EXCLUSIVE: Rafael Nadal French Open opponents will only be rewarded THIS way - Castle
RAFAEL NADAL can be stopped at Roland Garros, but players must be braver and more aggressive to throw him off his stride.
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That is the bold prediction of former BBC Sport commenatator Andrew Castle.
Nadal booked his place in the quarter-finals of the French Open with a convincing 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory over Germany's Maximilian Marterer.
The world No 1 has now rattled off 37 consecutive sets on clay and clinched his 900th win on the ATP Tour.
So far, Nadal is yet to drop a set and he is the undisputed king of the red dirt.
But Castle reckons the Spaniard can be stopped if players aren’t afraid to try something new.
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Somebody has to go out there and have the guts and technique to try something different
“Over five on clay, it’s a whole different ball game,” Castle told Express Sport when discussing whether the Nadal juggernaut can be halted.
“Do I see anybody beating him? No.
“Somebody has to go out there and have the guts and technique to try something different.
“You know you’re going to lose, so you have to try something different.
“Juan Martin del Potro can take a racket out of Nadal’s hand.
“You have to have something that Nadal can’t match.”
Castle thinks variation is the key to disturbing Nadal’s rhythm, adding: “It’s not going to be physical because he can run until the cows come home.
“You have to be willing to throw it all out there and risk being humiliated, but you have to try it.
“Whether it’s a short slice, but anything, try anything. Do something different.
“If you just go out there, you will get done!”
Nadal takes on Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the last eight.