Rafael Nadal is injured again. In the US Open semi-final, the Spaniard had to give up after two sets against Juan Martin del Potro due to a knee injury. The world’s first in the rankings is fighting.
Review. Rafael Nadal must be treated on his right knee during the match against Karen Khachanov. The Spaniard loses the first set and is also trailing in the second set with a break. The Russian will serve 7:5 and 5:4 for the 2-0 set lead.
At this point, the tennis world is wondering how long the 17-time Grand Slam winner will continue to torture his body. Nadal has achieved everything a tennis professional can only achieve. He has won all four major tournaments, is the record winner in the 1000s tournaments and, at 32, the number one in the tennis world. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone but himself.
It is this fierce fight with and against himself that still makes Nadal smile from the very top after all these years. He could have long since said goodbye to tennis and pursued his great hobby – fishing – at home in Mallorca. But Nadal is different. He’s not ready to go without a fight.
Karen Khachanov should also feel this. Nadal breaks to 5:5, wins the next two games and wins the match in four sets despite persistent knee problems.
This encounter is symptomatic of the career of the sand court king. Again and again Nadal is struck by injuries. In 2005 and 2012 his career was even on the brink due to foot and knee problems, often he could not compete in big tournaments at all.
But “Rafa” doesn’t get down, beats back once more and thus punishes his critics with lies. The general tenor was that his playing style was too force-intensive, that the body could not participate in the long run. But even at the age of 32, the 11-time French Open Champion continues to play excellent tennis.
So also at the US Open. In an epic game Nadal beats his seven years younger opponent Dominic Thiem in the tiebreak of the fifth movement. The world number one is in the semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro. There, the knee is already striking after four games. Nadal won’t accept it and continues to play. He forces the Argentinean into a tiebreak, which the “Tower of Tandil” wins 7:3.
The Spaniard hardly moves any more, but a task is out of the question for him. Not yet. He continues to fight, although he has not had a chance to win the game for a long time. Eventually even Nadal gets too much. After the second run he has to give up.
The winner praises Nadal in the subsequent on-court interview: “He is the greatest fighter in our sport. I’m sorry for him.” This is a great gesture by del Potro, who himself had to struggle long enough with injury problems and whose career hung by a thread three years ago due to wrist problems. Del Potro knows what he’s talking about.
Nadal himself is fighting in his press conference. “I know the problem and I can handle it. I just don’t know how long it’s gonna take.” With these words he sends a message: No matter how long he’s gonna be out, he’ll be back.
After all, no one had thought that he would still be playing for great titles at the age of 32. “Not even myself.” Meanwhile Nadal at least believes in herself again. And it would be a big mistake not to do the same.