Rafael Nadal is the hottest player on tour despite having recently ended a seven-month layoff to deal with chronic knee problems that cost him the London Olympics, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open. Those absences are a fading memory now that Nadal has won six titles since February. There will be injury-related red flags throughout the French fortnight, suggesting that the 26-year-old Nadal could fall victim to his own success, having played almost 40 matches this year already. But let’s not forget that Nadal is 52-1 at Roland Garros, is its only seven-time champion, and has never even gone the five-set distance in a final there. His anticipated rematch with the 2012 runner-up, top-ranked Novak Djokovic, will come in a potentially classic semifinal, but, as ever, the lefty looks like a lock to lift his eighth Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy.

1. Reigning French Open champion plays poker with fans in France - DailyMailUK
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3. French Open 2013: Rafael Nadal’s great transformation - Telegraph
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5. The Rally: Rafa's Brain & The Rally: Rafa's Brain, Part II - Steve Tignor
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7. 2013 French Open: Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams are heavy favorites - Washington Post
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9. Rafael Nadal Is Probably Going to Win Another French Open—Oddly Enough - The Atlantic
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11. What if Rafael Nadal and Thomas Muster had been rivals? – oregonlive
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13. Un Rafa más agresivo – deportes.elpais.com (by Carlos Moya)