After US Open exit: when will Rafael Nadal return to the court?
Rafael Nadal sensationally failed at the US Open 2022 to Frances Tiafoe . It could be a longer break for the Spaniard.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 07, 2022, 07:29 am
Rafael Nadal tried with all his might on Monday evening to take countermeasures, turn things around again, conjure up the next heroic comeback out of a hat. Particularly striking: the Iberian's body language at the start of round four, when Nadal apparently tried to bring the lack of intensity to the pitch through emotions. With moderate success.
A temporary 3-1 lead in the fourth round quickly melted away, and finally Frances Tiafoe sealed the sensation by winning five games in a row. Because it actually seemed unthinkable in the middle of the fourth set that Rafael Nadal, who had been flawless at Grand Slam level in 2022, would have to bury his dream of major title number 23 against a player outside the top 20 in the world rankings.
Nadal without another fabulous comeback
Without wanting to belittle the performance of a great, furiously playing Frances Tiafoe: Rafael Nadal failed to reach his maximum level of performance in his fourth appearance at the US Open 2022. The increase from match to match up to the hot phase of the tournament, which is now familiar, did not materialize, nor did the next Houdini act at a Grand Slam event this season. Ask Denis Shapovalov, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz.
Of course, once again the preparation could hardly have been worse for Rafael Nadal, who had to change plans at short notice after suffering a long-term abdominal muscle injury - which had already caused him to be eliminated before the semi-finals at Wimbledon. And so he traveled to New York City with only a defeat against Borna Coric in Cincinnati in his luggage to dare the next big run.
Nadal becomes a father
What weighed much more than the preparation were the words that Nadal addressed to the assembled press after his defeat. He now has more important things to do than tennis. At the end of October, the 36-year-old is expecting his first offspring with his wife Xisca Perello, who had already had to be hospitalized for a short time in the run-up to the US Open - Nadal quickly gave the all-clear.
It is questionable whether Rafael Nadal will return to the big stage of tennis before the planned date of birth. "I have to devote myself to more important things than tennis. I don't know when I will come back," said Nadal on Tuesday night. Of course, this also shakes participation in the show fight planned in a few days, the Laver Cup. In any case, Nadal would like to try "to train again, to do a mini-preparation to end the year in Europe with a good feeling. There are still a few tournaments left if everything else is going well." When that will be the case, however, remains an open question.
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