Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title on Sunday as Inga Swietec continued her remarkable winning campaign to lift the women’s trophy. The 36-year-old came through a grueling tournament featuring energy-saving matches against Felix Auger-Aliassim, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev before defeating Casper Roode in the final. But Nadal will move to the treatment table next week as he tries to recover from a chronic left foot problem in time to be able to play at Wimbledon. Nadal, who is still on track for a calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career, said he still hopes he will be able to compete.
The two-time Wimbledon champion said, “If it (the treatment) works, I keep going. If not, it will be another story.”
He has won two Grand Slam titles this season and has been clear in the race to finish above Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the all-time list. Nadal took injections to be able to play at Roland Garros, but insisted he would not continue down that path.
“If I’m able to play with anti-inflammatories, yes, to play with anesthetic injections, no. I don’t want to put myself in that position again.”
Before he returned to the treatment table, Nadal had a chance to pose with the French Open trophy, which is called “La Coupe des Musquetiers”,English translation for which is,The Musketeers Cup, with the spectacular Eiffel Tower in the background.
Paris @Rafael Nadal #Roland Garros pic.twitter.com/71nmstCdy9
— roland-garros (@rolandgarros) 6 June 2022
“The Musketeers Cup has been awarded since 1981 to the winner of the men’s singles event and pays tribute to the four Musketeers of French tennis: Jean Borotra, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet and René Lacoste.
The official Roland Garros website states, “A silver bowl surrounded by vine leaves around the top and decorated with two swan-shaped handles, the trophy is placed on a marble base, dating from 1891. The names of the winners are listed.”
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It will be interesting to see if the experienced pair of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal return to the grass courts at Wimbledon to challenge Novak Djokovic.
(with AFP input)
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