“The most important thing is to enjoy the things that motivate me,” says the new ‘number five’ in the Australian Open 2022: The Argentine tennis player who enters with Novak Djokovic amid the scandal in Australia”>ATP ranking.
The dominance in the debut at Melbourne Park against Marcos Giron concrete in 34 winners and 84% of points won with his first serve. However, the victory in just under two hours was not the most satisfying thing for a fierce competitor like Reef Nadal. “A month and a half ago, with so many problems with my left foot, I didn’t know if I would play tennis again at a professional level. So the fact that I’m enjoying the circuit again and seeing myself competitive in training against good people gives me a lot of energy” , assured the Spaniard after his happy start at the Australian Open.
“It’s what it’s all about at this point in my career, where the most important thing is to enjoy the things that motivate me. Every day I’m being positive. And this is the most important thing, what helps me to continue with the determination to fight for the things that excite me”, added Nadal in the Eurosport microphones. For now, after the absences of Roger Federer, by injury, and Novak Djokovic, expelled from Australia for his position on the Covid vaccine, is the only one with options to add the 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
Gone are the four months of sick leave due to the Müller-Weiss syndrome, the chronic disease that he suffers in his left foot. After becoming champion in the Melbourne Summer Set, in the ATP 250 category, Rafa still has to fine-tune his preparation on one side of the draw where serious rivals will soon emerge. In the third round he could face Karen Khachanov, while in eighths waited Hubert Hurkacz and in quarters, Alexander Zverev.
only six games
For now, the most immediate commitment will be elucidated on Wednesday before Yannick Hanfmann, from the previous one. The 30-year-old German is stepping into the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time and is emerging as another opponent to add flight hours to. During the only precedent between the two, at Roland Garros 2019, Nadal only gave up six games (6-2, 6-1, 6-3), which further reduces the margin for surprises.
The warmth of the hobby aussie It is another incentive for Nadal, who this Monday climbed to fifth position in the ATP, unseating Andrey Rublev. At the moment, in addition to Djokovic, other members of the NextGen such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, Zverev y Daniil Medvedev, they have the best profile to lift their first title at the Rod Laver Arena.
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