Rafael Nadal has won Roland-Garros 14 times in 19 attempts. Out once by forfeit, he only lost four times “regularly”. A look back at the 4 instances where the Parisian public witnessed the defeat of the king of clay.
Very first time. Four Roland-Garros, four victories for Nadal. And he was never pushed to five sets. The Spaniard seems invincible, and faces a player classified as the enfant terrible of the circuit. Robin Söderling has clearly not been the Spaniard’s friend since an epic clash at Wimbledon 2007, during a third round spread over several days due to the London rain.
An antagonism which takes a new turn a month before Roland-Garros, when the two face each other in Rome. A match during which the Spaniard will spank his rival, conceding only one game, but the Swede will find a way to steal the show by deliberately showing the referee a bad mark on a ball called a foul!
Despite everything, both players share one thing in common: once unwavering in their abilities. This faith which meant that the Swede could enter the court thinking he had a chance of being the first to knock down the Spaniard at Roland-Garros. And by being the only one, including the public, to think such a thing.
Let’s not be afraid of words, it was an earthquake that took place that day. Because even if the Spaniard was weak in the knee, which will push him to give up defending his title at Wimbledon, he did not seem affected during the match. But he was showered with aces and winning shots by an intrepid opponent, who saw maximum risk-taking as his only chance.
And he will seize it in 3h30. We imagined Roger Federer achieve this feat, where then Novak Djokovic which was then seriously gaining momentum, but history will remember that it was Robin Söderlingoften cataloged as one of the least likeable players on the ATP circuit, who was the first to do so. The following year, Nadal will set the record straight against this same opponent in the final, the public will have forgiven him for this defeat without flinching, but 15 years later, it still remains as surprising.
June 3, 2015 – Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1
After his 9th Parisian coronation in 2014, Nadal pays a heavy price for injuries. He lost first place in the world to his Serbian rival, and had to forfeit the US Open, injured in the wrist. And his 2015 season clearly fell short of expectations. A single title in Buenos Aires, quarter-final at the Australian Open, failed American tour, and hesitant journey on European clay.
Three European Masters 1000, only one final, at home, against Andy Murray in Madrid. A match transformed into a correction inflicted in an hour and a half by the Briton, which cost Nadal its place in the Top 5 for the first time in ten years. In the process, he fell in the quarterfinals in Rome, not holding more than a set against Stan Wawrinka.
When he arrived at Roland-Garros, some people paid lip service to the fact that he was not the favorite. However, he went through his first three rounds without incident, but the first alert took place in the round of 16 against Jack Sock. While Nadal serves for another victory in three sets, he loses control of the match and is dragged into a fourth set, which will fortunately be without consequences. Except that the level of play developed leaves little hope of seeing it debunked Novak Djokovic in quarts.
Quickly led 4-0the Spaniard holds on so as not to be spanked. He comes back, comes close to clinching the tiebreak, but gives up the first set, and at that moment, the rest is agreed. It will see the Spaniard score only four games in two sets. The public is resigned, and afraid that the Spaniard’s reign will end definitively. Fortunately, this will not be the case, but it is by no means the heaviest defeat, both in terms of score and level of play, of Nadal at Roland Garros.
June 11, 2021 – Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2
The previous year, in the middle of the Covid period, Rafael Nadal won a 13th title on Parisian clay by crushing Novak Djokovic in the final. The Spaniard then seemed to have regained control in this confrontation, rich in 60 occurrences in the end, a state of affairs demonstrated by his victory over the Serb in the final in Rome a few weeks earlier, after yet another summit in this poster.
It’s the big one Nadal that we see in Paris, and he destroys all those who dare to appear before him. Jannik Sinner will only last one set, and even if the Spaniard drops a round in the quarter against the tenacious Diego Schwartzmanfew clouds on the horizon before the reunion against No, who survived a huge scare in the round of 16 when he was down two rounds to nothing against Lorenzo Musetti.
Rafa takes the first set, not without difficulty of course, but once installed in the driver’s seat, it is hard to imagine a reversal of the situation. Yet, Djokovic gives her best, wins the second round, serves for the third but the grinta of Nadal comes back in force and he removes this threat. The third tiebreak promises to be huge, and it will only take one mini break in a legendary decisive game to definitively turn the match around.
Novak Djokovic will be supreme in the last three rounds, and in particular in this tiebreak that will be remembered. 4h13 of fighting for a victory, not expected but so logical Nadal appeared without solutions at the end of the match, which suggested that this time, the end of the reign of the Spaniard Porte d’Auteuil was over.
After his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open in January 2023, Rafael Nadal had not played again all season. The specter of retirement loomed, but it was inconceivable that he would not set foot on the clay of Roland-Garros one last time. He had a cautious start to the 2024 season, but when he arrived on clay, the magic did not work.
Some satisfactory victories certainly, including one on Alex De Minaur in Madrid to avenge a defeat against this same opponent earlier in Barcelona, but difficult to see anything other than a farewell tour to the great places of his triumphs on earth. And his last match before Roland-Garros was a correction (four games won) received in Rome against Hubert Hurkacz, anything but an earth specialist.
But obviously, everyone wants to believe it at the start of what we already imagine will be their last Roland-Garros. With a favorable draw, why not reach the second week, and thus have an outing worthy of its rank. But the draw is teasing, and narrowly fails to offer him Carlos Alcaraz to finally see him challenge Alexander Zverev.
Two years after the unforgettable semi-final concluded with the heartbreaking cry of the German, forced to give up with a broken ankle, there will be no miracle. Recent winner in Rome, the German will sometimes be pushed around, especially when Rafa will be used for the second set, but in the end, he will remain in control of his nerves and his tennis. Nothing to say, Nadal was defeated by the stronger but the public remained admiring and serene, already certain of seeing him again a few weeks later.
Bonus: July 29, 2024 – Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal, 6-1, 6-4
The Olympic Games took place in Paris, and logically, Roland-Garros was chosen to host the tennis events. Everyone could then salivate to see one more time Nadal on the clay that forged its legend. And once again, the draw was going to be naughty.
The Spaniard was offered an entry against the modest Marton Fucsovicswhich he ended up finishing in three rounds, while the first set suggested a demonstration. Because the price was very nice for Nadal : a sixtieth career confrontation against Novak Djokovic in the next round.
It will finally take place, but without real suspense. Absent was on a mission for his last chance to go for Olympic gold, which he managed to do after a superb tournament. And the easily won match against his biggest rival will be just one match among many others, as the Serb was so superior that day. But to date, this is the last singles match played by Rafael Nadalwho will therefore no longer find the Parisian clay court.
Editor’s note: Rafael Nadal withdrew before his 2016 third round scheduled against Marcel Granollersthe fifth time that he did not win the title at the Paris Grand Slam.
