The Roland Garros draw is out. Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal will play in the first round against Alexandr Dolgopolov.
In the second round, he could face Guido Pella or Joao Sousa. An encounter with Richard Gasquet could be on the cards in the third round.
If all goes well for our champion, he could face Canadian hotshot Denis Shapovalov or American Jack Sock in the fourth round. The King of Clay could come up against Kevin Anderson or Diego Schwartzman in the quarters. In the semifinals, he could be seen battling with Juan Martin del Potro or Marin Cilic.
Rafa’s possible path to an 11th French Open title:
- Round 1: Alexandr Dolgopolov
- Round 2: Guido Pella or Joao Sousa
- Round 3: Richard Gasquet
- Round 4: Denis Shapovalov
- Quarter Final: Diego Schwartzman
- Semi Final: Marin Cilic
- Final: Alexander Zverev
Roland Garros 2018 projected men’s singles quarterfinals:
- Rafael Nadal vs Kevin Anderson
- Marin Cilic vs Juan Martin del Potro
- David Goffin vs Grigor Dimitrov
- Alexander Zverev vs Dominic Thiem
Rafa has suffered just two losses in 81 matches at the clay-court Grand Slam championship – to Sweden’s Robin Soderling in the 2009 fourth round and to Novak Djokovic in the 2015 quarter-finals.
The Spanish superstar has a 19-1 clay-court record this year (23-2 overall), which includes 11th titles at both Monte-Carlo (d. Nishikori) and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (d. Tsitsipas), in addition to an eighth crown at last week’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia (d. A. Zverev).
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP World Tour
Out of 5 matches Bolelli has managed to win only 1 set off of Rafa which was in 2009 at Rotterdam [hard]: 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
The last time they played was in 2015 at the Madrid Masters QF: 6-2, 6-2.
RAFA ROCKS
No need to repeat that draws are not written in stone as seen by this first-match cancellation.
Rafa’s first match will be against 32-year-old Italian Simone Bolelli [132]. His match vs Dolgopolov has been canceled.
Alex has been ill on and off for years. I hope he will be back in the trenches soon.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa is confident , healthy and on his game . I think Rafa will win Roland Garros #11 and likely very convincably . Vamos Rafa bring it on !
Rafa good luck stay aggressive and win 11th title, and 17 th major
No esta facil mi campeon pero tu puedes eres el Rey del Clay, buena suerte que Dios te bendiga y VAMOS RAFA
No byes in slams.
Just wondering why Rafa didn’t get a “bye” on the first round? Good luck and God be with you always. Vamos Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s not the easiest draw, that’s for sure! Now I am gonna check where the Djoker is in the draw.
OK so Thiem, Zverev and Djoko, arguably the biggest threats based on the clay season so far are in the other half of the draw. That’s a big positive. The tall men, can, if they play Rosol style all out, be a challenge. But frankly Rafa should own Anderson, Cilic or DelPo on clay. No hubris, but bring em on.
Forget the draw. Let’s go step by step as Rafa does.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best against all players.
Vamos Rafa !!!
Rafa would have no obstacle in winning an 11th Coupe des Mousquetaires if this possible path to the final were written in stone.
With the exception of Thiem, NONE of these players poses a possible threat to Rafa on la terre battue of Roland-Garros.
RAFA ROCKS
I would prefer Anderson over Schwartzman. Rest of the draw is fine.
Rafa all the very best for Roland Garros.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
first round is tricky you never know against dogopolov. I dont see the canadian kid beating nadal in best of five I also wouldnt underestimate schwartzmann and certainly not cilic in the semifinal.
Other factors will also be the key. I hope there will be two weeks of hot weather in Paris that suits nadal game.
In which half is djokovic
Yes, I must admit Rafa’s draw looks okay, but only the first two rounds are accurate. Besides, we Rafans know that injuries are always lurking like in 2016. The weather can also be a factor as we saw in Rome. Rafa takes every opponent seriously and does not look ahead. Vamos Rafa!
Well… it’s certainly not bad:)
The draw is good for Rafa. All the best for #11 at the French-Open. You can do it. Vamos Rafa <3