Every hit, every point is special for Rafael Nadal on this ground. It’s his house. That’s how he feels, and that’s how the people of Madrid who took over the Manolo Santana stadium make him feel. He Madrid Masters 1000 He is experiencing a special circumstance: at 37 years old, each of Rafa’s games could be his last. He already said it: it will be his farewell to the emblematic tournament in the Spanish capital. Therefore, the applause; therefore, the emotion of the manacorí in each ball.
That’s why, too, the luxury spectators. As Zinedine Zidane, in the front row; or like the star that lives half of Madrid, Vinicius Jr., sitting in the background, wearing a beanie and sunglasses. Everyone wants to see the king of clay, one of the best in history, and whom Madrid has seen win the most times. Also the king of Spain, Felipe VIwho applauded his idol with decorum.
Lilac dress, with orange details, Nadal achieved a notable victory on his return to the courts, against a man who is number 11 in the world and until recently was among the top ten, the Australian Ales de Miñaur. Rafa won with solvency 7-6 (8-6) and 6-3 and this Monday an Argentine, Pedro Cachin, awaits him, who left the American Frances Tiafoe behind. It was a true test of fire for the Spaniard, who in his presentation at the tournament had overwhelmed the youthful Darwin Blanch, 16 years old.
For Nadal, this is not playing for the sake of playing, knowing that this year is his last. Competitive animal, beyond the fact that his great goal is to be at Roland Garros, the Manacorí takes it very seriously. To the point that In the first set he lost his temper in an argument with the umpire, the Irishman Fergus Murphy. It was in the third game, when Rafa judged that a return from the Australian had gone long. The Spaniard stopped playing the point and waited for the action to be reviewed, but the umpire told him that he had not made the challenge gesture, so a review was not appropriate. Nadal approached the chair umpire very angry and had an off-color exchange.
The discussion with the umpire
Nadal fought the first set stick by stick until taking it in the tie break 8-6. He continued impeccable in the second set, hiding the pain and hiding any type of suffering. Nadal showed great doses of the tennis that took him to the top. The example was the eighth game, in which he served relentlessly and left a surprised De Miñaur, this year’s champion in Acapulco, at zero.
In the ninth game, the Australian started with an ace, but the Mallorcan got serious, turned things around with great returns and forced a double match point. The stadium erupted in cheers. We had to ask for silence several times. He wasted the first opportunity with a shot that went very long. “Yes, you can,” the people shouted. A double fault condemned De Minaur. And Rafa raised his arms, shouted and enjoyed a shower of praise and applause.
In the run-up to the tournament, Nadal had shown doubts regarding his physical condition. “For me, playing in Madrid is always very nice. I’m looking forward to playing here again. The week has been, in some ways, good and, in others, not so good. I’m not ready to play 100 percent, but I’m ready to go out and play tomorrow. And that is important, playing for the last time here in Madrid means a lot. Because yes, I think so It will be the last time I play in Madrid”, he declared a few days ago.
The inactivity of recent times caused it to lose ground until it reached position 512 in the ranking. His return this year included just five games. In January he played in the Brisbane tournament, where he won two matches and lost in the quarterfinals. And last week he participated in the Conde de Godó tournament, in Barcelona, where he lost in the second match, precisely with the rival whom he beat this Saturday afternoon in Madrid: Alex de Miñaur.