Nadal on cloud nine

Jun 9, 2014, 12:00:00 AM

Nadal on cloud nine
The curtain fell on Roland Garros with the ninth victory of Nadal on the Parisian clay. But has the Spaniard managed to take the lead of the WAT ranking to Novak and his dog ?

The curtain fell on Roland Garros with the ninth victory of Rafael Nadal on the Parisian clay. Logically, the Spaniard takes the lead in our ranking. But the competition was tough between Djokovic's dog, Serena Williams' swimsuit and Maria Sharapova's mesmerizing footwork.

 

1 – Rafael Nadal (+2).

 

Nine-time winner at Roland Garros, the Spaniard is at home in Paris. On the courts, with this new victory, but also in the city. Moreover, since he took the habit of celebrating his birthday during the tournament. This year it was at Le Café de la Paix that the left-handed player feasted. Let's be honest, the cake was superb.

 

 

Slightly better than McDonald's... In any case, he can still be proud, Juan Carlos, the future ex-King of Spain himself, personally congratulated the player by phone after his victory in semi-final against Murray. It’s Rafa who spilled the beans on Facebook.

 

2 – Novak Djokovic (-1).

 

While the Serb was playing to win his first Roland Garros, the man seemed rather laid back during this fortnight. Moreover, whenever he visits Porte d'Auteuil, he never forgets to bring his dog. True love.

 

 

But he’s also a very great brand ambassador. Sponsored by Peugeot, the Serb took advantage of every moment to put the French brand in the spotlight, as during his quarterfinal against Milos Raonic. Clever.

 

 

This man is a communication genius. But also a chess genius, as in his spare time, he plays with some former player called Boris Becker. Sadly for him, it wasn't enough to beat Rafa in the final.

 

 

3 – Maria Sharapova  (+3). 

 

Maria showed to the younger generation that she was still the boss and is once again back on top of world tennis with her fifth Grand Slam title - and second at Roland Garros. In the final against Simona Halep, the Russian proved in three sets that she was the Queen of Paris. That being said, what is this posture in training, Maria?

 

 

Sex appeal doesn't allow you to do everything. However, we can only approve such praise to verticality during the presentation of the trophy in front of the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

4 – Andy Murray (+1).

 

Semi-finalist on the Parisian clay, the Scot was tremendous throughout the fortnight. On and off the courts where he paid tribute to the ball boys...

 

 

...Before giving his fantasy football team made of tennis players before the World Cup. And in his team, many surprises:

 

« The goalkeeper would be someone like Llodra, someone who plays well up at the net because he has very fast reactions, which is very important as a goalkeeper. He would probably think that he should be on the field but I think he would be a good goalkeeper. For the central defence, Zimonjic, I’ve never seen him kick a foot ball before but he’s very strong, big guy, and then someone else, with more technical skills, a big guy like Janowicz who’s got a good talent, he’s got a good feel, he’s quick. We’ve played football together once before and Tsonga played as right back, he’s very, very quick, very powerful, he would be good at defending and attacking. Then Djokovic, I played with him, he played as left back, He's got very good stamina. A good engine to get up and down the wing and he's left-footed as well which is obviously strange. In the midfield, I would put Rafa on the left, he’s a pretty good footballer, Ferrer would be a good defensive midfielder, he tackles well and runs a lot, he would be very good. Then Mauresmo, I saw her playing football, she was pretty good. I would be upfront. I would play with Baghdatis, he’s pretty good. Grosjean was good too but I think he’s not in shape now, so I’m not sure. I need one more… Fognini? He would probably get sent off after arguing with the referee…!»

 

Watch this very cool video:

 

 

5 - Gaël Monfils (-2).

 

Eliminated by Murray in the quarterfinals while nobody expected him here, the Monf has once again surprised everyone. Even advertisers surfed on the "Monfils" wave after his defeat. As this advertising campaign by French supermarkets Monoprix.

 

 

Nice touch. Now Gaël can go back to sleep.

 

6 - Roger Federer (-4).

 

Tough week for the Swiss. Eliminated in the last 16 by Ernests Gulbis at Roland Garros, the Swiss was once again stuck in traffic on Place de l'Opera during his short stay in Paris.

 

 

Bring the grass season now. But the Swiss is still an inspiration for the kids. Especially the young tournament volunteers who love to see, more than any other, the player getting changed...

 

 

7 – Serena Williams (+8).

 

The best performance of the week for Serena. Eight places up without winning a single match on the court. She may have left Roland Garros through the back door; she's been shinning elsewhere. Between morning stretches and handstands...

 

 

...But first and foremost when she arrived at a wedding dressed as… a panther! On holiday in some heavenly place, Serena has indeed crashed a ceremony that was taking place near her hotel wearing a leopard swimsuit. The bride and groom even posed with the player. Superb.

 

 

8 – Eugenie Bouchard (+4).

 

The Canadian keeps getting better as the season progresses. Defeated by Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, she posted a "sad face" selfie on the court before going home.

