the unexpected Nadal at Roland Garros

PARIS – It’s Rafael Nadal’s voice, it’s him, unmistakable. And the video shows him speaking on centre court at Roland Garros, where the Spaniard has won 14 of his 14 finals.

What you hear is astonishing.

I own fucking Roland Garros.
I won here more than anyone ever.
I only came out to test the clay for the Olympics.
I am the king here and everyone knows.
Djokovic has won the French only three times.
He is a man child, he may have the most Grad Slam titles, but he has no class.
He is what I call Le Petit Poubelle.
I am the best tennis player ever.
The fans who saw me today will tell their grandchildren they saw a God play tennis.
I might be old, but I’m the best to do it. Thank you and goodbye.

The video shows Nadal, and it is the Nadal who was speaking on Monday after losing in the first round to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. But what he says, although voice and gestures make some very unsuspecting people think it is real, is only a product of Artificial Intelligence, a work of a fan account of the Spaniard (@Nadal_Fr) that amazed many on a rainy and cool Tuesday at Roland Garros.

A delirium, because Nadal would never say that. And that’s precisely why the video generated attraction, because it shows an impossible Nadal.

And while on Monday Nadal’s fans appealed to artificial intelligence to make him say things he would never say, the ‘real’ Nadal spoke and said some astonishing things. Not to the extent of the fake video, but somewhat unusual.

It was when he was asked what it meant for him that his match against German Alexander Zverev was followed in the stands of the stadium by Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz. The two current number one players and a former number one who is also Nadal’s successor in Spain.

‘I didn’t see them, but I think it’s normal in a way, isn’t it? I think if it’s the last time I’m going to play here and if I know Novak is the last time he plays at Wimbledon or in Australia and I was there…. I mean, these kind of young rivals or young players that are here like Carlos, that probably watch me on TV most of their years that they’re living, it’s normal that somehow they’re interested to see how this is going to be, and especially in this particular place with all the history that I had behind it, right? Happy for that to happen, you know, because that means that I have a positive legacy here and a positive legacy in my career, right?’

Nadal said what he said and in a relaxed manner, but to talk about his place in history and to say that it is normal for his fellow tour mates to want to come and see him is as correct as it is unusual for a man who, after winning several consecutive Roland Garros like a steamroller, used to show extreme respect for his debut against a 19-year-old world No. 188, when everyone – including him – knew the match was a mere formality if it was played on the clay of Paris.

The Spaniard made a cult, over two decades of public exposure, of exhibiting humility and respect for his opponents. The essence of the sportsman, although today it is not so fashionable.

Nadal does not usually speak highly of himself. It is probably a licence he is allowing himself in the final stretch of his career. That’s why his analysis on Monday of the presence of Djokovic, Swiatek and Alcaraz drew mild attention: he was talking about a Nadal somewhat relieved of the burden of being flawless.

Alcaraz, confirming Nadal, sees it perfectly natural to attend his matches from the stands.

‘I said many times that I wanted to enjoy as much as possible Rafa’s matches in his tournaments. And the match against Zverev is a great match to watch as a tennis fan,’ said the reigning Wimbledon champion when asked on Sunday if he would watch Nadal live.

The presence of a top player watching another top player from the stands is unusual in tennis. In the great years of the ‘big three’ it was common to ask Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer if they would watch the match of one of them.

The answer was usually ‘yes’, but on television and from the hotel room. Logically, they tended to be the star matches of the night session, unlikely to play a big match at four in the afternoon, as was the case with Nadal on Monday.

“Nadal inspired me. On and off the court,” confessed Swiatek, who on Monday was taking pictures of her great idol with her mobile phone, just like any other fan.

The fake Nadal, the AI Nadal, would say it’s only natural that he would do that, because there’s no one like him in Paris. The real Nadal, probably too.