Nadal: The next Federer in the making?
The forgotten man…
He was almost forgotten. A shock 4th round exit at his beloved Roland Garros had finally exposed the frailty of his knees, thanks to the nature of his game. A long drawn rehabilitation process on that all important part of his leg meant that he had to withdraw from what he describes as his ‘favourite tournament in the world’, Wimbledon. Nadal did resume playing after that but clearly this was not the man who only some months ago had finally usurped Roger Federer from his no. 1 position.
Poor results continue…
At the US Open, he was man-handled into a 6-2 6-2 6-2 defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro, his worst ever loss at a Grand Slam and it almost looked certain that Nadal’s career had come to a halt of sorts where he could reach the Quarters of thereabouts of important tournaments but would struggle against the top players. At the Australian Open this year, Murray stopped him on his tracks and not for the 1st time, his knees had given way. Nadal had to retire in that match, and his fans were slowly but surely giving up on him.
The one ray of hope…
The only man, who seemed not to fear facing Federer across the net was, as he later said, muddled in self-doubt. Every time he ran across the court, he’d think about his knees and understandably so, a player can hardly play to his potential when he’s choked with so many apprehensions. However, a lot of his supporters knew one thing for sure. As it turned out later, Nadal himself knew that one thing. Starting from Monte Carlo 2010, things could have changed. Infact, there was more than just ‘hope’ floating around the Nadal camp and his well wishers, that surely things might change for the better again.
Nadal of old again!
But what transpired later probably took even Nadal by surprise. A clean sweep of the three Masters Series and to finally cap off with the French Open, a Slam that Nadal was almost shocked to have lost at last year, marked one of the most glorious comebacks in modern day sport. No one before Nadal had achieved the ‘Clay Slam’ and chances are that no one would ever again, barring Nadal himself. Federer, perhaps the one and only contemporary player who can talk about the mindset of a champion, after having seen Nadal at Paris said that ‘the old Rafa is back.’ From the way he moved on the court and from the manner in which he used to raise his game at crucial moments, it looked that the Nadal of 2008 was back, wanting to reclaim his no. ranking.
Reclaims Wimbledon as well…
2008 was when he’d won his 1st title at the All England Club as well and so it really was fitting that he ‘completed’ his comeback by winning there again. And he did in some style by winning both, his semi-final and final, without dropping a set. At a time when Federer’s clearly slowing down and just about on the right side of 30, Nadal knows that history is there to be made. His short term goal would surely be fixed on completing the Slam by winning at New York but like it happened in mid-2009, his health will have to complement him if he wishes to further make inroads into history.
Uncle Toni speaks…
On asked whether his pupil has a chance of going past Federer’s tally of 16 majors, Toni Nadal was quick in saying that the task sounded difficult and that he wouldn’t put his money on Rafael achieving that. Nadal, it must be noted is now exactly 50% of where Federer currently stands, in terms of majors won and at age 24, he has much time on his side. Federer at this age had won only 5 Grand Slams but the Swiss’ effortless style of play means that he’s virtually been injury-free during his career. Much of Nadal’s future depends on how he’ll cope with his body. Ominously for him, he’d called for trainers on numerous occasions during the Championships itself.
Looking ahead…
Assuming all those medical time-outs were genuine and not attempts at ‘gamesmanship’, Nadal’s knees are likely to suffer during the American hard-court season. The US Open is anyway deemed to be the toughest to win what the timing of the event at the f*g end of the season coupled with the scheduling of matches testing the physical strength of the players to the hilt. Is Nadal however capable of finding a way out to complete the Slam? Yes, the best player in the world surely can. But the smart money wouldn’t be on him, not even given the evidence provided in the past two months. Nonetheless, it’s a pleasure to see him back in action. The BULL is best seen in action inside the ring, not on the sidelines!
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