Andrey Rublev: 'Rafael Nadal won it 13 times, we should try to do it at least once'

Rafael Nadal claimed the 13th Roland Garros title from 16 trips to Paris in October, beating seven opponents and difficult conditions to extend his unprecedented reign! The Spaniard had one last shot to save the reduced season, producing his best tennis despite having played only three matches since March! The newly-crowned year-end top-10 star Andrey Rublev believes that's an incredible record, the one that should motivate him and others to chase at least one crown in Paris and the other three Majors. The Spaniard suffered only eight breaks in seven French capital encounters, delivered incredible numbers on both serve and return to leave all the rivals behind and join Roger Federer on 20 Major titles. Rafa toppled Egor Gerasimov, Mackenzie McDonald, Stefano Travaglia and Sebastian Korda in style in the opening four rounds. The defending champion got broken once and dropped 23 games - ten against Gerasimov in the opening clash - in 12 sets to sail into the quarters.

Nadal needed that saved energy to pass the young Italian Jannik Sinner, who broke Rafa twice and served for the opening set at 6-5. The 12-time Roland Garros winner broke back in the last moment and won the tie break, prevailed in the second and shifted into a higher gear in the third to advance into the semis. Unlike in Rome a few weeks earlier, Diego Schwartzman stood no chance in Paris against Rafa, who took the opening two sets 6-3 before wasting the advantage in the third for some drama. Schwartzman gained momentum in the second part of the set to reach a tie break that Nadal clinched 7-0 to move over the top and avoid spending more time on the court. The most formidable obstacle stood between Rafa and the title, with world no. 1 Novak Djokovic awaiting on the other side of the net in the final, seeking the second Parisian trophy and the 18th Major.

Rafael nadal secured the 13th Roland Garros crown from 16 trips to Paris.

Like those before him, Novak had nothing to offer against the king of clay, who produced a 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 triumph in two hours and 41 minutes to lift the fourth Major crown without losing a set at 34! Nadal landed 31 winners and 14 unforced errors, performed strongly from both wings and took 51% of the return points to control the scoreboard and march over the top. Novak sprayed 52 unforced errors while seeking his A-game for over two hours, experiencing a massive loss despite a solid effort in the third set. Rafa gave serve away once, kept Novak's return in the locker room and destroyed him in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, where Djokovic should have had the edge. Like in 2008 final against Roger Federer, Nadal delivered a bagel in the opening set, playing almost flawless tennis and presenting three breaks against the world's leading player to seal it with an ace at 5-0.

Rafa faced no break chances in set number two and controlled his strokes beautifully to outplay Novak on the return for another rock-solid set of tennis and a 6-0, 6-2 advantage in a swift an hour and 34 minutes. Eager to avoid disaster, Djokovic saved a break chance in the third set's third game and raised his level. Rafa broke him at love in game five and gave the serve away for the only time a few minutes later to keep the Serb in contention. Nadal held comfortably by the end and earned a break at 5-5 after a double fault from Novak, emerging at the top with a hold at love and celebrating the 20th Major title.

"Rafael Nadal won 13 titles at Roland Garros. It should motivate us all to try to win it at least once," Andrey Rublev said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/34Rs4xE