This year’s French Open up in Paris could see “outstanding fighters” Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal collide for Grand Slam supremacy with Monica Puig hopeful of viewing a “gorgeous” fight concerning two tennis greats.
Djokovic’s 10th Australian Open up title drew him stage with Nadal at the best of the all-time men’s standings on 22 Grand Slam titles with all roads now heading to Paris in the spring.
The Serb included an additional notch in the furthermore column for those people who argue he is the Finest Of All Time in the GOAT debate.
At 35, he is exhibiting no indicator of slowing up though 36-12 months-old Nadal is on the road from recovery obtaining experienced a iliopsoas personal injury which contributed to his early exit in Melbourne.
The sky’s the restrict for Djokovic. I would not be stunned if he were to get another 10 additional Grand Slams.
The Spaniard stays touch-and-go for the ‘Sunshine Double’ in March and continues to be perilously close to ending an astonishing 18-12 months streak by dropping out of the world’s major 10 with details to defend at Indian Wells.
Previous Olympic champion Monica Puig hopes to see 14-time French Open champion Nadal return in time for the clay-court docket time and Roland Garros, in which he could be established for a collision program with Djokovic.
“I hope so since that’s constantly a rivalry you really like to see,” Puig told Sky Sports. “Djokovic has won the French Open, Rafa is the ‘King of Clay’ and which is just a wonderful struggle that you enjoy to see on the court. There’s no question that that’ll go the length.
“They equally know just about every other very very well, and they’re both of those unbelievable fighters. So which is one thing that we all want to seem forward to and just appreciate some fantastic tennis with two gamers that have just certainly dominated the sport above the past couple of a long time.”
Nadal will be out to defend his French Open up title at Roland Garros later on this calendar year
Puig, who won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, states she are not able to really start to think about the quantity of Grand Slams Djokovic could gain if he continues to be in shape and wholesome.
“He’s continuing to clearly show this stage and this volume of dominance and he hasn’t genuinely struggled with several injuries,” stated Puig, who declared her retirement from the activity very last yr just after having difficulties with injuries.
“He looks in shape and he is participating in really nicely. He’s one particular of those people players which is extremely, quite rough to conquer simply because you know he’s going to be in the match from the to start with position to the last.
“You have to get him on a truly poor day if you want a prospect at beating him. So the sky’s the limit for Djokovic. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up to get yet another 10 extra Grand Slams. But we’ll have to see the depth of men’s tennis and how the youthful technology cope with him.
“Can they phase up to the endeavor of dethroning one particular of the finest players of all time?”
What occurs upcoming?
Djokovic (remaining) and Rafael Nadal could experience a straight fight for supremacy at Roland Garros
In a best-scenario state of affairs, Nadal could return for the up coming significant tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami in March, but may select to remain off the match courts until his favoured clay.
With the pair locked at 22 Grand Slams apiece, it sets up the prospect of a straight struggle for outright supremacy at the French Open, commencing on Might 28.
