Nine-time French Open champion Rafa Nadal will no longer be regarded as an "immovable obstacle" at Roland Garros this year, according to two-time former winner Jim Courier.
The American, who ruled the clay-court Grand Slam in 1991 and 1992, has watched the Spaniard's increasing vulnerability on the red dust with interest in the build-up to the tournament, which begins in Paris on Sunday.
While Courier believes the best-of-five-set format means Nadal remains formidable, he makes world No. 1 Novak Djokovic the favorite followed by Kei Nishikori.