Nadal prepares to close circle in Melbourne: "I have already stopped believing it is possible"

The Spanish bull may become the most decorated tennis player of all time after he was already "with a foot in retirement", precisely in a tournament in which he has suffered over the years.

Commentators praise: "Everyone talked about Djokovic, and forgot Rafa's pride"

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28/01/2022

Friday, 28 January 2022, 10:04

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Raphael Nadal is one step away from an achievement that he too no longer believed would reach him.

After beating Matteo Bartini 3: 6, 2: 6, 6: 3, 3: 6 this morning (Friday) and reaching the Australian Championship final, he needs only one win to win the 21st Grand Slam title of his career and receive the official title of the decorated tennis player at all times.

There is something symbolic about Chandal doing just that at the Australian Championships, which has not brightened his face in the past, both because of his less-than-favorite surface and because of bad luck, including injuries and illnesses that have affected his Melbourne achievements in the past.

Nadal has only won the championship once and is waiting for a winner between Danil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas to know who will separate him from history, but after the victory this morning he admitted: I did not believe I would have a chance to break the record, longed for by Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic With him equally.

"To tell the truth, I did not really think I would stand here in 2022 and talk to you about my chances of winning the championship," said 35-year-old Nadal in the game-ending interview.

If he does do the unbelievable and win the final on Sunday, he will complete a huge turnaround: he has only recently returned to the pitches after a six-month absence due to injuries and illnesses, which questioned not only his ability to win titles but return to pitches at all.

And here, suddenly, in 2022 he stands on a balance of nine wins and zero losses.

More on Walla!

Touching distance from the 21st Grand Slam: Rafael Nadal advanced to the Australian final

To the full article

Do not dare to eulogize him again.

Nadal (Photo: GettyImages, James D. Morgan)

"I was unlucky in Australia in previous years. I had serious injuries and losses, there were amazing finals I got to with good chances, but for the most part I lost," said Nadal who looked excited at the end. "I feel lucky to have won the tournament once in my career. I didn't think I would have another chance."

There were those who saw Bandal Underdog in today's game against the world-ranked Italian, but the Spaniard started the onslaught immediately upon opening, repeatedly attacking the backhand of Bertini who was considered his weak point, and winning the first two sets in less than an hour and a half. "In the first two sets I played the best tennis I can remember for a long time," Nadal said. "Then I suffered a bit, but to win and get back to the final in the end, that's the whole world for me. For me. Winning the Australian Championship is even more important than achieving the 21st Grand Slam."

Now even in the tennis world there are those who hold Landal's fingers in the final, who in any case will come with a better experience than Medvedev or Tsitsipas, but should be in a certain inferior position, especially if the opponent is the 2nd ranked Russian in the world.

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"Everyone talked about Djokovic, and forgot that Landal has pride. He has the heart of a champion, he should never be eulogized," Mats Matlander explained.

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