Articles:

• Cash: Only injury can deny Nadal in Paris – via CNN

“Nadal is the most incredible clay court player of modern times. I think the only question is how fit he is. He certainly looks fit and he’s hitting the ball unbelievably well… He’s having such a long clay-court season that his fitness shouldn’t be a problem. It’s hard not to put him favorite.”

• Rafael Nadal: Is Spaniard’s Comeback Complete Without 2013 French Open Title? – via bleacherreport.com

Roland Garros made him a Champion, but it’s his work elsewhere that has turned him into a Legend.  Since coming back on the tour just four months ago, Nadal has leap-frogged to the top of the ATP Race to London rankings, which is absolutely phenomenal considering he missed the Australian Open and the Miami Masters. This means he’s No. 1 so far in 2013, even before the French Open.  No matter what happens the next two weeks, one thing is certain: Rafael Nadal is back. He doesn’t need a Roland Garros trophy to prove it. 

• Six-step formula against Nadal on clay – via espn.go.com

Rafael Nadal did not walk off the court as a beaten man after his first-round match at the French Open. But did he walk off as a beatable man? He was considered nearly invincible against everyone but Novak Djokovic coming into the tournament, but in his very first match, the seven-time champion found himself in danger of going down two sets to love against the unheralded Daniel Brands before wrestling control of the match in four sets.

• Facing Nadal? Then Forget Paris – via sportsonearth.com

Six more wins from Rafael Nadal in Paris, and it’s time to split French Open statistics/records into two categories.

• “Rafa Nadal es El Cordobés” – via tenis.as.com

Videos:

• Who gave Nadal the trophy the first time he won at RG in 2005?
• Interview: Rafael Nadal – Roland Garros 2013 – Round 1
• Paris Magic / La magie de Paris official
  

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PHOTOS: Roland Garros, courtesy of Tennis View Magazine. Photos: Mauricio Paiz