A Rafa Slam would be great for sports

WIMBLEDON, England—A third-round match against a player who already won two matches. Could Rafael been more concise about his next opponent at Wimbledon?

Or more understated?

But Lorenzo Sonego is special. . He’s a barrier, a blockage on a possible pathway to history—the man next in line to derail a rare chance for that most mystical of tennis achievements, the Grand Slam.

Only a year ago Novak Djokovic stood at the gate. He had won the Australian Open, the French Open (or if you choose Roland Garros) and Wimbledon. He was the top seed in the U.S. He was favored. Hew lost to Daniil Medvedev.

Grand Slam. Two words reflecting success in three sports, baseball, golf and tennis, if in varying degrees; home runs with the bases loaded are hardly unique, especially in this era when everyone swings for the fences (and too often strike out).

There have been a few in tennis the first in the men’s game in 1938 by Don Budge, who grew up in Oakland and for whom the courts  in Bushrod Park now are named; the last in by Rod Laver ln 1969.

The term comes from cards, contract bridge, winning all the tricks. It transitioned to sports when golfer Bobby Jones in 1930 won the U.S. and British Opens and U..S. and British Amateurs. Then apparently Allison Danzig of the New York Times applied it  to a aweep of the tennis titles.

In the days before their publications demanded frequent Twitter and Facebook updates, sports writers had time for plenty of bridge or poker.

The issue here, or course, is how Nadal and the men he faces in this Wimbledon—Djokovic won again Friday—play tennis. So far Rafa has been effective if not  impressive.

 As you know, Nadal is 37  coming off a foot injury and has won more of the tournaments comprising the Grand Slam, 22, than anyone else.  Yet, he remains noncommittal about maybe taking all four in this calendar year. Properly so.

The fact he won in Australia ln February on a hard court, in  Paris ln June on  a clay court might not mean much when he’s on a grass court in England in July.

Or it could mean everything. The hope is to adapt to the change in surfaces  and opponents.

The second week of this Wimbledon could be a particular joy,  assuming Nadal makes it that far—and with his skill and the vocal support of a crowd lacking the semi-retired Roger Federe, Nadal should, Rafa  can use it. sportrs can use it.  We just had the jolt of Steph Curry. How about a nudge from Nadal?

Part of our fascination with Wimbledon is it fills a gap. The NBA and NHL seasons are finished. The NFL is yet to begin. Baseball is trapped in its mid-summer ennui. 

Nadal might not seem up to the task, But he has surprised before. He was reluctant for a while to compete at Wimbledon,  conceding he never could adjust the surface.

Then at last he entered—and beat Federer in one the classic finai matches.

Nadal is mentally tough (not that the others are not. He was hurting at Roland Garros, and the doubterd wondered if he would make it to the end. It turned out he was the end. But he’s not thinking of reaching the end.

“It’s normasl that folks talk abour retirement of great athletes." Nadal.”told a gathering of media unconcerned with his serve or forehand.

“My philosophy is that a  couple weeks ago I was close to it. Now I don’t feel that way. I mean. Personally  what I love to see is

Tiger Woods.  Now I’m not seeing Tiger Woods.”

 We’re stlll seeing Rafael Nadal, and it would be great to see him continue his run for the Grand Slam.