Are the Parisian fans finally appreciating Nadal?

[Deleted member 77403]

We all know about the relationship the Parisian fans have had with Nadal ever since the swashbuckling Spaniard first stepped foot onto the sacred red clay there to begin a legacy like no other. We know about the instances that have occurred, the cheering of his loss to Soderling, among other things that left a negative impact on the champion.

But has that been changing over the recent years? Have the Parisian fans warmed up to Rafa? I felt that despite not fully accepting him in the past, maybe because he wasn't what they penciled a champion should look like, or play like, they have begun to appreciate him more and more. Perhaps this has to do with them knowing that despite still being the champion, he is possibly now writing the final chapters of his incredible legacy on those courts. Maybe you don't realize how special something truly is, until you begin to feel it come to an end. Nothing lasts forever, and maybe Nadal's greatness was taken for granted as boring, instead of being seen as something very rare in all of sport.

I felt that the warmth Nadal got when his birthday was celebrated, and how he was cheered in that epic battle against Djokovic, there was that invisible embrace between him and the crowd.

He was their champion.

 

[Steve0904]

Hard to say really. No disrespect to any French people here, but the fans at RG seem pretty fickle to me. I think they may have wanted to see him lose just once at the French so that it would open the door for Federer, who they obviously adore, but perhaps now that Federer has won the French they are ok with Nadal winning. Not that they weren't before, but it was quite clear in 2009 that they were rather happy when Nadal lost and over the moon when Federer won.

 

[Backspin1183]

We all know about the relationship the Parisian fans have had with Nadal ever since the swashbuckling Spaniard first stepped foot onto the sacred red clay there to begin a legacy like no other. We know about the instances that have occurred, the cheering of his loss to Soderling, among other things that left a negative impact on the champion.

But has that been changing over the recent years? Have the Parisian fans warmed up to Rafa? I felt that despite not fully accepting him in the past, maybe because he wasn't what they penciled a champion should look like, or play like, they have begun to appreciate him more and more. Perhaps this has to do with them knowing that despite still being the champion, he is possibly now writing the final chapters of his incredible legacy on those courts. Maybe you don't realize how special something truly is, until you begin to feel it come to an end. Nothing lasts forever, and maybe Nadal's greatness was taken for granted as boring, instead of being seen as something very rare in all of sport.

I felt that the warmth Nadal got when his birthday was celebrated, and how he was cheered in that epic battle against Djokovic, there was that invisible embrace between him and the crowd.

He was their champion.

I think you've summed it up quite well. The Parisian crowd at RG is now more aware than before that Nadal isn't always be gonna be around. He is no longer the raging bull that he once was on clay. As he gets older and vulnerable, I think the crowd all over the world is gonna root for Rafa more and more. Nobody likes seeing a great champion struggle. RG never had a champion like Nadal before, and perhaps never will again.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Hard to say really. No disrespect to any French people here, but the fans at RG seem pretty fickle to me. I think they may have wanted to see him lose just once at the French so that it would open the door for Federer, who they obviously adore, but perhaps now that Federer has won the French they are ok with Nadal winning. Not that they weren't before, but it was quite clear in 2009 that they were rather happy when Nadal lost and over the moon when Federer won.

This is exactly my thought, still they apprently booed him after his win over Isner and it was after RF's win ? That's not acceptable.