ATP Finals 2022: Nadal in front of the Masters chimera. But why not dream? | Sports

Rafael Nadal looks up inside the Pala Alpitur and he likes what he sees. It’s the first time he has stepped on it, since last year he was unable to compete due to a chronic injury to his left foot, and he is delighted in Turin; not so much for the stage, but also for returning to a tournament that has historically turned its back on him and which he is denied year after year. Specifically, the Spaniard won the ticket to the masters event 17 times in a row, but for one reason or another failed to secure it. A personal thorn, given that the Masters is the only prestigious laurel that resists him and he, as a stubborn winner, would like to close the big circle, as the American Andre Agassi has already done: the big four, the Davis Cup, the individual Olympic gold and the trophy that distinguishes the best of the best of the year.

“Goodmorning how are you?” says the tennis player with a happy face, while enjoying a training session which, in addition to his technical staff -Carlos Moyà, Francis Roig and Marc López-, is followed for a while by his uncle Toni, who analyzing his nephew’s shots , gives technical instructions to his player, Felix-Augger Aliassime: “So, so”. On the other side of the net, the Russian Andrei Rublev is struggling, because it turns out that the Spaniard arrived in the Pre-Alps with a great desire, a great desire to do well. Accompanied for the first time by his son, Rafael Júnior, he squeezes and savors every shot in this latest approach to an extreme, all-or-nothing season. Nadal bursts the ball, tries with his serve and the sensations are good; some stress is gone and he’s healthy, so why not dream?

Precedents say that almost everything is against it. Of his 17 Masters Cup qualifiers, in seven he had to get off the train due to some physical mishap; in another (2017, against David Goffin) he had to retire after playing the first game, with pain in his right knee; And to crown the bad luck, in three other games he failed to get through the group stage, as well as having lost the two finals he played: one against Roger Federer (2010) and the second against Novak Djokovic (2013). In other words, both opportunities are far, far away and his ID says he’s already 36 and his cartridges are running low. Added to this is the fact that only one of his 92 trophies – the Madrid Masters 1000, in 2005 – corresponds to the hardcourt and indoor format, only four of which were obtained between October and November.

That is to say, practically a chimera. But…

“You never know. In sport, sometimes things change radically. I’m playing more or less well, happy; I’ve been able to train and I’m here, which excited me, with which I come with the hope of doing well. We’re not kidding ourselves: if I didn’t think I had a fighting chance, I’d be elsewhere. Ultimately I think I have my chance,” he broadcast to a pair of special envoys on Friday, three days before this Sunday’s premiere (9 p.m., Movistar) against the American Taylor Fritz (9th in the world).That is, if the physique respects it and there is no mishap, Nadal will absolutely give up nothing, despite all the negative statistics given that in the only tournament in which he able to put himself to the test, the Paris-Bercy two weeks ago, puncture at the first gear and end up nauseous.

A service without corset

Not to forget the man from Manacor – classified in the first group stage with Casper Ruud (4th) and Aliassime (6th), as well as Fritz – who didn’t reach the level in this area. “I needed to be a better indoor player, it’s a reality. I qualified 17 times for the Masters, but was uncompetitive 17 times; I don’t know how many times I’ve managed to play it with real options,” he remarks. The defeat suffered a couple of years ago against Daniil Medvedev, in the semifinals, when he seemed really capable of lifting the title, still stings him. “He is one of those who hurt me the most, it was the clearest occasion of my career,” he says. But, at the same time, he feels he has little to lose and a lot to gain, happy as well as being able to close the year playing after closing 2021 prostrate again in the infirmary.

“I think I’m ready,” he teases. “And I think in recent years I’ve improved a lot on this type of surface,” says the 22-major champion, who suffered a double abdominal tear during the summer: a first at Wimbledon (July) and another before the trip to the United States Open (August). The incident forced him to resign from continuing to compete in London and subsequently affected his service. Now, however, he performs it without corsets, in all normality. “I need continuity, like the one I had up until Indian Wells [donde se fisuró una costilla]. Let’s see if I get it next year. I want to spend more days on the circuit, racing and training. At this point in my career, one feeds on illusion,” he concludes.

Meanwhile in the other group Djokovic marks the time in the prelude to the competition. The Serbian, five-time champion, is sharpening himself to try to catch Federer (6) and reconfirm a result that has resisted him since 2015, when he beat the Swiss at the O2 in London. Recently a finalist at Paris-Bercy –surprised there by the young Dane Holger Rune–, he assures that he will be punctual for the meeting of the eight masters. “It would be a perfect ending, but the week is long. There’s been an extra intensity here since the first game, but I’m fit, motivated and I can’t wait for the challenge”, says the Balkan, who from Monday will fight with Medvedev, Rublev and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, his first opponent . To his exceptional practice at the event are added the four awards obtained in this 2022 which, now, is heading towards the final stretch. Nole threatens, Nadal presents a candidacy and Turin prepares for a vibrant epilogue.

You can follow EL PAÍS Sports on Facebook yes Chirpingtip here to receive our weekly newsletter.