What a difference a year and a half makes! In February 2005, Rafael Nadal had to fight with Ricardo Mello for two and a half hours on the way to the title in Costa do Sauipe. In August, the Spaniard would lose three games against the Brazilian in the Canada Masters second round in Montreal, securing his place in the third round.
A lot has happened between these two encounters, with Nadal becoming one of the best players in the world by August after a fantastic run in his noteworthy first season. Rafa won two ATP titles in February on Clay, advancing to the final in Miami and winning the first Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo.
Barcelona and Rome were also conquered by the young man who then made a perfect debut in Roland Garros, beating Roger Federer and Mariano Puerta to raise the first major trophy and become the n. 3.
Rafa did not play well on the grass, soon losing to Halle and Wimbledon.
He would return quickly, winning titles in Bastad and Stuttgart and taking a break in front of Montreal.
Playing for the first time like the world isn’t. 2, Nadal had a winning start at the Canada Masters thanks to the 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 victory over a compatriot and friend Carlos Moya. The young man had a more relaxed day in the office in the second round, dropping Ricardo Mello 6-1, 6-2 in 66 minutes, dominating from start to finish.
The Spaniard lost 11 points in eight service games, with no break points and taking 56% of the return points to take four breaks from seven opportunities and navigate the past 16. “When I played against the Melo in Brazil, it was a reliable performance but without this trust I now have.
He played in front of the home crowd which gave him great support, and today he failed to repeat. In addition, I have improved my game. My results are not so good on an indoor court, but they are good on a tough outdoors. I have reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and the final in Miami.
The pitch is a little faster than Indian Wells and Miami, but I felt good, playing well from start to finish. Yesterday, I beat Carlos Moya in a tight game and this gave me the confidence to stay focused all the time today.
We use Penn and Wilson balls in Masters 1000 events and in the US Open in North America; it would be better to have one instead, but it is so. Grosjean is my next rival and it should be a tough game; he is an excellent player.
I will try to do my best and reach the quarterfinals, which would be a great result for me at the Masters 1000 event on hard court, “said Rafael Nadal.
