Rafael Nadal is not used to starting the season slowly. The Spaniard has only lost the opening game three times since 2004, including the current season. To make matters worse, Rafa is 0-2 in 2023 for the first time in his career, losing both games after taking the opener.
Nadal has played just 11 games after last Wimbledon, battling injury and unable to bring his best game. Rafa gave his best against Cameron Norrie and Alex De Minaur at the United Cup in Sydney, but it couldn’t be. He lost both games in over two hours and 40 minutes, getting off to a good start but falling in the decider.
De Minaur defeated Nadal 3-6, 6-1 and 7-5 before his audience. Alex saved eight of 12 break points and broke Nadal on six occasions, including that pivotal return game at 5-5 in the final set. Rafa trailed 3-2 in the first set before stepping up to take four straight games 6-3.
The Spaniard took the lead in the second set with an early break before the Australian took over and turned the tables. Alex converted the fourth break chance in game two with a backhand winner and moved to 3-1 ahead with a backhand winner in game four.
De Minaur saved a break point in the next and broke Nadal for the third time in a row for 5-1. The Aussie erased a 40-0 deficit in game seven and capitalized on second set point to string together six straight games and force a decider.
Rafa got off to a better start, serving well and earning break chances in the second game that could have put him ahead. De Minaur wasted four and closed the game to avoid an early setback. Alex got a break at 15 of the fifth game and moved closer to the finish line.
McNamee reflects on Nadal
Former Australian tennis star Paul McNamee dismissed the chances of Rafael Nadal winning his 23rd Grand Slam at the Australian Open. “After all, in 2022 he won two grand slam titles, and he became a father for the first time.
That’s a very successful year by any measure. He now sits on a record 22 grand slam titles, one ahead of Djokovic and two ahead of Federer. These particular stats in the GOAT (greatest of all time) race are arguably the most important, but in my opinion the three members of the trinity will all need to be retired before their careers can be evaluated”.
