Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic they left the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000 with serious doubts about his performance on clay, after two eliminations that could be considered premature for two tennis players who have controlled the circuit in recent seasons. The following week, they both played the tournaments of their clubs, in Barcelona and in Belgrade, two friendly scenarios that were suitable for resurgence, a good antidote to their problems. The sensations, however, have been the opposite. While Nadal leaves the Godó grown after an epic victory in the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, the best tennis player of the year, in a great marathon game of 3 hours and 38 minutes; Djokovic ended up obfuscated after his defeat in the semifinals against Aslan Karatsev, another emerging player, in a clash almost as long. Rafa and Novak look at same goal, Roland GarrosAnd these clay-court tournaments serve not only to polish your records, but to fine-tune your game for the big date. There is still time, with Madrid and Rome on the way, but Nadal has taken advantage.
Nadal and Djokovic, along with the inactive Roger Federer, they have dominated the ATP during the last years, but you have to understand that they are already thirty-something champions. They both went out physically touched from Australia and they spent a remarkable blank period. Finding the level is always difficult. Rafa did a sublime final on Sunday, but on the path he chained bad times against Ilia Ivashka and Kei Nishikori. “I need to take a step forward and this victory can help me,” he said after lifting the trophy. Nole has finished with the opposite hunch and now hesitates even to line up in Madrid. Opposite are young rivals, increasingly mature and irreverent, also willing to end the tyranny of both. Tsitsipas is the example. If you stay at that level, you can win it all. And discuss that world throne with them.