Mats Wilander (Växjö, Sweden; 59 years old) analyzes with the enthusiasm and expressiveness as always, with long teeth before what is to come in Paris. “Curves are coming,” he anticipates, referring to this Roland Garros that is taking off today and is difficult to decipher. Everything leads, however, to the same name, no matter what: Rafael Nadal. A great admirer of the Spaniard, the Nordic delves into the progressive goodbye of the legend and his own experience, and prepares to savor this edition in which he, once again, will be one of the experts who breaks down the day-to-day life of the tournament. for Eurosport, the channel that broadcasts it through complete coverage.
Ask. Do you think this is the most unpredictable and attractive edition of Roland Garros in a long time?
Answer. I think so and, in fact, I think it’s probably the most unpredictable of the last twenty years. There is no possibility of saying who will be the champion, because there are about 15 players who can become champion, or even more. From the outset, I think Zverev is one of the great candidates because he has a lot of experience in the Grand Slams and has won in Rome, in addition to having played an incredible match against Rafa (Nadal) in Paris a couple of years ago. He has arrived with a lot of confidence. He is one of the favorites because in a way he is already a veteran, and at the same time he is still young enough to be able to measure himself against all the profiles. I think this is the perfect year for him, or else for Stefanos Tsitsipas. Because of the current situation, I think they are the two who will probably say, ‘This is my chance.’
Q. Nadal has played little and until not long ago he seemed out of combat. Do you have any real chance of winning the tournament this time?
R. I think that right now there is no one, including him, who knows if his game can reach the necessary level. The first problem is that his tennis so far has not been good enough to beat players who are in the top-10. Are you hitting the ball well? Are you serving well enough? She proved yes in Madrid and about 20 or 25 minutes in Rome; he was able (against Hurkacz, the rival who eliminated him) to go 3-0 up, but he didn’t achieve it; Even so, I think his level is very close to that of the best players. If he wins a couple of games, he will go back to being the Rafa of before, and the locker room knows that the old Rafa does not lose in the Chatrier. Will he be able to come back? We don’t know, but it seems like he’s as hungry as ever. This is Roland Garros, the tournament that brings the best memories for him. I think he will play even better than he himself believes because of the adrenaline that that court produces. But can he win again? Seven games in a row, long ones, at 38 years old… I don’t know, but we’ve never seen anyone do that.
Gain? It’s seven games in a row, long, at 38 years old… I don’t know, we’ve never seen anyone do that
Q. There are those who believe that he should have retired by now. Is this the ideal moment, time and setting to do it?
R. People who say that is because of the great love they feel for him, because they want him to continue being the great champion he was. I want to see Rafa a fighter, fighting, without being disappointed, because I know that he is a great champion and I know of his great attitude. We all want to see athletes like him, like Tiger (Woods), like (Michael) Jordan, because they have that fighting spirit. Rafa may have gotten older, but he hasn’t lost his spirit and that makes him the greatest, probably one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. No matter how he’s playing, he’s going to fight every point. I would like to see him two or three more years, just for the fact that I love to see him fight; maybe he can be in the top-10 and he may not win a big again, but his legacy is on a Saturday, and Saturdays are for most people the day you go out and have fun. So watching him play is like going out on a Saturday night. He is always there. Almost with his mind alone, he could once again be among the ten strongest.
Q. How hard can it be for a legend of his magnitude to say ‘this is it’, this is over?
R. Each case is different, but I think it will be very, very, very hard for him. But at some point the body is going to tell him: ‘hey, Rafa, you can’t take me any further, it’s over, I can’t run any more or hit the ball as hard as you want’. The body will tell the brain that it is over and then the brain will understand. It will be something natural. Then there are those other players who leave while they are still healthy, like Pete Sampras (winner of 14 majors), but who have lost motivation.
Q. And how was the experience for you?
R. I should have retired after the 1988 US Open, because after that (when he won three of the four majors) my career was terrible. I was terrible, except for two or three weeks a year, but in a way that was my life. It was very difficult to say this is all. I stopped when I was 27 years old and then I started playing again when I was 29, without points or ranking. It was not the same anymore. I was already another Mats Wilander, from America, married with children, not that Mats Wilander from Sweden, teenager and selfish, so it really wasn’t that difficult for me. I think it’s a lot easier for big players, because they’ve made enough money, but then they have to find something else they’re passionate about. In Rafa’s case it could be his boat, fishing or golf; He won’t make any money from it, but at least he doesn’t need it.
Of course you have to be worried when you are as young as Carlos Alcaraz and you get injured so much
Q. Alcaraz has been under the arm for two months. Are you worried about all the injuries he has suffered?
R. Yes, of course you have to be worried when you are as young as Carlos and you get injured so much. Yes, I’m sure you’re worried. I’m very worried, but I’m not sure what he can do about it, because when you have those feet and you’re as fast as he is, you’re going to keep running as fast as you can; You’re not going to slow down to avoid injury, and that’s not good for his muscles, his joints, or his body. At the same time, his spirit is incredibly positive, so I don’t think we should worry. I think that, in that sense, his career could perhaps be a little like Rafa’s, with four, five, six or seven good months, and then another three or four not so good, when he gets injured. Maybe it is different from that of Federer or Djokovic, or even that of Murray, because until recent years he did not get injured often.
Q. And what about Djokovic? Is it a question of motivation? He arrives at low hours, practically unrecognizable.
R. Yes, surely, but I think his motivation for the Grand Slams will never disappear. He arrives at Roland Garros as the defending champion, having won it three times, having won 24 majors, knowing that it is very difficult for those guys to beat him in five sets. What’s your name? What is your name? What position are you in? The 50th, the 60th, the 12th… Ok, okay. And I am number one, I am great. As soon as he steps on the Chatrier, he will not remember losing in Monte Carlo or Rome. I’m not worried about him at all. Why did he play the worst game of his career in the Australian semi-finals? I’m not sure. But last year he won three of the four Grand Slams. He may fall in the first round, but if he makes it to the second week, I think Novak will become the favorite immediately, overnight.
THE NEW LIVE OFFER FROM MAX*
AC | Paris
Eurosport’s team of experts, led by tennis legends such as John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Wilander and the Spaniard Álex Corretja, returns to offer the public the best analysis of everything that happens on the Roland Garros court. Viewers will be able to continue enjoying extensive coverage of the Parisian great live on the channel.
Furthermore, between now and June 9, the closing date of the tournament, Max* spectators will be able to enjoy each of the matches played on the 16 courts. The offer is completed with the broadcast of the program Passing Balls and of Rafael Nadal, king of Paris, a 45-minute documentary dedicated to the 14-time champion. It is available on Max and Eurosport.
DMAX will once again offer live the women’s (June 8) and men’s (9) individual finals, as well as the semifinal matches with Spanish participation. For the first time, the men’s and women’s singles, doubles, juniors, wheelchair and legends draws of the Parisian tournament will be available on streaming live and without ads on Max*.
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