Rafael Nadal - There's life in the old dog yet
Rafael Nadal will finish 2019 again as world ranking first. And this despite the fact that many critics had predicted an early retirement.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Nov 19, 2019, 02:31 pm
When Rafael Nadal was declared the official number one at the end of the year after his victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday, the Mallorcan team seemed to have been resolved as rarely before in this season. Again and again, Nadal was in doubt in 2019, whether his body had to pay tribute to the rigors of Tourallday now finally.
Especially around the event in Monte Carlo they have become particularly loud, said Nadal in the London O2 Arena. "Without the support of the people in my box, things would have gone differently this year, they motivated me to keep going, I can not thank them enough," the 33-year-old pointed out after a difficult time following recent knee problems at Indian Wells on.
But Nadal managed once again one of his impressive comebacks and won both the title in Roland Garros and at the US Open. Overall, the Spaniard got four tournament victories this season, also lost the twelve-time French Open winner only seven of his 60 matches on the tour.
On a par with Federer and Djokovic
Thus, Nadal will complete the year 2019 as the industry leader. All in all, the 19-time Grand Slam champion has already achieved this five times and as often as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. However, Nadal will be the first player to smile from the top of the world rankings in three decades.
And that, although the 33-year-old had been prophesied by almost all sides an early end of career. Because of his defensive style of play and the vulnerability to injury, these forecasts seemed quite logical. But Nadal denounced all his critics, acted more aggressively throughout his career and is one of the best players on the tour in the fall of his career.
Nothing is impossible
This seems to surprise even Nadal himself: "I am super happy, after all that I had to go through, I never thought to hold this trophy at 33.5 years in my hands, which is very emotional for me. That would have been impossible without my family. "
Impossible seems to Nadal these days but nothing at all. Only a Grand Slam title is missing on Roger Federer's record, this will attack "Rafa" already at the Australian Open 2020. The Mallorcan is definitely convinced of the victory in Melbourne - that's known since this season at the latest. For those who are said to be dead live longer, as we know. For no one that's seems more true than for Rafael Nadal.