"No matter what the result of Sunday's finals is, this year's clay-court season is the best in my career. I got more points than last year, but the most important thing is that my tennis level is the highest this year. And fighting the world's best players, fighting against the greatest player in tennis history in a Grand Slam final, this will definitely be a fun game." Nadal said to the camera.
In an interview after the game, Nadal returned to his residence. Next, he will prepare for the game wholeheartedly. Although the experts seemed to support him one-sidedly, Nadal did not feel that he was going to win so easily. In the battle between Zhang Guan and Federer in the semifinals, Nadal watched the whole match. Zhang Guan's performance made Nadal feel fear in his heart.
So after returning to the room, Nadal started watching the video of Zhang Guan's first round of matches in the French Open.
"Raphael!" A familiar voice rang from behind Nadal, speaking to his uncle and coach Tony. He saw Tony stepped forward, holding a large bottle of champagne in his hand.
"After you have won the French Open three consecutive championships tomorrow, let's open this bottle of champagne to celebrate! French high-quality champagne, I have been looking for a long time to open it." Tony said with a smile on his face.
"Uncle, I haven't won the championship yet! Zhang Guan is a very powerful opponent. Is it too early to talk about this kind of thing?" Nadal said.
Tony didn't seem to hear Nadal's voice, but said voluntarily, "Miguel called me just now. He will have a game tomorrow night, so he can't witness your French Open three consecutive championships, but he let me convey his blessings to you! When you return to Spain, he will go back to see you."
Tony's "Miguel" is Miguel Angulo, the midfielder of Valencia in La Liga. He is Tony's younger brother and Nadal's uncle.
Nadal was born in a sports family, there are several professional athletes in the family, so he can enter the best tennis school in Spain to study, and can have the achievements he has today.
Nadal was annoyed and his mood was a little irritable. While Nadal was still having a headache about how to deal with Zhang Guan, his uncle even discussed the victory party after the game.
"Uncle, Zhang Guan is very strong, really strong! I may not be able to defeat him!" Nadal said.
Tony put down the champagne, looked at Nadal very seriously, and said, "Why do you have such a strange idea? Listen, Rafael, this is the French Open, you are the king here, no one can beat you on this field! Unless you take the lead in admitting it, then you are the best!"
"How can I admit it!" Nadal said here, suddenly realizing Tony's intentions.
Nadal is indeed the king of the French Open clay court. He has won the French Open for two consecutive years. This year, his goal is to win three consecutive championships. Perhaps this is the case. He seems to be too concerned about these three consecutive championships. When he has a strong opponent like Zhang Guan, he starts to look forward and backward. He becomes a little unconfident. He is worried that he will not win, that he will lose the final, and that he will not get three consecutive championships.
At this moment, Nadal suddenly awakened, and he instantly recovered his confidence.
"Yes, Uncle Tony is right. I am the king of the French Open. I will be able to win the final victory! No one can beat me on this field, not even Zhang Guan!" Nadal's eyes were full of richness and self-confidence.
Next Tony smiled with satisfaction, his purpose has been achieved.
At the top level in the world, such as Nadal, there is no need to give him technical guidance. The coach is not allowed to enter the tennis court, so the tactical guidance is not very effective. It depends on the athlete to make their adjustments on the spot. Especially when their only one day away from the final, as a coach, all you can do is to help your players psychologically.
...
"Tomorrow's finals, you have to prepare for the away game. Nadal is after all Spanish." Sharapova continued, "This is France, and France and Spain are two neighboring countries, from Madrid to Paris, it costs only 60 Euros by car and two hours by plane. So during tomorrow's final, there will be a lot of Spanish spectators. Another point is that Nadal has won two consecutive championships in the French Open so he has many fans in France."
"It doesn't matter, I'm used to playing away." Zhang Guan smiled, and then said, "I remember that was the case when I participated in track and field competitions in 2005. The whole of Europe was my away game, but by 2006, Europe had changed. It's my home court!"
"Also I suggest you should prepare a national flag." Sharapova continued.
"Preparing the national flag? This is also popular in Grand Slams? Wrapped in the national flag?" Zhang Guan asked. He knew that on the track and field, the winner had the habit of wearing a national flag, but Zhang Guan had never seen a national flag on the grand slam.
Sharapova then introduced, "The Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open will inscribe the names of previous champions on the trophy. If the name is full on the trophy, the first way is to add a base to the trophy to continue to engrave; if the base is also engraved, then get a new trophy, continue from zero, the old trophy will be placed in the museum. In addition to the engraved name of the trophy, the Australian Open will also hang photos of previous men's and women's singles champions on the wall of the player aisle, every player will see the heroes of these predecessors on the way to the game, which you should have seen before participating in the Australian Open."
Zhang Guan nodded, and Sharapova continued, "But the French Open is different from other Grand Slam tournaments. They will raise the national flag and play the national anthem for the winner. You should pay attention to the flagpole around the stadium. There is a lot of national flags!"
Zhang Guan nodded, and there were many flagpoles erected around the stadium, all of which had national flags hanging on them, including Spain, Brazil, the United States, Argentina, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, and so on. They are all European and American countries, so Zhang Guan did not care too much.
"According to the regulations of the French Open Committee, once a country has a French Open champion, the country's national flag will be permanently be hung on the flagpole around the stadium," Sharapova said.
"It turned out to be like this!" Zhang Guan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he clenched his fists nervously and excitedly. He felt that this seemed to be more important than holding the French Open's Musketeer Cup.
"Tomorrow, I will let our national anthem ring through the stadium, and let our flag float forever over the French Open!"