The Australian Open once again proved to be quite hostile to Rafael Nadal, whose only success at Melbourne Park dates back twelve years. The former number 1 in the world, who Roger Federer would have surpassed in the Grand Slam ranking if he had won, lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals.
After winning the first two sets without fighting too much, the Spanish phenomenon suffered a sudden physical decline that led him to the young Greek’s comeback. The 13-time Roland Garros champion, who struggled with a back injury for a few weeks, didn’t make any dramas at the press conference knowing he could hit 21 majors in Paris in the spring.
In an interview with Tennis Head, the German legend Boris Becker recently analyzed the sensational elimination of the 34-year-old Mallorcan in the Happy Slam. The six-time Grand Slam champion believes this defeat could stay in the Iberian’s memory in the coming months.
Becker: “In the 5th sentence I saw a really tired Nadal”
“Rafael Nadal’s loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in five sets will affect him for some time and could also affect his performance at Roland Garros,” said Becker.
“I think Rafa could be vulnerable if Roland Garros starts at the end of May. For the first time, in the fifth set, I saw a really tired Nadal who was physically beaten like he had never done before.
His style of play is very physically demanding, so it is normal for him to pay the price one day. I am surprised that he has been able to stay competitive for so long, ”he added. Nadal won his last Roland Garros without dropping a single sentence.
“Even if it were stupid to bet against him in Paris, if the physical decline is confirmed in the coming months, he may not be the player we were used to” – concluded Boris.
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