FORO ITALICO, Rome — Watch Rafael Nadal right now it’s switching, almost point by point, from thinking: “The poor guy can barely move” to “He still has it – maybe, just maybe…”
At the Italian Open in Rome, it was another match that fueled both believers and skeptics, as Nadal went from looking overpowered by world number 108 Zizou Bergs for periods before playing brilliant tennis to get a 4-6, 6-3. , 6-4 victory in the first round.
Here, Athleticism breaks down the key questions of his victory.
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For a while, it seemed like the kind of upset Nadal and the raucous Rome crowd were desperate to avoid.
Nadal had actually started the match well and broke down early in the first set. But, as was the case during its return, after an increase, a decline quickly occurred. He lost his serve immediately, then again at 4-4 to lose the first set, In where Nadal won just 63 percent of his first-serve points. This is an area of his game that was most compromised by his latest injury and Bergs has taken advantage of it. Bergs was also happy to pursue Nadal’s backhand, placing 74 percent of his forehands into the Spaniard’s weaker wing.
Backward break exchanges have been a feature of Nadal’s matches since his return and the pace of the match illustrates his recent dance between fitness and pride – up and down, up and down, looking in flashes like the great champion of the sport, in others like the world number 305 that he currently is. He had more controlled victories, against Italian Flavio Cobolli in Barcelona and American Darwin Blanch in Madrid, but both opponents seemed completely intimidated by the Spaniard’s 111-1 record in first round matches on clay.
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Bergs was not, using his inside-out forehand on Nadal’s high balls, looping to smash them right at him and fighting for control of the points.
For a moment, it seemed like Nadal’s most humiliating defeat since returning to Barcelona three weeks ago. Losing to world number 11 Alex de Minaur in Barcelona It was no shame considering the quality of the opponent, with Nadal visibly bowing out of the second set to save his body. Ultimately succumbing to Jiri Lehecka in Madrid after three encouraging wins was also completely understandable, especially considering how well Lehecka played in the straight-sets victory.
Coming back from a set is something Nadal had never done before during his last return from injury, but no one gets carried away. Being a believer at this point is just hoping that Nadal can feel like he did at Roland Garros.
How did he capture this momentum?
The dynamic of the match changed after the end of the first set. There was a 10-minute delay in the first game of the second as a sick spectator was treated. Fortunately, they were fine, and when play resumed, Nadal held his serve lovingly, then quickly broke his opponent. Bergs won only two points in the first three games of the set.
Nadal faced break points in a few later games, including serving for the set, but he fended them off and reacted with characteristic zeal. After a tricky overhead earned him a set point, Nadal leveled the match with a classic serve-plus-one game, where a serve is followed by a forehand winner. The 14-time Roland Garros champion banked hundreds of millions of dollars on this play and he celebrated it with a little gasp and a roar of “Vamos!” “.
That feeling of Nadal going backwards in years was heightened when he pulled off a classic escape feat early in the third set. Nadal was behind, serving at 0-1, when he fell to the ground. He then somehow got back to his feet and won the point with a forehand drop shot.
Rafael Nadal won this point 😱#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/3s6FdgXoXd
– Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 9, 2024
How should we respond to Nadal’s battle with himself on court?
The crowd couldn’t believe what they were seeing, especially considering Nadal’s shadow an hour earlier. A series of brilliant crosscourt forehands helped Nadal break the next game and despite three break points at 3-2, Nadal hung on and was relatively composed from then on to secure the victory.
Hearing the noise of the Roman crowd and feeling its energy, perhaps the lesson is not to worry too much about the big picture. About how Nadal goes from vulnerable to vintage from one point to the next. The fact that beating a player outside the world’s top 100 is clearly not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Nadal has accepted that he must think outside of himself – counting his shots, his slides and his efforts in a calculation of what comes next, whether in days, weeks or months. But for tennis fans, perhaps the best thing is to do the opposite: focus solely on enjoying the present moment. Nadal may not have much left, but when you arrive, there is still nothing like it.
What did Nadal say after the match?
During his on-court interview, Nadal confirmed that the topsy-turvy situation is something he cannot escape – yet.
“My game is more unpredictable than before. I haven’t played much tennis in the last 2 years. Up and down, from time to time, but I think I can do a lot better than what I did today,” he said.
He later explained how he envisioned the evolution of his own game, saying that “for me, the first set of Madrid’s last match is a good reference on how I should play.”
“In Barcelona, I wasn’t sure I would be able to continue. I serve much better than in Barcelona. I improved that. I feel faster. Sometimes I play too far from the baseline – that’s something I want to do better,” he said.
“Maybe in two days I won’t play well. It’s true. It’s a possibility. But I hope I can play much better than today, start thinking differently.
What did Bergs say after the match?
Speaking to Tennis Channel, Bergs said that playing Nadal is “living in a powerful moment”. I’m very grateful to have this tennis life.
“You always see Rafa Nadal on TV when you are young. Your name is mini Rafa Nadal. You wear the same clothes. I don’t need to tell you how special it is,” he said.
Who is next for Nadal?
The Spaniard faces another tough test against world number 9 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. The two men have never faced each other on tour before.
(Top photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)