Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros: An ongoing fairytale

2015 - Start of a Lean Period

Nadal bids adieu to the crowd after his quarter-final loss in 2015

• Nadal didn't win a single Grand Slam in 2015

• Suffered only his 2nd loss at the French Open

Matches:

Round 1 - Nadal(6) def. Halys 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Round 2 - Nadal def. Almagro 6-4, 6-3, 6-1

Round 3 - Nadal def. Kuznetzov 6-1, 6-3, 6-2

Round 4 - Nadal def. Sock 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2

Q/F - Djokovic(1) def. Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1

2016 - Injury Troubles

• Nadal withdrew from the 3rd round due to a wrist injury, didn't play Wimbledon, ended season early.

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2017 - Comeback For The Ages

• Nadal Returned from injury to finish runner-up in Australia before the Roland Garros

• Won without dropping a set for the 3rd time, tying for the record with Björn Borg

• Reached Double figures in French Open Titles

Matches:

Round 1 - Nadal(4) def. 6-1, 6-4, 6-1

Round 2 - Nadal def. Basilashvili 6-0, 6-1, 6-0

Round 3 - Nadal def. Bautista Agut(17) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2

Round 4 - Nadal def. Carreño Busta(20) 6-2, 2-0(retired)

Q/F - Nadal def. Theim(6) 6-3, 6-4, 6-0

S/F - Nadal def.

Final - Nadal def. Wawrinka(3) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1

Tournament Statistics:

1st serve % - 63.9%

Aces - 18

Service Games Won % - 91.9%

Return Games Won % - 60.8%

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2018 - The Zeus of French Open

• Equalled Margaret Court for most titles by male/female in a single major(11), First to do it in Open Era

Matches:

Round 1 - Nadal(1) def. Bolleli 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(11-9)

Round 2 - Nadal def. Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1

Round 3 - Nadal def. Gasquet(27) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

Round 4 - Nadal def. Marterer - 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(4)

Q/F - Nadal def. Schwartzman(11) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

S/F - Nadal def. del Potro(5) - 6-4, 6-1, 6-2

Final - Nadal def. Thiem(7) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

Tournament Statistics:

1st Serve % - 61.1%

Aces - 14

Service Games Won % - 89%

Return Points Won % - 47.7%

2018 French Open - A title for the Ages!

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Mini Analysis:

If you look at Nadal's 1st serve percentage it is mostly recorded at around 70% and that means he had that more of a chance to close out points on serve. What makes Rafa's last 3 victories at Roland Garros astounding, especially his title-winning effort in 2018, is the fact that the percentage of 1st serves reduces to early to mid-60s. That means he has won more points on the 2nd serve and has taken a toll on his opponents' service.

There is also no better proof of the Spaniard's ability to get balls back in with brutality than this. Will he be able to brush off the injury in the last stretch of 2018 and win more titles? It's a great incentive to watch the next season.