2024-01-05 14:35:00
This time he reached his limits. And perhaps he even unfortunately crossed them. Rafael Nadal lost his flag during his third match back on Friday in the quarter-final in Brisbane against a very inspired Jordan Thompson (55th in the world). As usual, the Mallorcan fought to the end despite an injury at the end of the match, finally losing in three sets (5-7, 7-6, 6-3) and 3h25 of play. failing to finish in the second set on one of his three match points, he missed his chance. But it is his physical state that worries the most now.
The enthusiasm and optimism that accompanied his first two outings will therefore not take long to be dampened. Rafael Nadal will not be in a tempting semi-final on paper against Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane on Saturday. But beyond the raw result, which is not dramatic after a year spent away from the courts, it is the scenario and the consequences of this match on the continuation of the Majorcan’s “come-back” operation which raise questions. Because in truth, within a few centimeters, the lessons could have been completely different.
Regrets on 2 of the 3 match points
Because if Nadal was tossed around, heckled and sometimes dominated by Jordan Thompson, he still had his destiny in hand for a very long time. Negotiating better at the end of the first set after falling behind by a break, he found himself three times within a point of victory in the second. And on his first two occasions, he can harbor legitimate regrets. At 7-5, 5-4 on the restart, the Majorcan obtained a first match point on which he was too greedy in wanting to cushion his high backhand volley. The gang of the net then opposed his designs.
And yet Nadal had three match points: his missed opportunities on video
Then at 6 points to 4 in his favor in the tie-break, after a powerful return which gave him an “easy” forehand attack ball on his scale, Nadal moved slightly off center, failing this time in the lane. On the third, however, Thompson seized his chance with a devastating counterattack along the line, snatching the set with a series of four points. Already put in difficulty by an opponent without complexes who did not hesitate to come after him full forehand while standing up to him in the exchange, Nadal then gave up in the decisive round.
The medical timeout of anxiety
Thompson, who was aggressive from start to finish, impressed with his recovery quality. Taking the ball very early, he put Nadal under pressure and obtained the fateful break in the 4th game (5-7, 7-6, 3-1). The Spaniard was then heading towards an avoidable defeat of course but far from being tragic as he had also shown interesting things on the serve and on the forehand in particular.
Only after losing the next game, he called a medical timeout to treat an injury whose nature is not yet precisely known. The fact remains that when he returned to the court, his expression was crestfallen and his staff dejected in the stands. It is of course still too early to draw definitive conclusions, but big clouds have reappeared on Nadal’s horizon.
An epic rally, unwanted horns and Thompson offers Nadal: the match point
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