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Photos: FFT

Francisco Roig reflects on his long-term partnership with the Spaniard

Francisco Roig has been working with Rafael Nadal since the year 2005, when the Spaniard had yet to win his first Grand Slam. As a result, the Catalonian coach has experienced the vast majority of the No. 2 FedEx ATP Ranked player’s victories, including the one he claimed today in the first round of the Paris Rolex Masters against Feliciano López, his 1000th win as a professional.

2020 Paris Masters R2 Rafael Nadal bt. Feliciano Lopez  4-6 7-6(5) 6-4

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Rafael Nadal became only the fourth player to earn 1,000 Open Era singles victories on Wednesday, as he opened his title bid at the Rolex Paris Masters with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 comeback victory against Feliciano Lopez.

Q. I don't believe this. Thirteen victories from thirteen finals in Paris. This has never happened: in the history of tennis, in the history of sports. How could this happen?
Rafa:  I do not know either. If this happened to me, it could happen to someone else. I'm a normal person. With my insecurity, my fears.

Q. Are you afraid of losing on the court?
Rafa: Fear of losing, never. But I always think that I can lose. I think about it every day, against any rival, and this helps me a lot.

Q. What are you afraid of? It's said darkness, dogs
Rafa: Those are just jokes. I'm afraid of illness. I'm afraid for those I love.

Photo: FFT

PARIS (AFP): Rafael Nadal said on Sunday (Nov 1) that he "is not worried" about his history of injury withdrawals at the Paris Masters ahead of his latest bid to win the event for the first time, just three weeks after his 13th French Open title.

This will only be Nadal's eighth appearance in the tournament at Bercy Arena, situated less than 14km across Paris from Roland Garros, and he has reached the final just once.