The 2020 tennis year of ... Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal's 2020 tennis year would have been almost a year of missed opportunities. If it hadn't been for the French Open.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 29, 2020, 08:47 am
The year started out mixed. Rafael Nadal, number one in the world, came Down Under to celebrate the opening of the 2020 season together with the rest of the world elite (only in the absence of Roger Federer) for the first time with the ATP Cup, could not really convince in the newly designed team competition. While the Mallorcan had won the title just a few weeks earlier at the also completely revised Davis Cup final tournament, he had to hand over the trophy to his permanent rival Novak Djokovic and his Serbs in Syndey.
Although the Spaniard, who did not really look in top form after his defeat by David Goffin, got back on track in time for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open, the 20-time Grand Slam champion made a profit but don't pull. Dominic Thiem made sure of that. And an amazing achievement. The Austrian brought his best tennis to the Rod Laver Arena in the quarter-finals and had the better end to himself in a real thriller. A side note: There were three tiebreaks back then that fell out in favor of the 27-year-old Lichtenwörther and brought him the victory.
Three tiebreaks that Nadal probably had enough time to think about afterwards. Because after the Spaniard had secured an extremely sovereign but also quite unrivaled ATP 500 title in Acapulco, it was time to take a break. And for a long time. Because COVID-19 should not stop at the traveling circus of the ATP tour at this time. Most of the world's elite took a break until the end of August. Rafael Nadal, however, is even longer. Because he made a difficult decision for the restart, but in retrospect it was at least as correct.
Instead of sniffing bubble air with colleagues Thiem and Djokovic in New York City for the first time, the Mallorcan set his priorities on the French Open, which in this crazy tennis year 2020 should not start until mid-September. At the same time, however, the uncertainty about the shape of the large dominator on the Bois de Bolougne was correspondingly great. An uncertainty that became much greater when Nadal only played an extra role at a small tennis star hour from Diego Schwartzman at the Romer Center Court.
Show of force against Djokovic
Three weeks later it was almost as if Nadal wanted to wipe one thing in particular from the critics and doubters. Because with all the superlatives and records associated with the Spaniard's performances at the Stade Roland Garros, the French Open 2020 was a demonstration of power that was not possible in this way long before (and probably long after) has given to see. With 6: 0, 6: 2 and 7: 5, the Spaniard dismantled the world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the Grand Slam under the Paris Eiffel Tower and was crowned champion for the 13th time. And got Grand Slam victory number 20. And thus equalized Roger Federer's record.
It should remain the last big highlight in an unusually short 2020 season for Rafael Nadal. His return to Paris, this time to the Bercy district, in order to be able to add his first indoor title in the French capital to the trophy cabinet in the absence of Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer, did not go with the desired success. Nadal had never really got going in Paris Bercy, the quite clear semi-final defeat against Alexander Zverev, who was in top form, the logical consequence.
Bitter end at the ATP Finals
The 34-year-old made the next attempt at a premiere just a few days later. When the Nitto ATP Finals were held in London's O2 Arena for the first time in front of empty stands and for the last time ever. And Nadal started strong. After strong performances against Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas (and also against Dominic Thiem, who should be a bit stronger this afternoon), the Spaniard was in the semi-finals. In which he - because, when he was already serving on the match win, played the worst game of the season - suffered a bitter defeat against Daniil Medvedev in three sets.
A bitter end for a nonetheless strong season for the Spaniard. The world number two remains, but he can also feel Dominic Thiem's breath on his neck. On the other hand, there is still no breath in the neck at the Stade Roland Garros for the Spaniard. Because if all the previous times have not been enough for you, you should be convinced after the French Open 2020 at the latest: This is the tournament of Rafael Nadal.