Ivan Ljubicic reflects on Federer’s ‘traumatic’ battles with Nadal in Roland Garros
ATPThursday, 14 November 2024 at 21:30
Ivan
Ljubicic, former coach to Roger Federer, recently discussed the challenges
Federer faced against Rafael Nadal at the French Open. The Croatian, a former
world No. 3, joined Federer’s team in 2015 after Stefan Edberg’s departure,
playing a crucial role in Federer’s journey to his last three Grand Slam titles
before his 2022 retirement.
In an
interview with Eurosport, Ljubicic shared the harsh reality of playing Nadal on
clay: “Playing against Rafa on Philippe-Chatrier is difficult. It's a traumatic
experience,” he said.
"Nadal is the French Open"
Federer
reached five French Open finals but secured just one title in 2009, defeating
Robin Soderling, who had notably beaten Nadal in the fourth round. Across those
five finals, Federer won only three sets compared to Nadal’s twelve, including
the painful 2008 defeat, which remains one of the most one-sided matches in
their rivalry.
That year, Nadal claimed his fourth consecutive Roland Garros
title with a decisive 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Federer. Just months later,
Nadal ascended to World No. 1 for the first time in his career.
“I was
surprised when Nadal announced his retirement,” Ljubicic remarked. “I can
obviously understand why—that’s not the point. But for me, Rafa Nadal is the
French Open, and it’s hard to accept that he’s not going to play the French
Open.”
“Champions
like that play to win, not just to participate. And that’s something we’ve come
to understand when we’ve seen the man with 21 Grand Slam titles (actually 22)
struggling over these past months. I don’t know exactly what his level of play
or physical condition is, but it’s not what we’re used to, and it doesn’t allow
him to compete at a very high level.”
Roger Federer reached 5 French Open finals
Ljubicic
also emphasized Federer’s dominance on grass, comparing it to Nadal’s supremacy
on clay. Federer ended his career with eight Wimbledon titles, a tournament
record.
“I never
played Federer at Wimbledon, but I played him many times, and it was
complicated because he had all the solutions,” Ljubicic continued. “Rafa’s
tennis is tactically quite simple, but it’s impossible to handle, especially
with his topspin. But Roger always came up with different solutions, and for
me, tactically, it was very complicated.”
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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