Paris (AFP)

Will the king recognize his kingdom?

Rafael Nadal, in search of a historic twentieth Grand Slam coronation, has an appointment in unknown territory at Roland Garros, exceptionally rescheduled in the fall, from Sunday, under the constraint of Covid-19.

Until then, extra-sporting matters have overshadowed everything else.

First there was the soap opera of the spectator gauge, which plunged in less than three weeks from 20,000 per day to a maximum of 11,500, 5,000, then 1,000 three days before the opening of the Parisian Grand Slam.

There is also the place taken by the health protocol and the questions surrounding screening tests.

Finally, there is the threat of very gloomy weather - rain, cold and wind - announced for a good part of the fortnight, even if the brand new roof of the Central now protects Roland-Garros from the worst.

Short side despite everything, the stakes are historical.

For Nadal (34), conquer a thirteenth trophy at Roland-Garros - unprecedented in a single Grand Slam tournament - and equal the record of twenty major crowns set by Roger Federer (recovering after a double operation of the right knee and absent of the circuit until 2021).

For world No.1 Novak Djokovic (33), become the first player of the Open era, and only the third in history (after Laver and Emerson), to offer himself at least twice each of the four titles of the Grand Slam.

An 18th overall.

- "So bluffing" -

Twelve coronations in fifteen participations, 93 victories in 95 matches played, plus the least defeat at Porte d'Auteuil since 2015 (forfeit before its 3rd round in 2016): "When you look at your statistics at Roland Garros, obviously it's the big favorite, "says tournament director Guy Forget.

"As long as he's playing and he's in good shape he's the big favorite. Simply because of his record. He's won twelve times, which is just amazing. He's by far the best player in history on clay ", summarizes Dominic Thiem, fresh winner of the US Open and double finalist leaving Roland-Garros.

Yes, but the new coronavirus pandemic and containment, synonymous with a disrupted and shortened season, have been there.

When the circuit resumed in mid-August, Nadal preferred to give up the American Cincinnati-US Open mini-tour concentrated in New York.

Weaned from competition for more than six months, he only tasted it last week in Rome.

But the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman stopped him in his third match, in the quarterfinals.

Conversely, Djokovic ideally bounced back by winning in the Italian capital after his shock disqualification at the US Open, where a ball he hit in a moody gesture had inadvertently landed on a linesman .

"The conditions are probably the most difficult I have ever known at Roland Garros", does not hide the Mallorcan.

- Without Barty or Osaka -

"It may rain a lot, be very cold. The ball is different (Wilson replaced Babolat as supplier, note), those before were perfect for the lift. It may be a little more difficult for him. -be that the conditions are a little better for Novak ", develops Thiem.

The new ball adopted by Roland-Garros is, with the more than autumnal climate, "extreme for playing outdoors", Nadal's concern.

"Very slow", "super heavy", "like a stone" with the cold and humidity, and even "dangerous for the elbow and the shoulder", "Rafa" hopes that the Parisian Grand Slam will reconsider his choice at the 'to come up.

In the women's draw, three of the last five Grand Slam winners are missing: defending champion Ashleigh Barty, Naomi Osaka (US Open 2020) and Bianca Andreescu (US Open 2019).

Titled in Rome on Monday and already crowned Porte d'Auteuil in 2018, Simona Halep will reinstall herself on the throne of World No. 1 if successful.

Serena Williams, who turned 39 this Saturday, tackles again the challenge of equaling the all-time record for Grand Slam crowns (24) held by Australian Margaret Court.

But the ocher is the surface that is least successful for her and she has not passed the knockout stages at Roland Garros since 2016.

As for the French ambitions, without Lucas Pouille or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, injured, they are embodied in particular by Gaël Monfils and Benoît Paire, but neither are in full possession of their means.

If her rib injury is forgotten, Fiona Ferro (49th), titled in Palermo in early August for the resumption of the WTA circuit, could stand out in an affordable part of the table.

© 2020 AFP