Next week’s French Open will more than likely mark the final visit for Rafael Nadal.
Now the way the French Open draw goes is usually chaotic.
The French are maniacs for this kind of thing.
Some believe they just manipulate it how they see fit.
Others believe it’s truly random.
Well, how would they match up Rafa for his last dance?
A preposterous 112-3 all time at Roland Garros.
The king of clay.
Here’s your retirement present!
How’s the world no.4 sound?
Here’s how his road to the final would shake up if the higher seeds all won.
While the Zverev matchup is fucking brutal, here’s a few positives for Nadal.
An early encounter could allow Rafa to come out firing and maintain it a little.
Also, if he were to lose to Zverev there’s really no shame in that.
If he got boat raced by a nobody that’d be a tough end to his career there.
Still, that’s an insane first round matchup from both sides.
The way it worked out, he was either playing Carlos or Zverev in round one.
They asked Carlos about it and he wanted nothing to do with that possibility.
When Zverev found out about it yesterday he thought his brother was fucking with him.
(ESPN)“I actually thought he was joking in the beginning.
But then, yeah, it is what it is.
“Ideally, I would have liked to play him in the latter stage of the tournament.
It’s a tough draw, but it’s a tough draw for both of us.
We’ll see how it goes on Monday.”
You might read that and wonder what Zverev was referencing about the wheel chair.
That’d be the 2022 semifinals of the French when Zverev tore multiple ligaments in his foot.
Sidelined him for nearly a whole year.
At the moment Zverev sits as a -400 favorite.
A size-able amount, but low enough where Rafa is still garnering some respect.
Based off how both have looked over the last month Zverev should discard Rafa in straight sets.
There is plenty of magic to this event for Nadal though that you cannot ignore.
He knows this place literally better than any human who has ever been born.
The crowd will be entirely behind him.
Monday should be incredible.
They haven’t released a time yet but I’m hoping around 10am eastern for selfish reasons.
I just hope he goes out with some vintage moments.
Federer sadly never got this kind of swan song at Wimbledon.
His body just broke down and forced him to step away.
Rafa deserves to have his moment.
Monday we shall see.
