As was predicted, Rafael Nadal earned the ITF World Champion award, his first in three years and fifth overall. Nadal claimed two Major crowns in 2022 and reached another semi-final at Wimbledon, standing as the player with the most points and wins.
Thus, Nadal became the fourth player with five ITF honors after Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Rafa skipped the second part of 2021 due to a foot injury and did not know what to expect this January. The Spaniard passed seven obstacles to secure his first Australian Open title in 13 years and became the first player in history with 21 Major trophies!
Rafa advanced to his sixth Australian Open final, but it seemed he would lose the fifth straight title match at Melbourne Park! After two hours and 45 minutes, Daniil Medvedev led 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, 40-0 against Rafa. Nadal survived those three break points in the third set’s sixth game and started one of his most incredible comebacks.
Rafa claimed the third set after breaking the opponent with a backhand down the line winner in game nine and forged an early advantage in the fourth. He held at love in game ten to wrap up the set and force a decider after four hours and 12 minutes.
Pushing strong, the Spaniard placed a forehand down the line winner in the final set’s fifth game to open a 3-2 gap and move closer to the finish line. Nadal fended off three break points in the sixth game for a 4-2 advantage and served for the crown at 5-4.
Medvedev made one last push and broke back to lock the result at 5-5 and increase the drama. Staying composed, Rafa seized the third break point in the 11th game and sealed the deal on his serve a few minutes later to write history books.
Four months later, Nadal pursued his 14th Roland Garros crown.
Rafael Nadal secured two Major titles in 2022, standing on 22.
The king of clay missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to a fractured rib and experienced early losses in Madrid and Rome.
Struggling with foot pain, Nadal needed injections ahead of every match in Paris to play competitive tennis! The Spaniard overpowered Novak Djokovic in the quarter-final and moved into the title clash when Alexander Zverev retired following a massive semi-final battle that lasted three hours.
Casper Ruud challenged Nadal in the final and could only do a little against the most formidable opponent. Rafa notched a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 victory in two hours and 18 minutes for his 22nd Major and more history by his name. Casper led 3-1 in the second set before Rafa shifted into a higher gear and rattled off 11 straight games that carried him over the top.
Hoping for more of the same at Wimbledon, Nadal battled past Taylor Fritz after an epic battle in the quarter-final. The Spaniard revealed a seven-millimeter abdominal tear and withdrew ahead of the semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios.
Rafa failed to recover until the end of the season, playing only nine more matches and ending the US Open campaign in the fourth round against Frances Tiafoe. The veteran was the favorite to become world no. 1 after the US Open, but he fell to Tiafoe in four sets to end his excellent campaign at Majors.
“I’m delighted to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time. When I first won the award in 2008, I would not have expected to be playing at such a high level 14 years later. It was exceptional to win the Australian Open for a second time, and of course, Roland Garros.
I’m grateful for the support of my team and my fans worldwide, and I’m already looking forward to the 2023 season,” Rafael Nadal said.
