Turin Masters – Rafael Nadal disappointed after his loss against Taylor Fritz and in danger of early elimination

Times are tough for Rafael Nadal. Since his abdominal injury and his withdrawal before the Wimbledon semi-finals in early July, the Majorcan is far from showing his best level on the circuit. After the disappointment of the US Open, where he left in the round of 16, and his failed return to Bercy, where he took the front door, the Spaniard lost in his first match in this Masters, Sunday evening . This is his third loss in a row on the ATP Tour.

Three consecutive losses. Such a series had not happened to him since the end of the 2009 season with a four in a row at Bercy and the Masters (see tweet). Nadal and the end of the season, it was never really that. But, more than ever, it really doesn’t.

As against Tommy Paul at the Rolex Paris Masters, the Manacor player had started his match well against Taylor Fritz, one of his best rivals this season. Very good in service, aggressive in return, he had shown positive signs on all fronts during this first act: ‘Nadalian’ tennis and a physique that seemed much better than in Paris. Then, the lead went after the loss of the first set in the decisive game. In the second round, Carlos Moya’s protege just survived. And the machine ended up exploding.

After the meeting, the man with 22 Grand Slams lamented the defeat. But he mainly focused on the way, taking as an example the marathon game – lost at 7-6, 4-1 Fritz – on his commitment. “My first set was okay. Fritz played at a very high level throughout the game. On the other hand, I am not happy with the second break of the second set. The first, again, it could happen, but not the second. I’m not happy with this first game“, lamented the world No. 2 after his match at a press conference in remarks relayed by Marca.

So what happens to Nadal? Hurt ? Apparently not. The winner of the Australian Open and Roland-Garros 2022 is just looking for sensations. For the moment, they do not arrive. “I train better than I play. This is not the tournament, nor the best time of the season to resume. From the start, there are very complicated opponents, but we have to keep working because it’s not over yet. I still have my chances“, added Rafa.

Once again, he has not tasted the indoor conditions, he who has never won Bercy, the Masters 1000 surface reference, nor the Masters in his career. “The ball was going too fast and I always felt under pressure. On this court, I don’t have time to think about tactics because there simply aren’t any. Everything is going too fast.”

As for his final against Félix Auger-Aliassime next Tuesday, Nadal sees it as a big challenge against an opponent who is playing his best tennis at the moment, even if his match against Casper Ruud was not good in content. The former student of Toni Nadal, who will therefore not be present in the FAA box on Tuesday due to a non-aggression pact concerning his nephew, understood the challenge of this final very well: “If I lose, I’m out.”