2024-01-05 16:09:17
End of series for Rafael Nadal. Pushed to his limits by a tough Jordan Thompson, the Spaniard ended up giving in despite three match points (5-7, 7-6, 6-3). Authoritarian winner of Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler at the start of the week, the former world number one showed some physical limits this Friday during this three-set fight and 3h24 of play against the Australian. He even called the physiotherapist in the third match for adductor pain. So worry nine days before the start of the Australian Open.
However, he had everything in hand to win. Broken in the first set, Rafael Nadal reacted perfectly by immediately resuming his opponent’s serve, before making the difference at the very end of the set. Despite a much closer second set, the Spaniard obtained three match points. The first, missed after a high backhand volley that he is not used to missing, pushed him to the tie-break. Solid and confident, Jordan Thompson saved two more during this decisive game to offer himself a third set.
He called the healer
Rafael Nadal did not recover. Visibly physically affected, he conceded a fairly quick break, which he was never able to make up for. He even called the trainer for pain in his adductor muscles. Massed for a few minutes in the locker room, the left-hander returned to the court with a worried face. However, he finished the match.
Despite this defeat, the Spaniard, now 672nd in the world, will still be delighted to have logged minutes on the court and fine-tuned his preparation for the Australian Open, where he will already be one of the outsiders. However, he will have a lot to do since, having entered the table thanks to his protected ranking, he will not be seeded. It is therefore not at all inconceivable to witness a first round between the man with 22 Grand Slams and another big name on the circuit, notably Novak Djokovic.
But the main thing is elsewhere for Rafael Nadal who is offering himself an end to his career worthy of his status. At 37, the left-hander didn’t want to stop with an injury. Still as precise and more efficient than ever on serve, he could even increase his total of 92 career titles. This will require his body to leave him alone.
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