PARIS — Chasing a record-extending 10th French Open crown on the back of his worst claycourt season since prevailing for the first time, Rafa Nadal acknowledged another weakness on Tuesday -- his best shot is not that solid.
The Spaniard, who before this year had always claimed a claycourt title in Europe on his way to Paris, eased past French teenager Quentin Halys with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 first-round win.
But Nadal, who now has a 67-1 record at Roland Garros, has problems with his forehand, the weapon that has crushed his rivals for more than a decade of domination on the slow surface.