Rafael Nadal’s 2023 season began this Saturday, December 31, 2022. The small temporal sprain turned into a false start as the Spaniard lost to Briton Cameron Norrie (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) in the first match of the United Cup, the mixed ATP tournament used to prepare for the Australian Open. The number 2 at ATP, who had never lost to the 14th player in the world in their four previous clashes, notably experienced difficulties on his 1st serve during a match which lasted 2 hours 44 minutes.
The 36-year-old Spaniard, who won the Australian Open in 2022 then a new Roland-Garros to bring the record for Grand Slam victories to 22, had already experienced a lackluster end to 2022, like his premature elimination in the 1st round during the Masters in early November. “The last few months have not been easy for me,” he admitted on Wednesday, after suffering during the second half of the previous season from recurring pain in one foot and an abdominal tear. “My main objective now is to find good sensations on the court, to be competitive”.