With one week left for the French Open the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open provides a perfect warm up to the clay at Roland Garros. iSporter Chirag Mansukhani previews the big match.
Last year when Roger Federer had won the Madrid Open he said that it was winning this event that gave him the confidence to win the French Open.
This year there is one man that stands in between Roger and the title at the Madrid Open and that man is the one and only Rafael Nadal. Rafa has had a good clay court season so far and looks set to take back his French Open crown. The match up between the two giants of the game at the Madrid Open could well be a dress rehearsal of the showdown at the finals of the French Open.
With Rafa coming back to fitness from his injury plagued season last year; this years French Open will be something to look forward too. However, let’s not forget what’s first up; that being the finals at Madrid.
Roger will definitely be looking to defend his title at Roland Garros and a victory over Nadal in the finals at Madrid will certainly give him the confidence that he needs going into the French Open given that clay is not his strong point. Roger has come through a couple of strong tests in the tournament thus far; however with Rafa in the finals it would be fair to say that the toughest test is yet to come.
Rafa on the other hand will be buoyed by the home crowd and it will certainly be difficult to stop the Spanish Matador from winning the title on his home turf. Rafa too has come through some tremendous matches this tournament and will be looking to finish the Madrid event on a strong note going into Roland Garros next week.
My favourite is definitely Roger and I shall be rooting for him throughout the match as well as through out the French Open next week. However, the Spanish Matador has definitely come of age and was looking stronger than ever and quite frankly unstoppable before the injury to his knees. If Rafa can regain the kind of form he showed before his injury then it will be a herculean task to stop him indeed. Then again, who better to stop the Matador than the Magician himself.
It would be fair to say that these two rivals are two of the best that the game has ever seen and the rivalry can be compared to that of the Sampras-Agassi or the Bjorg-McEnroe rivalry.
All said and done the finals at Madrid is certainly one to look forward too with two of the games greatest pitted against each other. The winner takes a psychological advantage going into the French Open as well as sends a clear statement of intent to the others.
Like I said I will be rooting for Roger although in all fairness I would have to mention that based on the past the smart money might well be on Rafa Nadal. My prediction though would be a brave and bold three set victory for Roger.
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