While the public watched in the sun Stefanos Tsitsipas kicking balls under the gaze of his father, a clamor suddenly rose from the spans: at 6:00 p.m., King Nadal entered "his" court, the one where he lifted the Cup of Nations thirteen times. Musketeers.
And while the clay was watered, while the champion waited quietly on the side, the thousand spectators began to chant "Nadal! Nadal!"
Then Rafa started his exchanges with his compatriot Jaume Munar.
Gently at first, as if not to break the ball which would have turned into an egg.
And stronger and stronger until martyring the little yellow sphere as if to make an omelette.
Encouraged as if he were in the middle of a match, Nadal distributed a few small hand signs in thanks.
Drills on the fly, a few smashes, serves, then Nadal and Munar played games for a good hour.
On a big serve from Munar, Nadal leapt to his left to swing one of his huge long-line forehands that his opponent of the day could only watch pass before he could even get up from his service gesture.
Strikes, races, jumps, slips, small swear words on missed shots... for two hours Nadal spared nothing, he did everything, everything succeeded.
Nothing to do with those terrible grimaces that accompanied his defeat against Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Rome.
Victim of the unbearable awakening of the pain linked to his chronic and incurable injury to the left foot (Muller-Weiss syndrome), the Spaniard had indicated in the process that he still dreamed of participating in Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5 ) but he didn't know if his foot would allow it.
He is there and will know his first opponent on Thursday after the draw scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Without a sudden relapse, the Mallorcan, who will turn 36 on June 3, the day of the semi-finals, should be in the running for a 14th title at Roland-Garros, and thus push back his Grand Slam trophy record to 22.
© 2022 AFP