On Friday, top seed and five-time champion Rafael Nadal faced an upset at his home tournament, Mutua Madrid Open 2021. He lost to German World No.6 Alexander Zverev in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Surprisingly, it is the Spaniard’s third consecutive defeat against the German.

However, Rafa is not someone who digs deep after losing a match. Moreover, he has already shifted his focus to his next target, the Italian Open, before going to Paris for the French Open.

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The King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, currently has accumulated a 9-2 record in his clay season. Even though it is the second-best figure on the ATP tour, watching him lose on clay is a rare spectacle.

However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is not skeptical about his loss. Instead, he analyzed the results of Monte-Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, and Madrid Open, and is now ready for his next challenge.

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Rafa said, “Where the clay season stands is very simple: quarters, champion, and quarters. And now comes Rome.”

Looking back from the start of his clay season, the Spaniard has improved his rhythm consistently. He would want to continue the same even in his favorite tournament, the French Open.

“That’s all there is. I’ve been able to reach quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo, win in Barcelona, and reach quarter-finals here, and I feel like I’ve been moving forward,” he added.

Furthermore, Rafa expressed that he will aim no lower than the Italian Open title. This urgent need to keep trying and keep improving is why he is one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

“We’ll see what happens in Rome. For me, the objective before Roland-Garros is to go to Rome and win it. That’s the truth,” Nadal concluded.

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Due to the loss in Madrid, Rafa Nadal will also drop his World Rankings to No. 3. Thus, along with the title, he will also look to regain his position on the leaderboard.

Arguably, the Spaniard has been in and out of form between the last three tournaments, which he would want to change. However, once he finds his touch, he will be unbeatable.

To sum up, the month of May will be crucial for his French Open preparations. Let us see whether he managed to regain his glory in Rome.

Do you think Nadal will win the French Open this year?

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