Australian Open: Rafael Nadal -The phenomenal comeback goes into another round
Rafael Nadal probably didn't quite expect that himself: The Spanish legend is in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2022 after a five-set win against Denis Shapovalov. A few weeks ago, Nadal still doubted whether he would ever play tournament tennis again be able.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jan 25, 2022, 03:16 pm
It was early in the fifth set when Rafael Nadal staggered around the Rod Laver arena more like a counted heavyweight boxer. The matador had just had to accept the bitter 2:2 set equalization against his young challenger Denis Shapovalov (Canada), he suffered from severe stomach pains, he seemed exhausted, weak and tired, the exertions of a long Australian Open day seemed even to him greatest fighter in tennis history too tall. But when the score was settled on Center Court after four hours and eight minutes, the fabulous comeback of the beefy Mallorquin went into hot overtime – 6:3, 6:4, 4:6, 3:6 and 6:3 ended in black knows the final balance for the man who never stops fighting. And who, quite a phenomenon of the Open, never stops believing in himself and his chances. There was a slight pathos when the amazing semi-finalist Nadal spoke these words at the scene of his last famous energetic performance: "It is a gift of life to be able to play tennis again."
And so an assessment remained intact that the two-time Australian Open winner and TV expert Boris Becker had already expressed in the starting phase of the tournament. According to Becker, anyone who doesn't have Nadal, the 35-year-old champion, on their list of titles "doesn't understand anything about tennis." Becker said so, although this cup run by the "cannibal" (L'Equipe) is anything but a matter of course. Because in the first few days of 2022, Nadal is working on who knows how many comebacks in his legendary career, which is also accompanied by constant worry about injuries. In August, the brawny Mallorquin declared the already bumpy 2021 season to be a bend, when a complicated foot injury forced him to withdraw.
Nadal with comeback in Abu Dhabi
Retirement speculation circulated during the months of Nadal's absence, but just before Christmas he returned to business for a show tournament in Abu Dhabi. He then caught a corona infection there, in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and suffered “quite badly” from the virus for a few days – but at the start of the new game series he finally reported to the baseline on time and ready to serve . "Rafa is back," rejoiced Melbourne's "Herald Sun" when the almost indestructible Spaniard was spotted on the courts of the National Tennis Center.
At the opening Grand Slam in the tour, he is and remains the only active cup winner in the competition. Roger Federer, his eternal opponent and friend, is sentenced to watching at home in Switzerland after several knee operations, and a return to the tennis business seems uncertain. Novak Djokovic's fate is well known, the nine-time Melbourne champion was in Australia but not tolerated by the authorities. And Stan Wawrinka, the sensational winner of 2014, is not involved in the current Grand Slam festival, he is injured on the sidelines, the Swiss press recently called him a "phantom."
On Friday against Berrettini
So that leaves Nadal, who is the only one of the elders and mega-stars to deal with the younger and youngest – and also with his body, which constantly causes him “certain pain”. "I've lived with pain my whole career," says Nadal, "I've learned to live with it. But it's hard sometimes.” But it's even harder for anyone else to break their will, that almost unshakable mentality to keep fighting and fighting. The image of the stunned Zverev conqueror Shapovalov - twelve years younger than Nadal - chopped up his racket after the match point was almost symbolic. A broken, desperate rival, defeated by iron grandmaster Nadal. Shapovalov had already shown nerves in the second set when he complained in vain that Nadal needed too much time to get ready for a return - he then plumped in the direction of the referee: "You are all corrupt."
Nadal won the Australian Open once, in 2009 in a dramatic five-set final against permanent rival Federer. What seemed utopian a few weeks ago could now become reality in Melbourne or later in the season - namely that the recovered Nadal is the first of the Big Three to win the 21st Grand Slam title and with it Djokovic and Federer (currently like Nadal 20) refers to the places. Without vaccination, Djokovic might be in front of closed doors at the upcoming Grand Slams, Federer's perspective is bleak.
Nadal still needs two wins for what is probably the most unlikely title win of his career. The 35-year-old can really use the break until the semi-final match against Matteo Berrettini on Friday. On the subject of his somehow inexhaustible power, Nadal had had a legendary conversation earlier in the tournament. When ex-champion Jim Courier asked him in an interview about the reasons for his fitness, Nadal briefly returned: "I play golf." Courier's questioning, doubtful look then caused the matador to add a strange postscript: "I'm not a fitness type - or weight room.”
Here is the individual tableau in Melbourne
laver arena