As the clay court in Paris sets up for thrilling battles, it’s only natural to start picking favorites for the tournament. The grand stage of Roland Garros will unfold with Rafael Nadal playing against his 2022 French Open semifinal rival, Alexander Zverev. But will Zverev be able to avenge his last defeat against him in the same dirt? Almost everyone must be waiting to see that, and so is Rick Macci, the childhood coach of Serena Williams. However, his latest analysis of the match further highlights the advantages that both players might be getting in the upcoming draw.

A day before the commencement of the French Open, Rick Macci took to his official X account and wrote, “Does Rafa have a Shot against ZVEREV. Yes, He has the best Shot ever on dirt with the high bouncing grasshopper lefty forehand cross court but his opponent can handle that being 6.6 so look for the Bull to play up the line low over the NET to pull the UPSET. @RafaNadal”

Although, he believes Nadal can outperform Zverev, according to him, there are certain conditions that will come into play in this case. His first half of the statement emphasizes the signature shot of Nadal on clay. As he is a left-handed player, his forehands naturally curve away from his opponent’s backhands. And as he hits the ball high up and generates a heavy topspin, it automatically leaves his opponent running for points. 

This is more intensified on clay, as here the bounces are even more powerful. On top of it is his grasshopper effect, which refers to the ball’s jump off the court after bouncing. This further creates a more difficult position for his opponent to quickly adjust to the situation. However, according to him, this consistent strategy on clay court will be difficult to implement against World No. 4, Alexander Zverev. 

This is because of his height, which, as Macci pointed out, is 6 feet, 6 inches. Therefore, his long jumps and steps automatically allow him more ground to cover. Along with it is the Italian Open champion’s powerful serve and aggressive play that can further prove to be crucial in defeating Rafael Nadal. Overall, the stakes are high. Although Macci describes why Nadal has a “shot” against Zverev, the advantages on Zverev’s side are also heavy. 

However, according to the statistics, Nadal already has a lead over the German tennis pro. Between their 11 meetings on-court, Nadal has won 7 times! Among them, five of his victories against Zverev have been on clay. But over the last couple of years, Nadal has been struggling to get in his form due to his hip injuries. But even then, his opponent, Alexander Zverev, hopes that Nadal plays his best on clay like he always does.

Alexander Zverev wants Rafael Nadal “to play the best tennis he’s played in a long time”

Alexander Zverev has revealed his mixed emotions about playing against Rafael Nadal in the draw of the French Open. Although, he explained how he wished to play against him one last time before Nadal retired, he certainly did not want it to be in the first round. Rather, his wish was to play him in the semifinals, a place where Zverev fell short against him in the 2022 Roland Garros. 

But admitting that Nadal couldn’t do that as he is unseeded at the moment, Zverev accepted the situation saying “it is how it is.” Nevertheless, he is optimistic about his opponent’s form. “In my mind, I’m going to play peak Rafa Nadal. That’s what I expect him to be. I expect him to be at his absolute best. I expect him to play the best tennis he’s played in a long time on this court.”

Last time in French Open 2022, Zverev had to retire mid-match owing his ankle injury. However, two years after that, they are meeting again on-court. While Zverev is coming fresh off from the Italian Open victory, Nadal is still struggling to get his first title of the year. But as the two meet on-court, it will be interesting to see who has the best “shot” against whom.