Australian Open: Don't write off Rafael Nadal!
Rafael Nadal was eliminated in round two of the Australian Open and has been sidelined for around two months due to a hip injury. But you shouldn't write off the Spaniard for that reason. A comment.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Jan 20, 2023, 04:44 pm
The swansongs to Rafael Nadal have begun once again. After his second round at the Australian Open, quite a few observers of the scene felt compelled to suggest that the 22-time Grand Slam champion end his career soon. Also and above all because the Mallorquin, who has been plagued by injuries so often in his career, will be out again for six to eight weeks at the age of 36.
On Wednesday, immediately after his loss to Mackenzie McDonald, Nadal was still unable to assess the extent of his hip injury. And yet the emotional look towards Australian audiences has been interpreted by many as a goodbye forever. The eternal games about the approaching resignation of the Spaniard, you know them from the past.
Nadal at the top with 22 major titles
For more than ten years, Nadal always seems to be at the end of his career. The argument goes that at some point he will have to pay tribute to his exhausting game. The fact that the Iberian now has the most of all time with 22-degree slam titles on the men's side does not quite fit into the picture. And certainly not that he received two major trophies last year despite the miserable omens.
Let's just remember the Australian Open, which Nadal heroically won after a long injury break and a severe corona disease. Unforgotten is the final, in which he caught up a 2-0 set deficit against Daniil Medvedev. No less impressive was his performance a few months later in Paris, where Nadal lifted his 14th Coupe des Mousquetaires despite serious foot problems and an extremely difficult draw.
Yes, many others would probably have ended their careers long ago in Nadal's place. But the former world number one is cut from a different, special cloth. No one knows how to torture himself as well as the Mallorcan, who was threatened with the end of his career in 2005 due to Müller-Weiss syndrome. But Nadal found a way. Not only then.
Whether Nadal will find a way again this time depends solely on him. The positive news: Participation in the French Open should be no problem. And at his favorite tournament, the 36-year-old will always be the absolute top favorite anyway. No matter what was before. His record at Stade Roland Garros is too impressive.
Nadal doesn't need any extra motivation
This view alone should be motivation enough for Nadal during his injury break. Although the 22-time Grand Slam winner does not need them at all. Because, according to the Spaniard after the end against McDonald, the love of tennis is reason enough to accept all the hardships.
It may well be that the Australian Open 2023 was the last in Rafael Nadal's career. But it could just as well be that the Spaniard will fight for the title again next year in Melbourne. Because Nadal has proven one thing in his career: You should never write off this man - even if apparently not everyone has understood that yet.
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