Healthy and confident Rafa Nadal hoping for resurgent season after stunning Australian Open run
Spaniard has become used to making comebacks in an injury-ravaged career. This last one, though, may be the most unexpected – and satisfying
Rafael Nadal has become used to making comebacks in an injury-ravaged career. This last one, though, may be the most unexpected – and satisfying.
Sidelined by a wrist injury for two long stretches last year, Nadal didn’t believe he’d be playing at his top level and contending again for titles until later this spring, when the tour moves to his beloved clay.
Then he came to Melbourne and somehow kept grinding out win after win. He made it all the way to the Australian Open final, where he fell just short in his bid to win his 15th major by losing to long-time rival Roger Federer, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
This is a good sign heading into his favourite major, the French Open, where Nadal can try to round off his trophy collection with an improbable No 10.
“I believe that playing like this, good things can happen. Can happen here in this surface, but especially can happen on clay,” he said. “On clay can be special.”
The injury flared up again at the end of the year and Nadal shut down his season early to rest and allow himself to fully heal.
It looks like a wise decision now.
Feeling refreshed and looking sharp, the Spaniard rallied twice to pull out five-set matches in Melbourne. He showed his superior fitness by outlasting a cramping Alexander Zverev to come back from a two-set-to-one deficit in the third round, and he narrowly edged Grigor Dimitrov in a five-hour thriller in the semi-finals.
“I cannot say that I am sad. I wanted to win, yes, but I am not very sad. I did all the things that I could. I worked a lot during all these months,” he said. “I enjoyed the competition. I won against the best players of the world, and I competed well against everybody.”
And Nadal feels if he stays healthy, he could be on the verge of a resurgent season.
“The real thing is what makes me more happy, more than the titles, is go on the court and feel that I can enjoy the sport,” he said.
“Today I am enjoying the sport.”