PARIS | To become a great, you have to face the greatest. And in the history of tennis, no player has been more legendary than the Spaniard Rafael Nadal on the ocher of Roland-Garros.
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By eliminating thanks to a very solid performance the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (55e) by scores of 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) and 7-5 on Friday, on this short 14 a little away from the frenzy of Porte d’Auteuil, Félix Auger-Aliassime obtained his ticket to the round of 16 and what should be one of the most memorable matchups of his career.
Nadal is 13 titles in Paris. A monster of clay, “the ogre of ocher” who, at Roland-Garros, has only fallen to two players in 17 years: the surprising Swede Robin Soderling and the world number 1, the Serbian Novak Djokovic .
Luck and bad luck
Sunday, almost certainly on the Philippe-Chatrier, at an undetermined time, Félix will therefore have both the luck and the bad luck to face Nadal in his sandbox.
There were 25 journalists in the press room on Friday, three times more than usual, to question Felix about this confrontation.
Because, of course, he intrigues this duel between Nadal, fifth favorite, and Auger-Aliassime, ninth. Even if it is very unequal on paper, Félix having won his first match in Paris this year, after two unsuccessful attempts.
The two players have already crossed paths once. It was on clay in Madrid, three years ago, and “Rafa” won in two small sets.
Where will “uncle” be?
But there is another intrigue, which goes beyond this face to face: where will be Toni Nadal, adviser to the Quebecer for a year, but above all, uncle and former coach of the Spaniard, whom he helped to conquer Bet 10 times?
“He will watch the game from a neutral zone,” said the L’Ancienne-Lorette racket.
Visibly a little tired of answering a flood of questions about his mentor’s involvement in the process of defeating Nadal, the 21-year-old politely wanted to set the record straight.
“We all know where he excels. I don’t think Toni can tell me anything new about Nadal.”
“We haven’t spoken yet. [de stratégie]. We’ll see [aujourd’hui]. It depends on him, but I don’t expect it from him, added Auger-Aliassime. I don’t think we’re going to talk a lot about the match, even with my coach Frédéric [Fontang]. There is not much to say. I know Nadal, I’ve seen him play often, I know where he excels. »
The man with 21 major titles also has a right to a plethora of questions about it.
And it was the same story: “I’m not going to talk to Toni. For me, it’s very simple. He’s my uncle, I don’t think he’ll want me to lose, but he’s a professional. »
There is no secret
Of Félix, “Rafa” said he was “one of the players in the best shape on the circuit”.
“He’s in the eighth, I know I’m going to have to play at a very high level to have the opportunity to go to the next round,” commented the former number 1, who doesn’t seem too bothered by his foot since the start of the tournament. .
“What I can do is focus on my strengths,” said Félix. I serve well, I will try to use my forehand, to get to the net. »
“Anyway, if there was a secret to beating Rafa, he wouldn’t have won 13 times here,” he added, smirking.
live from paris
Felix chases a spectator
The crowd in Paris is not the sweetest and Félix Auger-Aliassime learned it the hard way on Friday. In the first round of his match against Serbian Filip Krajinovic, the Quebecer was attacked by a spectator who called him ” piece of shit (of “shit”, in other words) and “zero”… Irritated, the ninth seed asked referee Greg Allensworth to intervene if said “supporter” started again. The reaction was not long in coming: the man was expelled from court 14 a few moments later, after again uttering insults to Auger-Aliassime.
Roland’s gardens
The Roland-Garros site is a happy blend of modernity, as evidenced by the renovated Philippe-Chatrier, history, as embodied by Suzanne-Leglen, and nature, as can be seen by walking to the Simonne court – Matthew. The third largest plot in Paris is isolated from the rest of the site. To get there, you have to follow a path lined with tall trees and plants, which gardeners were tending yesterday morning. It’s magnificent… and exotic, so much so that we forget that we are at a tennis tournament.
Nadal wants to see Real Madrid
Moved from Saint Petersburg to Paris due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid will take place today at the Parc des Princes, a few no Roland Garros. And Rafael Nadal should be in the stands to encourage the people of Madrid. From the start of the fortnight, the Spaniard said he had his tickets for this ultimate meeting, which he could not attend often given the fact that it is played at the same time as the French Open . But tonight (Paris time), he will be there, unless his recurring physical glitches ask him to rest. And this, even if he will face Félix Auger-Aliassime the next day, at a time which remains to be confirmed. “Rafa” who spends an evening at “football” the day before a match: will the Quebecer be able to take advantage of the situation? It’s Nadal, at Roland-Garros… it will probably take more than that to destabilize him.