Spaniard Rafael Nadal exited the 2021 Australian Open after losing in the quarterfinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Although the Spaniard lost, it was one of the funniest matches of the tournament.
The Greek player won the match after being two sets down, to finally win the next three sets and seal the match in his favor. Because of that result, Rafael Nadal runs the risk of not qualifying for the season-ending 2021 ATP Finals.
Along with the Spaniard, last season’s US Open champion Dominic Thiem and former World No. 1 Roger Federer are among the high-profile players they face. a fate similar to Rafa’s.
Rafael Nadal is ranked 11th in the February ranking
At the end of February, Nadal is 11th in the standings, while the Austrian ace and the Swiss sensation are not in the top 15.
Last season, Rafa lost in the Australian Open quarter-finals, indicating that he defended his points. Thiem was a finalist in Melbourne last year, and his fourth-round loss this year meant he faced a points loss.
On the other hand, Federer hasn’t played a competitive match since last season’s Australian Open. As a result, he’s on the receiving end and doesn’t figure anywhere near the top 8.
However, as the season is in its early stages, these three supreme athletes will surely be looking to bounce back and seize their opportunities for the remainder of the season. Although, Dominic and Rafa will have it a bit difficult as they are defending champions at the US Open and the French Open, respectively.
ATP Race at the end of february
1. Djokovic
2. Medvedev
3. Tsitsipas
4. Karatsev
5. Rublev
6. Berrettini
7. Zverev
8. Dimitrov
—
9. Fognini
10. Bublik
11. Nadal
12. Goffin – José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 1, 2021
On the contrary, since Roger has not played most of the past season, he has no points to defend and will only earn points upon his return.
He is expected to play his first competitive match at the 2021 Doha Open, which begins in the second week of March.
–
