Rafael Nadal has some worried days ahead of him following his wrist injury.
Rafael Nadal has once again set tongues wagging after his season ended early courtesy a wrist injury. Now the question is that where does he head from now on? Well there are two choices, either just get ready for the new season or take a long break and then think about the comeback thing. There was little doubt that he went into the French Open as the firm favourite as the season rolled further. And yet he did not win the French. Such irony!
Now often we think that Nadal looks to be in form and watching him is going to get so exciting. Not to forget that Nadal has struggled in recent times and may now be close to finding his best touch. Or may be not. And that may still be good enough to win big tournaments on clay. We will wait and watch.
But the fact that Nadal is back in town is so exciting for tennis in general. It is not a Novak Djokovic show only. There are lots of questions to be answered and the following couple of summers may give us all the answers. (Rafael Nadal finally takes court to enthral his fans in New Delhi)
He was won 14 Majors, he has triumphed in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York, pocketing nine French Open titles, two Wimbledon Championships, two US Open titles and an Australian Open crown. His last major came at the Roland Garros in 2014.
Talking on where his next Major win is coming from, Nadal was quoted by Reuters to be saying, “I don’t know when that’s going to happen and I don’t know if that’s going to happen.” A crushing statement for diehard Rafa fans you would think. This when how dearly these supporters would like to see Nadal pass Roger Federer’s record of 17 Majors.
When the Spaniard says he is not sure about his next Major win, is it an honest statement or is he just shirking the pressure that builds day by day on a Major-less champion in an ultra-competitive sport like tennis? The answer is probably somewhere between the two possibilities. Currently, tied with American Pete Sampras in the list of most Majors, it is fair to say that one will get a fair idea on Nadal’s decline or no decline, come the 2017 French Open.
It is on the red clay of Paris that the gritty left-hander has been an immortal. This because he has grabbed an astonishing nine titles in a mere 12 attempts. This apart, there is a reason to talk about Rafa’s slip. The 30-year-old has not played even in the last four of a Major since the French Open win.
But, considering he is five years younger to the Swiss ace Federer, there is still hope that he will one day equal and even perhaps surpass his old rival. And for that, he has to believe he will, and it will be not long before one sees the Rafa army cheering their champion all the way to victory, many more Major victories.
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