This part of the season is certainly the least suited to Rafael Nadal’s characteristics. The Spanish phenomenon will try to win the ATP Finals for the first time in his career, but it will not be easy given the speed of the Turin surface.
The former world number 1 will make his debut Sunday night against Taylor Fritz, in the re-release of the Indian Wells final and the quarter-final at Wimbledon. Despite the difficulties of recent months, 2022 was still an exceptional year for the Iberian.
The 36-year-old from Manacor has in fact won the Australian Open and Roland Garros, proving for the umpteenth time that he is a living legend. Rafa also went on the hunt for his third Wimbledon title, but a tear in his abs prevented him from playing the semifinal against Nick Kyrgios.
That injury also affected his preparation for the US Open, where he was eliminated in the round of 16 by a wild Frances Tiafoe. After taking a long break, the Majorcan returned to action at Paris-Bercy, but did not go beyond the second round (defeated in three sets by Tommy Paul).
Rafa Nadal is a true legend
Passing through a press conference this Friday on the occasion of the media day two days before his entry into the running at the Turin Masters, Rafael Nadal returned to his defeat against Tommy Paul, in the second round of the Masters 1000 of Betting last week (6−3, 6–7(4), 1–6).
And the Spaniard revealed in particular that he had vomited at the end of the final round because of a stomach problem. “The truth is that I hadn’t competed in a long time and had a little stomach problem, nothing more.
I started vomiting at the end of the third set, I had a stomach ache, nothing more. That’s why I didn’t say anything either. There was no room for that and I’m fine. A bad day and then back to training.” Speaking to the media, Nadal stressed that he gives it his best in every tournament regardless of his record at the event.
“I try my best in every single event. That’s true. Doesn’t matter if I won it [in the past] or not. When I enter a tennis tournament, I want to win and I’m going to try my best to achieve that goal. Here I was not able to make it, I was not good enough to make it in the past.
So I just accept that and I’m happy to give myself another chance at the age of 36 — something, for me, that was difficult to imagine years ago,” he explained.
