ATP Melbourne: Rafael Nadal wins tournament number 89
Rafael Nadal started 2022 with a title win. The Spaniard defeated surprise man Maxime Cressy 7: 6 (6) and 6: 3 in the final of the ATP Tour 250 event in Melbourne.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jan 09, 2022, 11:37 am
Rafael Nadal must have felt in the final of the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Melbourne like on a trip back in time. Because opponent Maxime Cressy, who had played his way through the qualification to the final, is one of the few on the tour to consistently play service volley. And Cressy even had the chance to put the favorites under even more pressure - but did not manage to secure the lead with his own serve at 6: 5 in the tiebreak of the first set.
Nadal won three points in a row and remained patient in the second round. The chance came in the eighth game, in which the 20-time Grand Slam champion was able to utilize a break chance. Cressy could not recover from that, after 1:47 hours of play, Nadal had bagged his 89th title on the ATP tour.
For the Spanish legend it was only the second ever triumph in Australia. In 2009 he won the title at the Australian Open. Like this Sunday in the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park.
laver arena