Rafael Nadal returns to practice court after losing to Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal turned 33 in June although there are no signs of slowing down for the Spanish giant, standing as the second-best player so far in 2019. Nadal had to skip Brisbane at the beginning of the season and there was nothing wrong with his game or knees ion Melbourne, using the favorable draw to dismantle six rival in straight sets before a severe final loss to Novak Djokovic, his biggest in Grand Slam finals. Returning in Acapulco, Nadal wasted three match points against Nick Kyrgios in the second round, advancing into the semi-final at Indian Wells where he had to skip the clash against Roger Federer with a right knee injury, staying away from Miami and preparing for his beloved clay where he has been the dominant figure for the past 15 years.
Things were not that bright for the greatest clay-courter of all time at his favorites events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, losing in the semi-final and failing to reach the final in Madrid as well for one of his worst runs on dirt together with 2016. With his back pushed against the wall, Nadal raised the level in Rome and Roland Garros, claiming two titles and 3000 points that made him the best player of the season ahead of Novak Djokovic. Reducing his schedule as much as possible, Nadal opted to skip pre-Wimbledon tournaments which turned to be the right decision, playing well at the All England Club and advancing into the semi-final for the second year in a row. Unlike in Paris, Roger Federer proved to be too strong, scoring a 7-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory to propel himself into the final and leaving Nadal empty-handed in London for yet another year.
After a well-deserved rest, Rafa is now back on the practice court at home in Mallorca, working hard at his Academy and preparing for the sixth Masters 1000 tournament of the season in Montreal where he stands as the top favorite to defend the title, with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer both skipping the Canadian Masters. This is a perfect chance for Nadal to defend an ATP title outside clay for the first time in a career and stay in the year-end no. 1 race with Novak Djokovic who is 500 points ahead of him in the ATP Race. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer should be in action together in Cincinnati and the US Open, seeking more big titles and the confirmation of their dominance over the rest of the Tour.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2K5vrGc
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