It’s been a rollercoaster two years for Rafael Nadal, filled with low periods and many questioning whether the 14-time Grand Slam champion was ever going to see his very best days return on a tennis court again. Whether Rafael Nadal will reach the level he displayed in his return to the tour in 2013, remains to be seen, but this victory in Monte-Carlo indicates that he’s stepping in the right direction in his quest of reclaiming the Roland Garros title.
Rafael Nadal Wins Monte-Carlo: Is He Back to His Best?
Is this Rafael Nadal returning to top form? The most obvious talking point for Rafael Nadal this week is that he’s sustained a high quality level against high quality clay court opponents and maintained this standard for the whole week. In previous months gone by he’d find it difficult to even maintain a good level from set to set, so this is a gigantic and considerable improvement for Nadal. Another positive for Nadal this week is the effectiveness of his forehand. His forehand was being struck consistently well and it was looking closer to the weapon it’s been in previous years. Inside the last twelve months, many players have been beating up on the Nadal forehand in order to open up and attack the backhand, which has been his more stable stroke in the low periods. But the main reason we are starting to see the arrival of his forehand on the biggest stage again is due to one word ‘confidence.’ Nadal’s often spoken about his lack of belief and confidence in that shot, and it’s no coincidence that the moment he starts finding form, getting big wins and rediscovering his feel for a clay court that he reproduces magical points with the forehand.
Does this win elevate Nadal as the main contender for the Roland Garros title? There are a lot of things to consider going forward and still there is Barcelona, Madrid and Rome in particular where we’ll see if his 2016 clay form is here to stay. Some tennis aficionados will suggest that everything Nadal has achieved at Roland Garros is enough in itself to suggest Nadal is the main contender, but in my opinion there are a few questions that need answering before the second grand slam of the year takes place.
He’s beaten Dominic Thiem, Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Gael Monfils, some players with great credentials on a clay court, but competing in a best of five match up against the World Number One, Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros, would be another monumental challenge that is virtually another step up to what Nadal has experienced in Monte Carlo. But with that being said, this Monte Carlo victory is all you can ask for for his preparation for a 15th grand slam title. Players go into build up tournaments before grand slams hoping for a series of matches to gain some match play and also to get a few big wins against notable players. Nadal has achieved this this week in Monte Carlo. Is Nadal the main contender for Roland Garros this year? Maybe not, but he’s back in the conversation and no individual would want to draw him at any stage in the 2 weeks of the French Open.
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