Rafael Nadal has confirmed he'll miss the French Open for the primary time in his profession after failing to get better from a pelvic harm in time. The Spaniard is probably the most profitable participant within the competitors’s historical past having lifted the trophy on 14 events and has featured yearly since 2004. Here Express Sport takes a visit down reminiscence lane and has a take a look at the event that 12 months for a sighter of what a Nadal-less Roland Garros might seem like...

In sport some issues hardly ever change and that was the case in 2004. Nadal’s long-time good friend and rival Roger Federer went into the event as No 1 seed and pre-tournament favorite having gained Wimbledon and the Australian Open within the 12 months prior.

However, as was so usually the case in Roland Garros, it wasn’t to be for the Swiss legend as he exited the competitors within the third spherical. The then 22-year-old suffered a straight-sets defeat to three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten who went on to have a run to the quarter-finals.

Federer was not the one seed to exit early doorways in what quickly turned an open draw. World No 2 Andy Roddick departed in spherical two whereas 4th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out on the similar stage. sixth and seventh seeds Andre Agassi and Rainer Schuttler didn't even progress past the primary spherical.

Amongst the chaos, British favorite Tim Henman was placing collectively a robust run. The no 9 seed put collectively his best-ever exhibiting at Roland Garros as he made his option to the semi-finals. He succumbed to world No 3 Guillermo Coria in a four-set defeat.

In reality, the event actually belonged to Argentina. Players from the South American nation made up half of the quarter-final lineup with solely Henman’s spectacular efficiency stopping an Argentine semi-final lockout. David Nalbandian was the opposite unfortunate man to fall within the ultimate 4 as he was defeated in straight units by the unseeded Gaston Gaudio.

World No 3 Coria went into the ultimate as the massive favorite having beforehand been thought of the ‘King of Clay’ earlier than Nadal seized that mantle endlessly. He began effectively within the ultimate taking the primary two units with ease together with bagelling the opener earlier than the match turned.

Gaudio managed to realize momentum within the match as he took the subsequent two units to degree the scoreline. A nervy decider ensued with the unseeded Argentine finally prevailing 8-6.

Given the dominance loved by Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic within the years since, Gaudio stays the final unseeded male participant to win a Grand Slam. Given Nadal shouldn't be current for the primary time because the likes of Andy Murray and Jack Draper can be hoping historical past repeats as they give the impression of being to get their fingers on the French Open trophy for the primary time.