Tennis special edition; Will Rafael Nadal complete his calendar Grand Slam next month in Melbourne?
No one has been able to do this in forty one years; however world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain has an opportunity to tie Rod Laver’s mark of winning all four major crowns at one time when he goes for the Australian Open title next month in Melbourne.
The Spaniard tennis ace, Rafael Nadal, who made his debut on the ATP tour back in 2001, set the stage for the momentous achievement with a showcase of supremacy at the last three Grand Slam events in 2010. The left hander won his fifth French Open crown
at Roland Garros without even dropping a single set. At the grass court grand Slam tournament in London, the Spaniard also emerged victorious in the end after getting the better of Tomas Berdych in straight sets. Rafa, completed his career Grand Slam at the
year’s final major, the United States Open in New York back in September. By virtue of this victory, the Spaniard also registered his name as the first player to pick up those three Grand Slams in a row since Rod Laver completed his calendar year Grand Slam
back in 1969.
The Manacor native afterwards reflected, “For me, it is a dream to have the career Grand Slam, but this is more a dream to have the United States Open. It is an unbelievable feeling because I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult moments to be here,
but I never imagined having the four Grand Slams.”
Now, the 24-year-old has a fantastic chance to win all four crowns at the same time when he enters Melbourne as the top ranked player in the world. He previously won the Australian Open crown back in 2009. Rafa made his way into the finals after getting
the better of his compatriot fellow Fernando Verdasco in the semi final round. In the title battle, the Spaniard brushed aside the world number two Roger Federer in a five-setter epic.
In spite of the fact that he failed to defend his crown in 2010 as the left hander retired in his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray due to his knee injury, Rafa will make a comeback to the Australian Open with a different approach and mindset this time
around.
“I am going try to repeat the same like last year, that I practiced all well in December and I arrived to the beginning of the season with very high level, but without calm since I did not win in a long time. My opinion now, if I arrive with the same level
like last year in the beginning of the season, the situation can change, because the calm is going to be there after this probably more emotional and good season of my career,” said Nadal.
The Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer, had two chances to capture a fourth consecutive Grand Slam, winning Wimbledon, United States Open and Australian Open in a row, however, he was toppled by Rafa on both occasions back in 2006 as well as 07 in the finals
at Roland Garros. So will he turn the tables and end his rival’s quest for history in the Melbourne title battle?
While Rafa was the undisputed top ranked player in 2010, Federer, on the other hand, turned out to be the tour’s best player following the year’s final major, the United States Open in New York, capping his year with win over Nadal in the finals of the elite
eight man field in London.
The question whether Nadal will be able to win his tenth Grand Slam title in Melbourne still remains the same. His chances, though, of completing the calendar year Grand Slam, are bright without any doubt. However, none can still predict it with 100% accuracy
that whether it is going to be Nadal or Federer taking the season opening major title and starting the year on a high.
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