The king of clay Rafael Nadal hasn't played that well on his beloved surface this spring, barely winning the 12th Barcelona Open title and losing in the quarter-final in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
David Goffin is aware that the Spaniard is not in an ideal position ahead of Rome and Roland Garros, although he still sees him as the favorite in Paris. Goffin mentioned Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas as Rafa's main opponents, still believing that the 13-time Roland Garros winner can switch into a higher gear and defend his kingdom for another year.
"It's a difficult question. Of course, when you are used to seeing him win everything ... there, one year in fifteen, he arrives here with two defeats and we wonder if he is still the stronger. He played a very good Zverev and even if he wants to win everything, his main goal remains Roland Garros. He will arrive with games here. It is clear that players are playing better and better on clay.
There are Thiem, Djokovic, Zverev even Berrettini. Tsitsipas, Rublev ... Lots of very good players. Madrid go very fast and it is the tournament that he appreciates the least. We can still count on him. has already buried so many times ... It is clear that at some point you will have to stop but he is still there," David Goffin said.