Rafael Nadal will end the season with no Main wins on his tally. The 22-time Main winner didn’t earn a victory at 4 notable occasions for the primary time since 2022 when he was 16! Thus, Nadal ended his streak of 21 seasons with one Main win, lacking Roger Federer’s file.
The Swiss embraced 22 consecutive years with a triumph at Majors, incomes the primary in 2000 and ending with the semi-final on the 2021 Australian Open. Rafa began his journey at Majors at Wimbledon 2003 a few weeks after turning 17.
The Spaniard delivered two wins and have become one of many youngest gamers within the third spherical on the All England Membership. The remainder is historical past, with Nadal embracing a 314-44 rating at Majors and lifting 22 trophies between 2005 and 2022.
Rafa claimed a Main title in ten consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2014, with one other robust streak coming between 2017 and 2022. Nadal made an ideal begin to the 2022 season, conquering the Australian Open and Roland Garros in the identical season for the primary time in a profession.
Rafa prolonged his streak and reached the semi-final at Wimbledon earlier than withdrawing forward of the Nick Kyrgios conflict. The Spaniard felt the ache in his stomach muscle and wouldn’t get well by the top of the season.
He suffered an early US Open loss and completed as world no. 2 behind Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal made a gradual begin to the 2023 season earlier than his first duel on the Australian Open. The veteran confronted Jack Draper within the first spherical, scoring a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 triumph in three hours and 41 minutes.
Thus, Rafa embraced his twenty first consecutive season with a win at Majors, transferring nearer to Roger’s file. Draper pushed Nadal to the bounds within the opening three units, attacking and imposing his strokes. Rafa struggled behind the second serve and saved seven out of 11 break factors.
The defending champion grabbed six breaks and handed the opening problem. The Spaniard served effectively within the opening set and landed a forehand crosscourt winner at 6-5 to wrap up the opener.
Rafael Nadal completed the 2024 season with out a victory at Majors.
The younger Briton took cost within the second set, serving effectively and delivering an early break with a volley winner within the opening sport.
Draper earned one other break within the third sport with a strong backhand and secured the set with a maintain in sport eight. Regardless of bodily points, Jack fought effectively within the third set, pulling the break again in sport seven and leveling the rating at 4-4.
Rafa delivered one other break within the tenth sport, successful the set 6-4 and transferring nearer to the end line. The Spaniard delivered three straight breaks for a 5-1 benefit and denied break factors in sport seven to seal the deal and transfer excessive.
Nadal injured his left hip within the second spherical in opposition to Mackenzie McDonald, feeling large ache however enduring till the top, ending his marketing campaign with out retiring. Rafa missed the remainder of the season and made a return in Brisbane within the first week of 2024.
Nadal defeated two rivals earlier than embracing a grueling duel with Jordan Thompson.
The Spaniard wasted match factors and fell in three and a half hours, feeling the ache round his hip and lacking the Australian Open.
Rafa embraced his beloved clay swing after withdrawing from Monte Carlo, competing in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome and gathering 5 victories. Nadal entered his nineteenth Roland Garros and confronted world no. 4 Alexander Zverev in his first and solely Main match of the season.
They battled for 3 hours and 5 minutes on Court docket Philippe-Chatrier, and Zverev prevailed 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, delivering Nadal’s earliest Roland Garros defeat. Rafa gave every thing in opposition to an in-form rival however couldn’t take a minimum of a set.
Alexander saved 9 out of 11 break factors and erased a late deficit within the second set to manage the scoreboard. Nadal struggled in his video games, dropping 45% of the factors and struggling six breaks from 18 possibilities provided to his opponent.
The veteran misplaced serve within the first sport of the encounter for an early setback. Zverev grabbed one other break within the ninth sport, taking the opener 6-3.
The 14-time champion bounced again within the second set, constructing the benefit and serving for the set at 5-4.
Rafa misplaced serve at love within the tenth sport, permitting Alexander to increase the set and clinch the tie break 7-5 for a large benefit. Zverev took cost from the center of the third set, leaving the legend behind and transferring into the second spherical.
Felling removed from his greatest bodily, Nadal determined to skip the grass swing, coaching on clay in Manacor and Greece forward of Bastad and the Olympic Video games. Rafa reached his first ATP closing in over two years in Bastad, falling to Nuno Borges in straight units.
The Spaniard entered his fourth Olympic Video games in Paris, hoping for an excellent run at his beloved Roland Garros. As a substitute, he suffered a 6-1, 6-4 loss to Novak Djokovic within the second spherical, preventing effectively within the second set however ending on the shedding facet.
Nadal didn’t fancy touring to the USA and competing on the US Open, lacking the final Main of the season and wrapping up the yr with out a win at notable occasions for the primary time since 2002.
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