In the latest edition of the Court-Side with Beilinson Tennis podcast, the well-known journalist and insider Steve Flink said that it will not be easy for Rafael Nadal to win his 15th Roland Garros, and Novak Djokovic will have a great chance in Paris.
We recall Djokovic and Nadal are paired at 22 Grand Slams. Flink told: “I think Novak Djokovic has a very good chance at the Roland Garros. Obviously, Rafael Nadal will start under the odds in Paris, but Nole knows how to win that tournament.
My hope is that they don’t end up in the same wedge of the draw again, I would like to see them against each other in the final this year.” Added him. Steve believes Djokovic can win his third French Open: “Nole is the second best player in the world on clay.
Of course he can win another Roland Garros, I don’t understand why there are people who doubt it. He played an extraordinary Roland Garros in 2021, coming from Stefanos Tsitsipas two sets after an epic semifinal against Nadal.
” Rafa’s physical condition worries Flink: “He’s had a lot of injuries in the last six months and he seemed a long way from 100% in Melbourne. Every time he finds some rhythm, he pops something out and is forced to start over.
I wonder if he’ll be able to resurrect again this time.”
Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: the winner takes it all
By winning his tenth Australian Open, Novak Djokovic hooked Rafael Nadal at the top of the all-time Grand Slam rankings.
In addition to winning his 22nd Major, Nole also returned to the top of the ATP rankings by ousting Carlos Alcaraz from the throne after a 20-week reign. The eternal struggle between the two will be repeated at the Roland Garros, scheduled on the red clay in Paris at the end of May.
Novak and Rafa are going through very different moments: the 35-year-old from Belgrade is on the crest of a wave and seems fresher than ever, while the Spaniard has suffered yet another injury. The 36-year-old from Manacor was in fact eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open and suffered a second-degree injury to his ileo-psoas.
The Majorcan will have to stay in the pits for about two months and could return directly to the red clay of Montecarlo.
