The French Open 2020 starts today with some exciting matches scheduled in the first round itself. All eyes are on the 12-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, who is entering Paris without winning any clay-court tournament prior to it. The Spaniard has an astonishing 93-2 win-loss record at the French Open.

Recently, 1988 French Open finalist Henri Leconte talked about Nadal’s quarterfinal defeat at the Italian Open 2020 being inconsequential to his chances at the French Open. Leconte believes that sometimes it’s better to lose early to prepare for the big tournaments.

“If you lose in Rome it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to win at Roland Garros. Sometimes it’s better to lose early and be ready for the French Open. You have to be ready at the key points (of the circuit), in the big ones, and that’s what matters,” said Leconte in an interview to Eurosport.

However, Nadal has admitted that the slow Wilson balls and the heavier conditions in October are unfavorable for his game. Nadal has a tough route to the final and will have to quickly find his rhythm.

Djokovic a threat to Rafael Nadal’s campaign

Despite being disqualified from the US Open 2020, Novak Djokovic remained impervious and captured a record-breaking 36th Masters 1000 title in Rome. Leconte believes that Djokovic has maintained his composure and is working on his temperament every day.

“Novak is a true champion, he is a true world number one and he really deserved what he just did. For someone who just suffered what happened at the US Open, he reacted like a champion,” said Leconte.

The newly crowned US Open champion Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev are also strong contenders at the French Open. Thiem has lost the last two successive French Open finals to his biggest adversary, Rafael Nadal.