Rafael Nadal claimed his first Major title at Roland Garros 2005, a couple of days after turning 19. A teenager defeated Roger Federer and Mariano Puerta in four sets to emerge at the top and write history books. Rafa received the trophy from the famous football player Zinedine Zidane, starting his incredible Parisian journey.
Seventeen years later, Nadal was still among the players to beat in Paris, seeking his 14th Roland Garros crown last June. Rafa played against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the third round, and Zinedine Zidane was there to watch him.
Nadal played well on Court Suzanne-Lenglen and scored a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 triumph. Nadal needed two hours and 11 minutes to emerge at the top and advance into the last 16 for the 17th time in 18 trips to the French capital. Rafa claimed 40 out of 46 points behind the first serve and got broken twice from three chances offered to his rival.
Botic could not take advantage of them after dropping almost half the points behind the initial shot.
Zinedine Zidane watched Rafael Nadal at the last year’s Roland Garros.
He suffered six breaks from 12 chances offered to Nadal and failed to make a comeback in the third set’s closing stages.
The Spaniard fired 25 winners and 13 unforced errors and tamed his strokes nicely in the opening two…
