Andy Roddick has been looking ahead to the tournament set to dominate tennis for the next two weeks: The French Open.
With the full Roland Garros draw having been made earlier this week, there were a few key names that everyone sought to find.
And when eyes landed on Rafael Nadal, a first-round clash with Alexander Zverev drew a gasp of air from most. Arguably the toughest draw the Spaniard could have faced.
Andy Roddick, who held out from learning the draw before recording his latest podcast, reacted appropriately to such startling news.
Andy Roddick previews Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev
Reacting live to the Roland Garros draw on the Served by Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number one was unsurprisingly waiting for just one fixture.
And when he saw it, his reaction was as dramatic as one would expect. In transcribing it, much of the explicit content was revoked, but Roddick was instantly explosive.
He claimed: ‘[Screams] I found it! I found it! Oh, first round holy… Oh no. Guys, did you hear we landed on the moon? This is why everyone is being so weird.
‘Oh, Zverev and Nadal oh my god.
‘Rafa. Our dear Rafa. Our friend. His last Roland Garros. Rafa.’
He then goes on to offer his thoughts on the tactics of the match-up, but admitted: ‘I think Zverev wins just because there’s a lot that’s more predictable.
‘Rafa’s had a hard time holding serve, he’s gotten through matches in Madrid. He’s getting broken a lot and Zverev can break. Let’s rewind two years ago, he was pushing Rafa to the limit when Rafa was Rafa.
‘Zverev is arguably playing better right now off of Rome.
‘I will say this, if we’re going to spin it positively for Rafa. I think his best chance of making a deep run is getting through a match like this first. There’s this weird pressure where you’re going in and you know you have to play great. Rafa, what he has to do well, is going to be very clear.
‘He has to play aggressively, he can’t just loop balls in the middle of the court. If there’s a chance for him to play great this tournament, I think the best chance is playing Zverev.’
Rafael Nadal can’t make a first-round exit at Roland Garros
Despite all the odds being stacked against him, it just feels like the mere aura of Nadal could be enough to carry him through this first and most formidable challenge.
After all, he would have had to face someone of this calibre eventually, so why not in the first round?
There is arguably no better time to play one of the world’s best, when they are yet to get into their Grand Slam groove, and it could allow Nadal to come out swinging and see if he can land any punches.
The 37-year-old has by no means been written off, and should he win tomorrow it would mark one of the great tennis stories.
But as Roddick also details, if he is to do so, he will have to be aggressive, and he will have not only the entire stadium, but likely the entire tennis world in his corner too. That has to count for something.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
