Roland-Garros: Rafa, a 14th title from another dimension

Virginie Phulpin 07h24, June 06, 2022

Rafael Nadal won his 14th title at Roland Garros yesterday.

The Spaniard dominated Norway's Casper Ruud in three sets in the final.

For you, this 14th title in Paris is the best.

How do you measure the beauty of a title?

It's very subjective.

Some will always prefer the first, that of 2005, where a teenager in short pants made a sensational entry into the big leagues.

Others will rather choose that of 2008, that of absolute mastery, where Rafael Nadal methodically destroyed each of his opponents.

In short, we have the choice, with its 14 titles.

But this one has another dimension.

Because it is unexpected, because it is painful, because it says more than the others about the Spaniard's personality.

And because we say to ourselves that it may be the last, and that it adds even more to the dramaturgy of this fortnight which has not been lacking.

A month ago, when Rafael Nadal limped off the court in Rome, he gave himself little chance of making it to Roland Garros.

A month later,

not only did he participate, but he earns it.

We won't remember much from his one-sided final against Casper Ruud yesterday.

A Norwegian too impressed to do well, and a Spaniard to whom nothing can happen on this center court, except to lift the cup.

Granted, it wasn't a dream final, but after all he had already played three in the tournament.

5 exhausting sets against Felix Auger-Alliassime, the giants' night battle against Novak Djokovic, and this mental and physical fight against Alexander Zverev ended with the German's horrible injury on Friday night.

Mountains climbed with an anesthetized foot and pain as a daily companion.

Fatigue that comes faster, blows that hurt less than before.

Rafael Nadal ages, wavers, bends, but does not break.

Because his body lets him down,

but his mind compensates.

Because he is in Paris, at Roland Garros, and there is an almost magical relationship between this stadium and this player.

In his condition, nowhere else could he have gone to the end.

But here he is at home.

There is a real human dimension in this 14th Parisian title.

Yes, less calculation and more heart, less strength and more fear.

There will inevitably be a time when we will ask ourselves the question of whether it is desirable to play a tournament with infiltrations to anesthetize a painful foot.

It's a real question.

But Rafael Nadal never hid.

He said it, he couldn't walk after his victory against Corentin Moutet in the 2nd round.

We have seen him wince, suffer, but remain standing.

Until when ?

We don't know, he doesn't know.

It's weird because yesterday, given how the final went, we were almost more expecting the post-match speech than the match itself.

Was the Spaniard going to announce his retirement?

It was both expected and feared.

A final point after a final victory, it would have been an exit through the front door.

But Roland Garros without Rafael Nadal,

it makes you dizzy.

The Spaniard didn't lie on the clay when he won, nor did he say stop.

Because he wants to try a little more, one last treatment for one last hope.

Because he likes to play, here more than anywhere else.

But let's face it.

The next time we see the name Rafael Nadal register somewhere at Roland Garros, it will not necessarily be on the Mousquetaires Cup.

Why not on center court?

I don't want to erase Philippe Chatrier, but 14 titles will never be equaled.

Don't you think Nadal deserves to have his name above his kingdom?

Because he likes to play, here more than anywhere else.

But let's face it.

The next time we see the name Rafael Nadal register somewhere at Roland Garros, it will not necessarily be on the Mousquetaires Cup.

Why not on center court?

I don't want to erase Philippe Chatrier, but 14 titles will never be equaled.

Don't you think Nadal deserves to have his name above his kingdom?

Because he likes to play, here more than anywhere else.

But let's face it.

The next time we see the name Rafael Nadal register somewhere at Roland Garros, it will not necessarily be on the Mousquetaires Cup.

Why not on center court?

I don't want to erase Philippe Chatrier, but 14 titles will never be equaled.

Don't you think Nadal deserves to have his name above his kingdom?