Andy Murray
commented on Rafael Nadal not being seeded at the French Open. The Spaniard
will have a tough debut against 4th seed Alexander Zverev in his return to
Roland Garros after two years. The last time they faced each other was in the
semifinals of the tournament in 2022, when Zverev retired due to injury in the
tie-break of the second set.
Nadal has
an extraordinary record at the French Open of 112-3 (97.4%) and has claimed the
title 14 times, numbers unmatched by any player at any Grand Slam. Due to his
achievements at Roland Garros, there were suggestions that he be granted a
seeded spot, something that ultimately did not happen.
"Bad luck for Rafa, but seedings are fair"
Between
2002 and 2019, Wimbledon implemented a formula to determine seeded players
based on their individual performance on grass courts during the previous two
years. Since 2021, the organization decided to use the official ATP and WTA
rankings to determine the 32 seeds.
Considering
Nadal's situation, who is currently world No. 275 and entered with a protected
ranking, he was unable to secure a seeded spot, which 3-time Grand Slam
champion Andy Murray considered fair: "I think it's fair. I think the
Wimbledon stuff was slightly different because lots of players wouldn't play
any grass court tennis and would kind of arrive there having not played any
matches.”
“There were
periods where a lot of top clay courters didn't even bother playing Wimbledon.
So I think it's different now. I think the vast majority of players commit to
the majors and the Grand Slams and look the way the draw works, I mean bad luck
for Rafa."
Nadal won his 14th Roland Garros trophy at 2022.
"I
think the way the seedings work, I think it's appropriate and in this case it's
unfortunate how that's happened. I don't know how you gauge where someone
should and shouldn't be seeded based on past or previous success, it'd be quite
hard to do that and then there be a question under the players that are ranked
32 in the world, is it unfair on them," he added.
Murray
added that while it is unfortunate for Nadal, the seeding system is fair for
everyone: "If they have been playing the whole year to achieve that
ranking to miss on a seeding. So I think it's bad luck what's happened this
time but the seedings are fair."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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