ARTICLES:
- ‘Never, ever write him off’ – Rafael Nadal can still be dangerous at US Open despite injury – Barbara Schett | Eurosport
Schett thought Nadal looked rusty against Coric but says he should not face criticism for his performance so soon after injury.
She said: “I think we just have to give Rafa Nadal a bit of a break. I think what’s really important for him now is to assess that injury he’s had, because he did feel it a little bit. He said during the match, we also saw that there was a very low first serve percentage of 55%. He also committed a lot of double faults. It wasn’t pain, what he was feeling, but he was feeling that scar.
“If everything is fine, because you don’t want to muck around with a stomach muscle injury, especially when you have a tear there. The important thing for him is just to get the green light from the doctors and then go from there. But Rafa Nadal at the moment, I think he lives in the moment. He goes one day at a time and then takes his decisions. One thing is for sure, when he’s on the court, he will always try everything. Against Borna, unfortunately for him, it wasn’t enough.”
Despite being 1.255 points behind Medvedev, Nadal can only add to his total in the last Grand Slam of the year because he was absent in the last edition due to an injury in his left foot. As for Medvedev, he can only subtract his score or stay the same.
Thus, if Nadal dominated in the US Open, Medvedev will no longer dominate the men’s tour after 16 weeks at the top.
Medvedev could leave Rafa 1,895 points behind if he wins the Cincinnati tournament. Not even that would help him maintain the first place in the rankings in the event the Spaniard wins the Grand Slam.
VIDEO: Jon Wertheim on Rafa’s Cincinnati Open defeat to Borna Coric
“Yeah, he can use the time off to sort of reassess. What happened? There seem to be a lack of confidence. We were all looking at the serve and would that be impacted by this abdominal injury. That did not seem to be the case today, it really was just playing some tight big points. He’s going to New York, the player who ostensibly will be the number one seed. Djokovic would be the favorite, but Djokovic as of now is not in the draw and so Nadal has to be considered a favorite. This is not the tune up that he needed, but I do think an extra week off and sort of the best-of-five format, I think will help him.”
Social media releted to Rafa:
I am certain Rafa will be ready to play at his best level and should compete for the title . We all know that at Australia , Rafa was returning from a bad injury and had relatively minimal match play . Thus , Rafa can do the same here in the US Open. Hope he avoids Coric in the early rounds !
How I WISH I were in NYC!!! Will be praying your abdominal is just fine and things go absolutely great for you at the US Open. How wonderful it would be for you to win 3 of the 4 majors this year! And you WOULD have won Wimbledon had you not gotten injured. Vamos and much love, Rafa!
Rafa is HERE in NY….. practicing on Arthur Ashe!!!
VAMOS RAFA!!!!
Thanks, Marileena🙏❤️
All the best to Rafa🍀💪❤️
One week to go and than the US-Open start..Can’t wait❤️
Hey Rafa-NY awaits-always exciting in the city that never sleeps-all the best. Hope you are
ready to be “top of the list”-good health, good luck👏💪👍🤛🎾🍀❤️
It would be no surprise if Rafa arrives in our fair city today…. This week at the US Open is
“fan week” which starts tomorrow (Monday) where anyone can come and walk onto the grounds for free, all week long.. The players will be practicing and those that want to watch their practices are more than welcome… (only restriction is in Arthur Ashe stadium… where fans are not allowed in during practice)
I will be seeing Rafa this Wednesday evening …. He is playing a charity event at the Open called “Tennis For Peace” where 18 players, Alcarez, Berretini, Fritz, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Victoria Azarenka…and many more will be participating in singles and doubles on center court at Louis Armstrong stadium. This charity exhibition is to raise money for Ukraine…. Needless to say I cannot wait to see our boy step out on court….
As a season ticket holder I have been looking forward to this years Open more than any other I have ever attended…. With all the injuries Rafa has had to face this year from his never ending foot pain…to fracturing a rib…to tearing a stomach muscle…. and all along winning the AO and the French…. and who knows my money was on him to take Wimbledon by storm and he did till he had to bow out in the Semi’s…. He has given us every ounce of fortitude and strength to make his way to victory in 2022 when only 9 months ago he wasn’t sure if he would ever play again….
I will be at the Open everyday…I will be at every one of Rafa’s practices and of course his matches…. I worry that this might be the last time I see him but I do know that Rafa’s winning the AO and French has lit that fire again within him. (not that he ever lost it) .. His love for the game is still sooooo intense and he wants so much to play…but rightly so, will not risk his health in order to make that happen….
I am certain that he will be practicing with many of the players this week… He needs and wants that as the practices are critical in removing the rust as he feels the necessity to get ready for this event as he lacks the match play….
Rafa…. we love you in New York and you will feel it the second you step out on court….
Vamos Rafa…. One day at a time….. chop chop chop wood….
Vamos rafa all my thought will be with you in the coming weeks xx
Vamos rafa hope you do really well in US Open l will be with you all the way xx