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Melbourne (AFP) – For his return after five months without competition and eight days before the start of the Australian Open (January 17-30), Rafael Nadal qualified for the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Melbourne on Saturday, where he will face the new came Maxime Cressy (112th and from qualifying).
Stopped since his semi-final lost at Roland Garros last June – with the exception of two matches played in early August in Washington – because of his recalcitrant left foot, then contaminated by Covid-19 at the end of December , Nadal, now world No.6, is reassured “step by step”.
He defeated the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (95th) 6-4, 7-5 in nearly two hours on Saturday, two days after his first vintage victory in 2022 against the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (104th) 6-2, 7-5. Between the two, his other opponent, the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (65th), forfeited.
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“It’s a big comeback for me after six months without competition. There are of course things I need to do better. After a long absence, you’re still a little worried about what might happen, but my body is holding on. For now, appreciate the Spaniard with 20 Grand Slam trophies – like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic – I’ve known all of this before, I know how to do it and I know you have to be patient.
In the other semi-final, Cressy surprised the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28th) 7-5, 7-6 (11/9) and invited himself to the final for the first time in his career, at 24 years old.
On the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Nadal will aim for an 89th title on Sunday.
© 2022 AFP
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