 

 

Even better, before her defeat, she congratulated the hockey team the Montreal Canadians, finalist in the Eastern Conference of the NHL.

 

 

But the best think of the week is an oldie. We found a picture of the player at 8-year-old with her hero at the time. A woman called Maria Sharapova... It was in Miami in 2002. Funny.

 

 

9 – Simona Halep (NE).

 

First Grand Slam final and a place of world number 3. Discreet and quiet, the Romanian is the next big thing of world tennis. For a year she has been walking on everybody on the tour. But we know her secret: Lupci. A Romanian-born artist she listens in a loop on her iPod. She says it herself.

 

10 – Tomas Berdych (/).

 

Quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, the Czech discovered the joys of social networks. He tooks a selfie with some birds... Actual birds.

 

 

…Posted cartoons…

 

 

…And said goodbye to Paris, in his very own way.

 

 

In the player lies a sensitive soul. A man who deserves to be famous.

 

11 – Grigor Dimitrov  (/).

 

While his girlfriend won Roland Garros, the Bulgarian struggled in comparison. But the man is starting to make a name for himself in the business since his sponsor, Nike, has just released a pair of tennis shoes in his name. Pride.

 

 

But the real pride, it’s his woman. Beside, he doesn’t even try to hide it.

 

 

12 - Caroline Wozniacki (NE).

 

Just like Serena Williams, the Dane gets back in the game without even playing. In Miami with Serena - they are close friends - they took advantage of the NBA Eastern Conference final between Miami and Indiana to celebrate the qualification of the Heat on the court.

 

 

Greg Oden, the Heat’s player seemed to love it.

 

 

13 – Ernests Gulbis (NE).

 

Unexpected semi-finalist at Roland Garros, the Latvian was tremendous especially in press conference. A real madman. And he didn't spare anyone. The Parisian audience:

 

« -How hard is it to play in front of a public that is against you? 
- I know how the Parisian public can be, so I tried to show as little as possible not to give them reasons to boo me. But eventually, the crowd helped me in the sense that the less I speak, the better I play! I only broke one racquet. And one, it's nothing! (Laughs) » 

 

And the journalists:

 

« - You have just defeated Federer, but the public doesn't know you very well. What do you want people to know about you?
- Nothing. (Laughs) »

 

14 - David Ferrer (-1).

 

The Spaniard stumbled against Rafael Nadal on clay once again. But it's okay, he had something else in mind. Like the abdication of King Juan Carlos of Spain and the arrival of a new king:

 

« Any story has an end. I think that his son has been prepared in advance A monarchy is pivotal in our country. Regarding my personal opinion about the monarchy, I will keep it for me. But the decision made by the king was the right one. Life goes on. So I wish him plenty of luck, because he`s retiring. He will be more tranquil now.»

 

A well-earned rest.

 

15 – Taylor Townsend  (+2).

 

Revelation of the tournament, the young player came back from Paris with a selfie taken with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Her best performance of the fortnight.

 

 

16 – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (-8).

 

Humiliated by Djokovic in the last sixteen, the French is losing steam. Too bad because he had famous fans in the stands. Like Pascal Pape and Vincent Clerc, the two French rugby players indeed came to the tournament to support the French number one. In vain.

 

 

17 – Dominika Cibulkova (NE).

 

Not a great performance on the courts but a lovely picture with Owen Wilson.

 

 

The beauty, eliminated in the second round by Stosur didn't make the trip to Paris for nothing.

 

18 – Fabio Fognini (+1).

 

The Italian lost against Monfils in the last 16 and didn't appreciate the support of the French public for its protégé. And he said it out loud. But with tact.

 

 

19 – Ana Ivanovic (/).

 

What does the young Serb do when she's not on the courts? She goes out with the Serbian Olympic swimmer Minja Najdanovski. An exquisite duet.

 

 

20 - Fernando Verdasco (NE).

 

Just like Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco is a football fan and especially a supporter of la Roja, the Spanish national team. Before the start of the World Cup, the player is already showing his support.

 

 

23 – Victoria Azarenka (/).

 

While Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep were playing for the title at Roland Garros, Vica was far from the Parisian clay. The Belarus is still in recovery after yet another injury to her right foot. Moreover, to keep her spirits up, she invites some friends to her training sessions. This week: Stan Wawrinka. Nice.

 

 

24 – Anna-Lena Groenefeld (NE).  

 

Who said that Germans didn't know how to party? In the locker room, Anna-Lena Groenefeld had some great fun with her German compatriots Andrea Petkovic and Julia Goerges while waiting for the rain to stop last Wednesday. Party time!

 

 

25 - Milos Raonic (/).

 

Milos may sometimes tweet in French, he’s first and foremost Canadian. And at home, it’s a great source of pride. Just like Eugenie Bouchard, he makes everybody very happy.

 

 

Out:

 

Mladenovic, Lokoli, Wawrinka, Gasquet, Llodra, Kvitova, Radwanska

 

By Mathieu Faure