Erik Gudris | @Atnis | Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Rafael NadaL and his dominance over clay, especially in Roland-Garros, explore in depth in the new book Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his clay kingdom.
Famous tennis reporter Christopher Clarey, It used to be New York Times and International Herald Tribune, Exploring Nadal’s legendary career not only focuses on why he particularly likes clay, but also the history of Surface and its most famous tournament, Nadal won an incredible 14 times.
Five things we learned after completing this must-read book.
It’s very important to me. The Warriors are published today in the United States and Canada. Production for 22 years. Writing for 2 years. I went deep into Raphael #NADALCode and occupation and #RolandGarrosthe dusty Paris fair, he will always be associated with it.vamos! pic.twitter.com/tfavblnnai
– Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸🇫🇷 (@ChristophClarey) May 13, 2025
French champions first kick on the grass
Before the event was called the Roland-Garros (named after the famous WWI pilot), the “French Championship” competed at various tennis clubs before it was held in 1891 at the racing club in the western suburbs of Paris. Although there is no formal proof, the first game is not formally proven. So, why turn to clay that happened before 1900? Tennis historians believe that because of climate and resources, this is because clay becomes more common in southern Europe than grass and clay courts.
Nadal’s early luck opened the door for Gaston Gaudio
At the age of 16, a young Nadal broke into the scene and impressed in the leading clay stadium event in Paris in 2004, including winning the victory and then winning the Roland-Garros champion Albert Costa, before winning another former champion Carlos Moya. Expect Nadal to play a considerable match in Paris.
But before he left Mallorca for Paris, Nadal played some tennis with his friends and jumped on the net. But some of his friends thought it was fun, lifting the net like he did. Nadal fell and had a slight fracture in his right elbow. As a result, he missed the year he competed in Paris. Maybe his absence opened the door for the final and surprise champions Gaston Gaudio Argentina wins the championship in five sets Guillermo Coria.
Nadal will continue to win his first Roland-Garros title in 2005 Mariano Puerta.
Since 2005 pic.twitter.com/mrkqxqltzi
— Roland-Garros (@RolandGarros) April 18, 2025
Nadal admits his on-field ceremony was a “disaster”
The remarks and writing about Nadal’s “rituals” or “twitches” during his career, from organizing the water bottle in front of a chair in some way to adjusting his hair, shirt and shorts before each serving, to name just a few. In fact, as you get older, the routine becomes more detailed.
However, while many believe Nadal suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, both he and his team denied it. However, when asked about the ceremony, Nadal admitted that they were strictly the courts.
“It’s a disaster, sincerity,” he said. People see my daily work in court and believe I’m a person with a lot of routine and superstition outside the court, but outside the court, I’m actually zero. I need to be really organized when I compete, but in my personal life I am a really messy person and when I’m really timely or super type A, my routine is neither a very focused thing, ”
Nadal and Federer camps are not always so friendly
Despite their long competition, Nadal and Roger Federer Now, share good friendship and admiration with each other. However, this hasn’t been the case in their careers, especially between the teams of Nadal who began to threaten the world’s No. 1 Federer, who still dominated the ATP Tour.
2004: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal share the court for the first time. They are doubles rivals. They wear matching outfits.2022: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal shared the court last time. They are doubles mates. They wear matching outfits.
21-year-old federal ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bysdgsq1pb
– Bastien Fachan (@bastienfachan) March 28, 2025
By 2006, Nadal and Federer’s team were well-known to talk about other players privately. Nadal’s camp believes that Federer’s diet is not disciplined and does not have the same work ethics as Nadal.
Around Federer, some on his team wondered how Nadal showed his fierce staying power in court and asked officials that Nadal was often tested for drugs.
The back and forth sniping became so bad that the ATP eventually stepped in and asked both sides to communicate directly instead of relying on fake rumors.
Nadal’s agent, Benito Perez-Barbiadillo, recalled the times: “They (Nadal and Federer) were really two good people, so they had to talk to each other without listening to what the accompanying words were saying.”
Will the stadium court in Paris be named after Nadal one day?
During Nadal’s career, and his dominance over Roland-Garros, it’s no surprise that Nadal eventually received good reviews for his achievements at the event, thanks to his Spanish as a Spaniard, from doubt to recognition. But, one day, the rumor that the main stadium court will be renamed in Nadal’s honor is that.
Video: Roland Garros unveils the statue of Rafael Nadal a few days before the French Open pic.twitter.com/9yeiytjctr
– AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 29, 2021
Currently, the court is named after the late President of the International Tennis Federation Philippe Chatrier. If the court changes its name, it may be the French player on the way.
However, outside the front door of the complex is a new ten-foot stainless steel statue, an airborne Nadal, celebrating his immortal status as the “King of Clay”.
Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his clay kingdom It is now available in stores and online.
