Rafa Nadal looks “a step slower than normal” according to 7 time French Open champion

Rafa Nadal may not be as quick around the court in today’s French Open final due to the drawn out matches he’s had to overcome in previous rounds, says a commentator who certainly knows a thing or 7 about winning on the clay of Roland Garros

Rafa Nadal will come into his 14th French Open men’s singles final having had to battle like never before which could well have an impact on which Rafa will show up to play Casper Ruud, says Eurosport commentator Chris Evert.

So far Nadal has had to overcome Felix Auger-Aliassime in 5 sets followed by Novak Djokovic in a 4 hour 4 set marathon and then he took 3 hours to play 2 sets against German Alexander Zverev. He’s also 36 years old, managing a long term foot injury and playing someone at the peak of their fitness aged just 23 years old.

This could play into the hands of the Norwegian star said Evert when asked about the men’s singles final.

“It’s going to be really interesting. Rafa today against Zverev, even though he gave such a fight, I felt like he was a step slower than normal because he has had such big matches and drawn-out matches along the way and I wonder which Rafa is going to show up on Sunday.

“I have no fear that he’s not going to be the Rafa that we’ve seen in the past but sometimes you just never know with your body and you never know with the pressure. He’s going for 14, but I don’t think pressure will have an impact, he is so used to pressure at the French Open.”

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