N.Y. Times
by Christopher Clarey
May 28, 2024
PARIS, May 27 - As he met his vanquished teenage opponent at the net, wrapped his right arm around his shoulder, inquired about his health and gently escorted him in the direction of the chair umpire, Rafael Nadal looked very much like a magnanimous champion who had played and triumphed in this grand place many times before.
The Idolized Becomes the Victimized in Paris (May 28, 2024) He has not, of course. Like Richard Gasquet, Nadal is a teenager, too, and until this year he had never hit a ball in Roland Garros Stadium. He played his first match there, on the center court of the French Open, on Wednesday.
But Nadal, seeded fourth, already looks remarkably at home, filling the stage with his energy and self-assurance, and filling the stands with curiosity seekers. Watching him and 30th-seeded Gasquet on Friday during their third-round match - which the French news media had billed as the Clash of the Prodigies - it was difficult to imagine that they were both 18.
The final score only reinforced that impression, especially about Nadal. He won, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, to earn a well-deserved place in the fourth round. He will face the more experienced S�bastien Grosjean of France. Grosjean, seeded 23rd, defeated No. 16 Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal's topspin forehand was bouncing too high for Gasquet's comfort. Gasquet's one-handed backhand is often spectacular, but he was unable to do much with it, eliciting no more than the occasional gasp.
"This was not an easy match in any way," said Nadal, who has won 20 straight matches, all on clay. "Of course, I'm delighted with my game today, in spite of all the pressure and everything that was being said about the match."
Gasquet is capable of hitting the ball faster than Nadal, with his backhand and his serve. But he is not yet able to approach the consistent, relentless heaviness of Nadal's shots.
"He was just too strong physically for me today," Gasquet said. "I had a lot of trouble keeping up with his rhythm, and I think he coped much better than I did with the heat and the long rallies. His topspin was a real problem."
Nadal is still a long way from another trophy. Grosjean had to dig deep to defeat the net-rushing Stepanek in a four-hour marathon.
"I have no illusions; it's going to be very difficult," Grosjean said. "But with the crowd behind me, it's possible."
Heading into the first weekend, all the major men's clay-court players are still in contention, including top-seeded Roger Federer and the defending champion, Gaston Gaudio. They easily advanced to the fourth round on Friday. Gaudio, seeded fifth, defeated unseeded Felix Mantilla of Spain, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Like Nadal, Federer did an admirable job of defusing a dangerous opponent. Federer won the points that mattered most against No. 25 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in a 7-6 (9), 7-5, 6-2 victory. He saved two set points in the tie breaker, then gradually took command.
And like Nadal, Federer will also play a potentially diminished opponent in the next round. Carlos Moya, the 1998 French Open winner seeded 14th this year, could have had an easier afternoon, but he failed to convert a match point in the third set. He ended up needing all five sets to defeat Fernando Vicente of Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 0-6, 6-4.
"I feel like I have no power left when I hit a few forehands," said Moya, who had treatment on his tender right shoulder late in the match. "Also with my serve, it was tough for me to serve hard."
That does not sound like an ideal situation for Moya as he heads into a match against Federer, who has dominated the game for the last two seasons.
Asked about which player he feared the most in Paris, Federer answered: "No one. I'm No. 1. I've beaten everyone. Why should I fear anyone? I respect everyone, that's for sure."
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