eBusiness Weekly
During a long interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Matteo Berrettini spent some kind words for Rafael Nadal. The Italian said: “Rafael Nadal is pure energy, he looks like a bull. When Nadal enters a room, you immediately feel the energy he emanates.
“When he tells you about his activities, whether he went fishing or golfing, it sounds like he’s telling you about an episode from the Punic Wars.
“He never slows down, it’s a concentrate of energy.”
In the latest edition of the Big Deal podcast, Darren Cahill invited the Next Gen to take the example of a legend like Nadal: “Rafael Nadal is an extraordinary person, as well as a formidable tennis player.
The Next Gen guys should take an example from Rafa. I am not referring only to tennis, but also to the way he trains, the way he treats his opponents and the way he behaves off the court. His work ethic is second to none, as is his love for the sport”.
Latest on Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is a living legend of the sport and he doesn’t want to hear about raising the white flag.
The last few months have been very difficult for the Spaniard, who hasn’t been able to express his best tennis due to a series of injuries.
The former world number 1 showed up at the 2023 Australian Open in truly precarious conditions, leaving the scene already in the second round and sustaining a second-degree lesion to the ileo-psoas.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has already had to give up the ATPs in Doha and Dubai, while his participation in the Sunshine Double is hanging by a thread.
The 36-year-old from Manacor is destined to drop out of the Top 10 and many fear that his retirement is near. Rafa could decide to preserve his physique in view of the clay season, which will begin with the Masters 1000 in Montecarlo.
The Iberian’s mind is already focused on Roland Garros, scheduled for the end of May on the red clay of Paris, where he will hunt for his 15th title.
Rafael Nadal embraces soft practice on clay. Are Indian Wells and Miami ruled out?
After a few weeks away from the court, a 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal is back. Nadal practiced at home in Mallorca, embracing a light training session on clay.
Rafa has been dealing with a Grade 2 iliopsoas injury since the Australian Open, staying away from tennis for a few weeks and returning on his beloved clay.
The Spaniard is yet to decide about his participation in Indian Wells and Miami. However, his training surface gives us another hint that he should skip the upcoming Masters 1000 events and return to action in Monte Carlo in April.
Rafa claimed two Major titles in 2022 and looked good to finish the season at the top. However, he injured his abdominal muscle at Wimbledon and scored only four wins in the rest of the season.
Instead of a fresh start in 2023, the Spaniard lost two United Cup matches from a set up
and travelled to Melbourne with no confidence.
Nadal passed the first obstacle at the Australian Open and faced Mackenzie McDonald in the second round. Nadal injured his left leg in the second set’s closing stages and experienced a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 loss.
Rafael Nadal trained on clay at home in Mallorca.
The American beat the Spaniard in straight sets and delivered Rafa’s earliest loss at Majors since 2016. McDonald played well and stayed focused against an injured rival in the third set.
Mackenzie produced five breaks from eight opportunities and lost serve twice to emerge at the top.
He made a flying start and broke the defending champion in the opener’s games one and five for 4-1 in under 20 minutes. Nadal reduced the deficit with a break in game six, and McDonald fended off a break point at 5-4 to bring the set home.
The second set saw back-to-back breaks in the early stage, and Rafa got broken again at 3-3.
The American landed an ace in the eighth game to confirm the advantage, and the Spaniard asked for a medical timeout on his left hip.
Rafa left the court to receive the treatment and held in game nine to prolong the set despite an apparent struggle.
McDonald brought the set home after Nadal’s forehand error at 5-4 and moved closer to the finish line. Rafa continued and gave his best in the third set despite struggling to run or hit a backhand.
He fired an ace on a break point at 4-4 and held to stay in contention. Mackenzie levelled the score at 5-5 and placed a backhand down the line winner in the next one to grab a decisive break.
The American landed a service winner in game 12 to seal the deal and dethrone the Spaniard.
Nadal withdrew from Doha and Dubai, and his fans await his decision about Indian Wells and Miami. — tennisworldusa
