Why Rafael Nadal is the hot favourite to win the US Open 2012 title – Tennis Special
Finally, all the hype of the London Games is over and we are back on track to the normal tennis schedule. Most of the players are tired from this hectic summer and probably don’t have enough time left to soak themselves in the
cold water and take a sigh of relief. However, one player that is eager is to get back on the court is the former world number one, Rafael Nadal.
Nadal was the defending champion of the gold medal at Olympics. Unfortunately, the Spanish number one was unable to contest in the All England Lawn Tennis Club for the second time in the year due to a painful knee injury that has
always troubled him since his childhood.
Stating about the pain he feels withdrawing from the Olympics, Nadal stated, “I am not in condition to compete in the London Olympics and therefore will not travel as planned with the Spanish delegation to take part in the games.
I have to think about my companions, I can’t be selfish and I have to think of what’s best for Spanish sport and give fellow sportsmen with better preparation the chance to compete. I tried to hurry my preparations and training to the very last minute, but
it was not to be. It is one of the saddest days of my career. You can imagine how difficult it was to take this decision.”
It was a major blow for the third ranked Spaniard who tried his best to fight a battle against time and recover from the injury but couldn’t attain 100% fitness and withdrew out of the event just a week before. Nadal had the first
shot at becoming the flag bearer of his beloved country at the Olympics Games but he had to handover the honour to the Spanish basketball player, Pau Gasol.
The pain is definitely there in the comment stated above. He is distressed but yet humbly hands over the honourable gold medal title to the deserving player of 2012 Games. The pain can turn into the revenge mission when the Spaniard
returns back fully fit and fuming in with confidence.
Keeping everything aside, it is high time for the superhuman Spaniard to rise to the occasion and make use of the rest. For me, he is the strongest candidate to lift the US Open title at New York given that he has not been participating
ever since the second round upset at the Wimbledon Championships in June.
So, it has been a good couple of months at home for the Spaniard who surely wouldn’t have wasted this precious time in regaining the form and getting back on track. Some players have returned embarrassed from the Olympics campaign
whilst others are still lost in the glory of their stupendous performance. So, the Spaniard can make use of the lack of attention of the professional athletes and utilize their mood against them.
Let’s hope the Spanish superstar doesn’t make any silly mistakes at the hard courts of New York and take home the 12th Grand Slam title of his career.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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