It was early morning in Spain, but the news resonated equally strongly. When speaking Craig Tiley, the director of Australian Openthe Grand Slam that kicks off the majors each season, and in his mouth a phrase that lit the flame of enthusiasm for many tennis fans: “Rafael Nadal He has confirmed to me that he will return next year.
Indeed, the director of the oceanic tournament was setting a return date for Rafa Nadal, who has had such a bad time in recent times. The athlete himself had recently been seen training very intensely, so the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit together, but it turns out that all that glitters is not gold.
The latest information says that Tiley did not really speak to Rafa Nadal directly. He did it with his entourage, who always showed him some caution in this regard, although he Manacor He would love to be in Australia, no doubt. However, she is not completely clear about it and hence the last message that she shared on her social networks.
Nadal, during the match against McDonald. James Ross Efe/Epa
It seems, therefore, that the director of the Grand Slam jumped into the pool too soon with a high risk of not even having water. And it is not the first time that he has performed a maneuver of this type with the great figures of tennis and then has to eat his own words.
Over the last few years, Craig Tiley has already predicted the presence of figures in his tournament such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams y Andy Murray. She even said of all of them that they would play in Australia in different years, but this never came to pass, so it remains to be seen if with Rafa Nadal he adds his fourth consecutive blunder with a great tennis star.
Serena, Federer y Murray
The history of the director of the Australian Open speaks for itself. Taking a look at previous years, it is common to see how Tiley rushes again and again when it comes to ‘selling’ the best poster for his tournament through the presence of the great tennis stars.
It happened already in 2017 with the best tennis player the sport has seen in recent times. Count on Serena Williams It was an absolute privilege for any tournament, and the Australian Open dreamed of having it in its 2018 edition, so a few months before the organization almost took its participation for granted.
[La gesta de Djokovic en el Abierto de Australia: ganó el título con un desgarro muscular de 3 centímetros]
Serena Williams had become a mother a few months earlier, and although little by little she was recovering her physical activity, her presence in Australia was very close. Finally, she herself ruled out participating in this Grand Slam because she did not feel strong enough: “Although I am very close, personally I am not at the level I would like,” commented the American, confirming her absence.
That refusal was a hard blow for the tournament, but the cases of Andy Murray and of Roger Federer in 2021. Craig Tiley jumped into the pool again, ensuring the presence of the two geniuses in that edition and the final draw did not include any of them, both devastated by injuries.
“Roger Federer has confirmed to us that he will play the Australian Open,” the tournament’s boss commented in an interview. With enthusiasm, the organizer wanted to highlight that the Swiss would delight the public in 2021 with his presence, but shortly after he had to rectify because Federer would finally not set foot in the oceanic country.
Federer, a Melbourne. Reuters
Although there was talk of physical discomfort, the truth is that the Covid-19 pandemic had a lot to do with that decision. The rules forced his wife and children, with whom he usually traveled to big tournaments, to remain locked in the hotel room, something that did not excite the tennis player. Neither did the fact of traveling alone for so many weeks, so in the end Federer was not at that Australian Open.
Like Andy Murray. The organization gave him a special invitation to play that edition and Tiley confirmed his presence: “We welcome Andy Murray to Melbourne with open arms,” he commented publicly.
Andy Murray, playing at 3 in the morning. REUTERS
A few weeks later, however, it was confirmed that the Scotsman was not going to be part of the Grand Slam either. His positive test for Covid-19 a few days before and the impossibility of finding a solution so that he could play left him “devastated” and he is planning to play in Australia.
Rafa Nadal, another one
Confirming the participation of great tennis players from the recent history of this sport in some interviews with the media is something recurring in Craig Tiley. As if it were déjà vu, the Australian Open boss did it again this year and again with an iconic figure, this time Rafa Nadal.
“I’m going to give you an exclusive. Rafa will return to Melbourne. He’s been out of the circuit for a long time and I’ve been talking to him in recent days. He confirmed that he will be back next year, which excites us all. It’s incredible, great news,” he said in a television interview.
I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open… I am practising every day and working hard to come back asap 💪🏻😉
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) October 11, 2023
All these phrases sound like stories from the past, the same ones that starred with Serena, Federer or Murray, and although at first these statements caused a great stir, the truth is that with the passing of the hours the balloon has been deflating. The most recent information says that Tiley has actually spoken with the player’s entourage, and that even so the doubts remain very large.
Rafa Nadal himself left a message on his social networks with a certain enigma. In it, although he confirmed that he was working hard and that he hoped to return as soon as possible, he also did not confirm 100% his presence in Australia: “I appreciate the vote of confidence from the Australian Open… I am training every day and working hard to return.” as soon as possible,” he said.
The ticket sales period for the Australian Open recently opened, and of course confirming the presence of Rafa Nadal will give a boost to the tournament, but time will tell if again, for the umpteenth time in recent years, Craig Tiley has to swallow her words.
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2023-10-13 01:36:23
#Federer #Serena #Murray #Nadal #halftruths #Australian #Open #stars
