The Masters Cup, Nadal's kryptonite

Rafael Nadal has always stood out for playing with his feet on the ground.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
12 November 2022 Saturday 21:35
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The Masters Cup, Nadal's kryptonite

Rafael Nadal has always stood out for playing with his feet on the ground. He does not like to throw bells on the fly, even less being aware of the limitations that have conditioned him in this second part of the season. Injuries, first, and fatherhood, later, have taken him away from the tracks and the circuit for a long time. Unlike last year, the Balearic tennis player will be able to conclude the season in a lackluster Masters Cup without Carlos Alcaraz.

The world number one suffered an abdominal tear in Paris-Bercy that leaves him out of action for the last individual tournament that usually brings together the eight best rackets of the year. The Murcian will not be in the final phase of Davis either, like the self-discarded Nadal. It will be in Turin where the tennis player with the most Grand Slam titles to his credit (22) will put an end to the course. And he wants to do it with note.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I had options," said Nadal, who has shown throughout his career that it's best not to underestimate him. The triumph at the Australian Open this year, after a long period of inactivity and just overcoming covid, serves as a perfect example.

Nadal will fight against history again. The Masters Cup is one of the few great trophies that does not shine in the windows of the Rafa Nadal Academy. He has never been particularly good at playing indoors, although the main reason has more to do with the fact that he is often too weak at the end of the year. This will not be an exception. “I arrive without rhythm, but I come with the illusion of doing well. I think I have my chances."

The draw smiled at Nadal. Within the difficulty that the tournament always entails, he avoided Djokovic – he can match Federer's six gold medals – Medvedev and Tsitsipas. There are no bargains in his group either, but it is somewhat more affordable: there is the Norwegian Casper Ruud, a finalist this year at Roland Garros and the US Open (he lost to Nadal and Alcaraz), the inspired Felix Auger-Aliassime (ward of his uncle Toni) and the American Taylor Fritz, invited by the absence of Alcaraz.

Nadal's debut, with the presence of his son among the public, will be against the latter, his executioner in this year's Indian Wells final, where the first physical setback came for the man from Manacor, undefeated until that moment (20 consecutive wins) . Faces were also seen in a heart-stopping Wimbledon quarterfinal, with victory (and also an abdominal injury) for Nadal.

A hypothetical victory for Nadal in the Italian city would have a double prize, since it would allow him to finish the year as number one. As much as he no longer keeps her awake at night, he always comforts her. He would also be worth it to be a finalist and not have lost a game in the group stage. Another tennis player with options is Tsitsipas. If the Greek achieved the title with full victories he would reach the top of the ATP for the first time. Nadal or Tsitsipas would be the fourth number one of the year, a fact that has only happened three times, in those transition years (1999, 2000 and 2003) before the emergence of the historic Big Three.