has confirmed he'll miss the for the primary time in his profession after failing to recuperate from a pelvic damage in time. The Spaniard is essentially the most profitable participant within the competitors’s historical past having lifted the trophy on 14 events and has featured yearly since 2004. Right here Specific Sport takes a visit down reminiscence lane and has a take a look at the event that 12 months for a sighter of what a Nadal-less Roland Garros may appear like...
In sport some issues hardly ever change and that was the case in 2004. Nadal’s long-time pal and rival went into the event as No 1 seed and pre-tournament favorite having received and the within the 12 months prior.
Nevertheless, as was so typically the case in Roland Garros, it wasn’t to be for the Swiss legend as he exited the competitors within the third spherical. The then 22-year-old suffered a straight-sets defeat to three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten who went on to have a run to the quarter-finals.
Federer was not the one seed to exit early doorways in what quickly turned an open draw. World No 2 Andy Roddick departed in spherical two whereas 4th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out on the identical stage. sixth and seventh seeds Andre Agassi and Rainer Schuttler didn't even progress past the primary spherical.
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Amongst the chaos, British favorite Tim Henman was placing collectively a powerful run. The no 9 seed put collectively his best-ever exhibiting at Roland Garros as he made his solution to the semi-finals. He succumbed to world No 3 Guillermo Coria in a four-set defeat.
In fact, the event actually belonged to Argentina. Gamers from the South American nation made up half of the quarter-final lineup with solely Henman’s spectacular efficiency stopping an Argentine semi-final lockout. David Nalbandian was the opposite unfortunate man to fall within the closing 4 as he was defeated in straight units by the unseeded Gaston Gaudio.
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World No 3 Coria went into the ultimate as the large favorite having beforehand been thought-about the ‘King of Clay’ earlier than Nadal seized that mantle without end. He began properly within the closing taking the primary two units with ease together with bagelling the opener earlier than the match turned.
Gaudio managed to realize momentum within the match as he took the subsequent two units to stage the scoreline. A nervy decider ensued with the unseeded Argentine ultimately prevailing 8-6.
Given the dominance loved by Nadal, Federer and within the years since, Gaudio stays the final unseeded male participant to win a Grand Slam. Given Nadal is just not current for the primary time for the reason that likes of and will probably be hoping historical past repeats as they give the impression of being to get their palms on the French Open trophy for the primary time.