It is possible that Rafael Nadal (37), this Saturday, was remembering himself 21 years ago, when he was 16 and had an unimaginable world ahead of him.
Well, 21 years ago, when his career was dawning, he had been the innocent hand in the Godó trophy draw.
And this Saturday, in the autumn phase of his career, too.
But hey, let's go back to 2003.
Because in 2003, in the circles there was talk of a talented Manacori teenager, left-handed and long-haired, who one day could give good things to tennis, who knows what, but who then barely made it to the Top 100 in the world (he was 109 .º of ATP).
“Would it really shine one day?” the experts asked.
And Toni Nadal, the uncle and coach of the long-haired left-hander, said:
–Rafael is winning things, but he is not going to always win. He better not believe it...
(...)
Well here we are now.
23 years have passed, and in this time Nadal has not won everything, but he has won a lot. Certainly, much more than anyone, even the most optimistic, would have ever predicted.
And that is why, this Saturday, the people of the RCTB applauded the moment: Nadal, the tennis icon who has given a name to the club's center court, the tennis player whose sculpture welcomes anyone who looks out at Roland Garros, passed an hour fighting with Andrey Rublev, and then, after winning a set (6-1), he said: “Come on, I'm back on stage.”
And, perhaps to confirm himself, he drew lots for himself.
And this is what his innocent hand decided: when he returns to the scene, possibly on Tuesday, three months after his last match in Brisbane, the Manacori will face Flavio Cobolli (21 years old, 63rd in the world), a tennis player from the Alcaraz generation, exponent of the now prodigious Italian school, that of Sinner, Musetti, Arnaldi and Sonego, champion of the last Davis.
And then?
Then, if he beats Cobolli, more curves will come: in the second round awaits Alex de Miñaur, fourth racket of the tournament, already a heavyweight on the circuit. Bad luck? Either yes or no: these are the servitudes of the ranking, no matter how much one's name is Nadal. What if he goes further? Well, just take a look at the attached table. Arthur Fils appears there.
And in the semifinals, Alcaraz.
For Nadal, twelve-time tournament champion, the matter is tough.
For the viewer, a party.
