting predictions are firmly behind another success for Nadal. The biggest rival will inevitably be Novak Djokovic, who has already won the 2021 Australian Open, claiming his 9th triumph in Melbourne and 18th Grand Slam title of his career.
Only three other players have interrupted the dominance of Nadal at the French Open, since the 2005 victory that set his amazing Grand Slam career in motion. Roger Federer succeeded in 2009, beating Robin Söderling of Sweden in the final, the man who actually defeated Nadal in the fourth round that year.
In 2015, it was another Swiss player who claimed the French Open title, when Stan Wawrinka beat Djokovic in the final, after the Serbian had eliminated Nadal in the quarterfinals. Djokovic went one step better in 2016, finally winning the French Open for the first and only time to date, beating Andy Murray. That year, a wrist injury forced Nadal to retire prior to the third round.
Nevertheless, if recent form is any indication as to who has the edge, then the Italian Open in Rome provided fans with a clear answer. Nadal claimed the 10th Italian Open triumph of his career, demonstrating all the determination and quality needed to beat Djokovic in the final, battling to win the match 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.
By defeating his biggest rival, Nadal couldn’t have asked for better preparation ahead of the French Open, with the kind of performance that will fill him with confidence before departing for Paris. The victory in Rome also saw Nadal match the record of 36 ATP Masters 1000 titles, currently held by Djokovic.
These two giants of tennis will undoubtedly be the focus of attention when the action begins at Roland Garros. However, while Federer is touch and go for the tournament, Andy Murray will definitely miss the French Open. Having suffered another injury setback, his attention turns to recovering in time for Wimbledon.
