Nadal retains Hope for the Long Run—Nathan’s Blog
By: Nathan M. Cuny
The Australian Open’s centennial celebration begins within a short 5 days from the date. Fan favorites like Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal will all give their 150% to bag the first big one of the season. Of these four big players fans expect greatness and strength—especially with four players on the rise behind them and many up-and-comers itching to be the best—but sometimes greatness falters.
Rafael Nadal already harbors doubts that he will win not the Australian Open, though he will undoubtedly give it all he can. Nadal’s biggest problem is the sore left shoulder he carried from the end of last season into 2012’s start. Rafa’s bum shoulder led him down a path to rediscover his best form, currently placing his form far below his norm. Even so Nadal states, “I know I am working well, with a much more positive attitude than I had during the second half of last season, especially in the final stretch. I see myself capable of having a good tournament but you never know. I am happy with the level of my game, of how I am doing things and I think I am sowing seeds that will bear fruit. But maybe not in Australia.”
Many fans faced disappointment following Nadal’s premature knockout in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open semifinals where he lost 6-3, 6-4 to No. 15 Gael Monfils. Monfils clinched the match in one hour and 36 minutes, closing the first set by converting the single break point opportunity in the sixth game. Nadal showed hope in the second set quickly obtaining a 4-1 lead but Nadal’s common speediness on his ground strokes waned. Monfils hit 19 consecutive first serves in play, eventually breaking Nadal in back-to-back return games moving ahead 5-4.
Following the match in his usual manner of good sportsmanship Rafa stated, “I don’t think the match was bad for me. The second set, I started doing well, doing what I have to do to win a match against him… I didn’t play well at the end the match. I was a little bit unlucky in a few decisive movements. He did better than me and I congratulate him. He’s playing really well.”
Nadal’s sore left shoulder burdens the power of his body and mind on court, but he isn’t the only top player currently suffering from injury. Federer’s unexpected back spasms 30 minutes before his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Qatar left many fans astounded as he withdrew from the semifinals. A possible flare up could lead the former No.1 to withdraw once again in the Australian Open. While on the other side of injury Novak Djokovic spent the last several weeks tournament free, preparing and resting for his Australian Open title defense. After adding three grams of weight to his Babolat AeroPro Drive racket Nadal hopes his heavier and better balanced racket will add even more muscle to his serves. As he sows seeds for better form in the future we’ll see how it goes at the Australian Open.
Topics: Australian Open, Rafael Nadal
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