"Injured, not injured, he is always the favorite here" - Goran Ivanisevic on Rafael Nadal's French Open chances

Rafael Nadal has always been a big favorite for the French Open irrespective of injury woes, according to Novak Djokovic's coach Goran Ivanisevic.

The King of Clay has a 106-3 record at Roland Garros and has won the crown on 13 occasions in Paris. The Spaniard aggravated a foot injury during his match against Denis Shapavalov at the Italian Open. As a result, many tennis oddsmakers dropped him down the list of favorites to go all the way at Roland Garros this year.

Speaking with L’Equipe, Goran Ivanisevic said that according to him, Nadal should always be considered the hot favorite at Roland Garros, irrespective of his physical issues.

“For me, there is only one favorite at Roland Garros and that is Nadal. Even with what has happened with his foot in Rome, I always think that. Injured, not injured, he is always the favorite here,” Ivanisevic said.

"He knows all the good bounces, all the bad bounces, every nook and cranny" - Goran Ivanisevic on Rafael Nadal's record at Philippe-Chatrier

2022 French Open - Day Four

During the interview, Goran Ivanisevic also asserted that Nadal has reigned supreme on "his court", Philippe-Chartier, for the last 17 years and that he knows every bad bounce and every corner of the court.

“[Roland Garros] is his home, [Philippe-Chatrier is] his court. He knows all the good bounces, all the bad bounces, every nook and cranny. “Whether he plays well or badly, under the sun or not, it changes nothing. Rafa is incredible, I have enormous respect for him,” he said.

Nadal comfortably defeated Australia's Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in his first-round match. The Spaniard is projected to face arch-rival Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. The two locked horns in an epic semifinal last year, with the Serb edging the Spaniard in four sets. In the process, he became the first player to defeat Nadal more than once at Roland Garros.

The Serb went on to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to become the first man to complete a double career Slam.