It’s clay court season time and so will it be Rafael Nadal all over again? The 32-year-old Spaniard has dominated the surface for over a decade and it is difficult to see any change in the scenario this year too except for the fact that he has been bothered by a troublesome knee for some time now and that will be his major concern as the season commences with the Monte Carlo Masters on Monday.
Nadal a 17-time Grand Slam winner and defending champion at Monte Carlo has not competed since withdrawing from his semifinal clash against Roger Federer at Indian Wells a month ago. He has undergone medical tests on his chronically bad left knee and will be hoping that it will hold up for the grueling run to Roland Garros which begins May 26.
Besides winning the French Open eleven times Nadal has also won the Monte Carlo event eleven times, such has been his mastery over the slow, red surface. But with injuries plaguing him could this be the time when others can take over? The foremost contender would appear to be world No 1 Novak Djokovic who has a decent record on clay highlighted by his title triumph at the French Open in 2016. But the Serb who turns 32 next month has had to endure a slump in his form of late which saw him one short of the quarterfinals at both Indian Wells and Miami Masters events last month.
While Djokovic has been injury free the problem with him is his preoccupation with ATP issues as president of the Player Council. He has admitted to distractions with too many things off the court which has affected his form on court. The incentive for the 15-time Grand Slam champion however is a bid to complete four Grand Slam titles in a row. He won Wimbledon and US Open last year before getting the better of Nadal at the Australian Open final in January. Djokovic grew up on clay and relishes the surface though statistically hard courts have been his most successful surface.
Federer a four-time finalist at Monte Carlo will again skip the event with the 37-year-old set for a return to clay for the first time since 2016 when he plays next month at Madrid prior to returning to Roland Garros. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has made a conscious effort to limit his playing on clay to extend his playing career.
And what about the younger brigade which is snapping at the heels of the Big Three? Main focus will be on world No 3 Alexander Zverev even if he has done little of note this year after winning the ATP finals in November last. The German however will not be the only serious challenger. Hoping to again pose a threat on clay will be last year’s finalist at Roland Garros Dominic Thiem. The fifth ranked Austrian had a breakthrough win with his first Masters 1000 trophy at Indian Wells with a victory over Federer in the title clash.