Google News Rafael Nadal: "Roland Garros 2021 draw doesn't worry me"
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Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were placed on the same side of the draw for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament. At the Roland Garros 2021, in fact, only one of the Big Three will be able to enter the final and have the opportunity to obtain yet another important result of their career.
Djokovic and Federer could meet already in the quarter-finals; while Nadal would find one of the two only in the semifinals. Rafael Nadal said: "He sees it as completely normal. It is a consequence of the different seeds. I'm not worried about the draw.
I have a lot of work to do to reach the potential challenge with Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He and Federer may meet in the quarterfinals, but each of us has our own path. My path in this moment starts from Alexei Popyrin; my mind is focused on this match.
It is difficult to think of anything else. I have to continue my preparation, focus on my routine and progress the way I want. He is young and hits the ball very powerfully. He has great shots and, as always, I'll have to be ready.
I need to keep training over the next few days to try and get into the best shape possible. Every game is difficult; I always respect every opponent, it's something I've been doing since the beginning of my career. Popyrin is a dangerous player, so I need to play well and I can't wait to get out on the court.
" Finally, Nadal spoke about the statue built in his honor at Roland Garros. "The statue is spectacular. I think it is very real. You have to watch it live to realize it. It is a modern statue and I am very happy. It is really difficult to build a statue with that material." We have to remember that if he wins in Paris, Nadal would become the player with the most Grand Slams in tennis history, beating Roger Federer of a Major.
Roland Garros 2021 men's draw: Federer, Nadal and Djokovic on the same side!
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the same side of the Roland Garros 2021 main draw. The first verdict from Paris has an important specific weight.
The world number one, called to a rather soft debut with Tennys Sandgren and a second round with one between Lucas Pouille and Pablo Cuevas, could find Ugo Humbert in the third round and presumably one between David Goffin and Alex de Minaur in the round of 16.
In short: assuming a quarter-final with Roger Federer appears premature, if only in conditions of absolute normality, but definitely suggestive. The Swiss champion, who will have to wait for the conclusion of the qualifiers to know his first opponent, could have Marin Cilic in the second round, Taylor Fritz in the worst case scenario in the third and presumably Matteo Berrettini in the round of 16.
On the way to the Italian e number one, a qualified player, Federico Coria and probably Felix Auger Aliassime. Called among other things to test Andreas Seppi in the first round. The thirteen-time champion of the tournament Rafael Nadal, favored for duty, then falls in the second segment of the draw.
After Alexei Popyrin, one between Hugo Gaston and Richard Gasquet in the second round and probably Lorenzo Sonego, for the Spaniard there could be Jannik Sinner again. The player who put him most in difficulty last season on the red brick of Bois de Boulogne.
After Sinner, Nadal could have Andrey Rublev and Djokovic. The 2021 edition of Roland Garros could be decided before the third Sunday. Alexander Zverev's main obstacle on the way to the quarter-finals responds to the name of Roberto Bautista Agut.
Hypothetical, of course, with Dominic Thiem. Finalist in 2018 and 2019, yes, but with a balance of three wins and three defeats on red this season. Fabio Fognini also orbits on the same side of the board, called to the Gregoire Barrere test in the first round and possibly to the challenge with one between Marton Fucsovics and Gilles Simon in the second.
Number two in seeding is Daniil Medvedev, still without success in Paris. The first round challenge with the crazy horse Alexandr Bublik for the Russian is fascinating and far from obvious. Obligatory favorite in the last segment of the board Stefanos Tsitsipas: the match with Jeremy Chardy at the debut is soft in a completely theoretical line.