Rafael Nadal v Andy Murray - French Open Tennis Preview

French Open

Tennis
Published: 05/06/2014

It looked for a long time during today’s match between Gael Monfils and Andy Murray that my prediction for a five set win for Monfils was going to come to fruition. But ultimately the Briton dug in and pulled the match out in five sets, after a rather bizarre fifth set from Monfils. Perhaps this was not Murray’s best display, but at least he is back to full fitness and ready for Wimbledon.

However, the next match will be Murray`s last at Roland Garros, as he comes up against the King of Clay Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has only ever lost one match at Roland Garros, and showed his indomitable spirit once again when he defeated David Ferrer from a set down to reach the semi-final, winning 13 of the last 14 games.

I simply cannot see any conceivable way that Andy Murray can win this match, much though this may disappoint British tennis fans. Nadal could be two sets to love, five games to love and 40-0 down, have his hands tied behind his back, be chained in a coffin, and buried twelve feet under the Phillippe Chatrier, and he`d still find a way to win! His ability on clay, his never-say-die spirit, and the confidence he has built up from 72 wins in 73 matches at Roland Garros means that it is inconceivable that he will lose to anyone other than an absolutely inspired Novak Djokovic.

I have previously considered Nadal’s career to be in its death throes. After he struggled at first on hard courts last season, and crashed out of Wimbledon in the first-round, I honestly thought his knees were knackered and that he’d never win another Grand Slam on any other surface than clay. To this, day, I’m not sure how much longer he can go on, but given that Nadal won the very next Grand Slam after Wimbledon in New York, that wouldn`t go down as one of my better predictions!

Nadal will win the French Open, don`t bet against it. See what happened when he was tested against Ferrer, he was struggling, playing terrible, and then he just raises his game. I don`t know how he does it, but on clay in five sets he is bordering on unbeatable. You have to drag him kicking and screaming off the court, and impale his carcass on a spike! Even then he might come back to win!

I am not a fan of his style of play at all, but if there`s a tougher competitor in any sport in the world, and anyone who`s mentally stronger than Rafael Nadal, I haven`t seen them.

I`d love to see Murray win. Sorry, I just can`t see it happening. He played out of his skin against Nadal last time on clay, led 4-2 in the third and final set, and still lost. And if it`d been at Roland Garros, that`s only just over half the match done!

Murray will definitely have a good shot at Wimbledon again, though, and that looks likely to be another memorable tournament. But Rafa will see him off in three or four sets in this one. Probably three.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (05/06/2014) but are subject to change.

05/06/2014     © Frixo 2024

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