ADVANTAGE RAFA...AGAIN!

SIX weeks of fantastic tennis lie ahead and I have been drawing up my wishlist. Firstly, I am looking forward to seeing as many fans as possible in the stadium as we emerge from this difficult time. Secondly, I want to see more young players emerge to challenge the established order seriously in both the men’s and women’s games. Most immediately I would like to see someone — anyone — properly threaten Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. I sense a little more vulnerability about the great Spaniard this time, offering a sliver of optimism to Novak Djokovic, in particular. Personally, it does not bother me too much that they are in the same half of the draw. Nobody admires Nadal and his achievements more than I do but the game could do without another procession to the title. To me, he has looked maybe half a step slower during this clay-court season. He won the Italian Open but if Denis Shapovalov had finished him off in their third-round match, we might have been talking about things differently. It was interesting at the Australian Open that he looked quite tired during his loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas. There have been a couple of times in the past few weeks when I have noticed Rafa (left) breathing heavily. The loading of the draw makes it a great chance for the challengers to reach the final. Dominic Thiem has struggled but one good match might turn it around, while Alex Zverev cannot be discounted. Maybe Roger Federer will make the second week but his eyes will be on reaching peak shape for Wimbledon. The best hope among the younger generation by far is Tsitsipas. A good all-round player, I can see him reaching the final in either Paris or London. But let us keep the Nadal phenomenon on clay in perspective. At 34, he is maybe 95 per cent what he was — and that will still be probably enough.